Jesus’ encounter with a thirsty woman illustrates human tendency. This story also shows how Jesus has the ability to cut through our shallow comments and thinking to focus on what really matters. (see John 4)
When we want to make things about race or gender or societal correctness, Jesus makes the conversation personal.
Woman – “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?”
Jesus – “If you knew the Gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would ask Him and He would give you Living Water.”
When we want to interpret things literally, Jesus uses symbols.
Jesus – “Whoever drinks the Water I will give him will never thirst again. Indeed, the Water I will give him will become in him a spring of Water welling up to eternal life.”
Woman – “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
When we want to change the subject… and remain elusive with the parts of our lives we’d like to keep hidden, He makes us face the truth.
Jesus – “Go, call your husband and come back.”
Woman – “I have no husband.”
Jesus – “You are right… The fact is you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is quite true.”
When we try to shift the conversation to religion, forms of worship, or other differences between groups, Jesus points to His Father… who is above all.
Woman – “I can see you are a prophet. Our fathers worship on this mountain, but you Jews claim that where we should worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus – “A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.”
When we try to keep things nebulous or symbolic or in the category of knowledge no one clearly understands, Jesus makes Truth literal… “I am.”
Woman – “I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes He will explain everything to us.”
Jesus – “I who speak to you am He.”
Jesus loves the thirsty… and He has the answer for our thirst! He wants us to come to Him, stay with Him, believe in Him, talk to Him, walk with Him, and receive from Him. “Thank You, Lord, for Your Living Water. Please flow through us every day.”
“’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him.’ By this He meant the Spirit, who those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39