Main Reading John Chapter 4

On his way to Galilee Jesus passed through the small town of Sychar inhabited by Samaritans. It was mid-day and the journey and the heat took a toll on Him and Jesus sat by the well. Along came this Samaritan woman to draw water from that well. When Jesus asked her for water she was surprised as Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Verse 10 onwards Jesus reveals to her who He is and what he has to offer but the Samaritan women did not understand at first what Jesus spoke, “The Living Water”  What was he talking about?

Ezekiel in a vision (Ez 47) sees the Lord showing him the works of a water so powerful that every creature that comes in contact with that water shall live for eternity, every tree that soaked the water its leaf shall never wither and it shall bear new fruit each month. John in revelation describes the river as the water of life bearing twelve different fruits and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations.

Such is the power of the water that Jesus was offering to the Samaritan women who kept confusing it with the water she drew from the well. The water represents the joy that comes from knowing that our sins are forgiven, the joy in our hearts that gives us a new life, a new beginning with the knowledge that the slate has been wiped clean. That is what Jesus has to offer. Satan uses guilt and a feeling of unworthiness to keep us away from this river. But the water is freely and abundantly available to those who seek it. The Lord waters us with new life so that we may produce new things for His glory.

When Jesus told the Samaritan women about her sins she thought He was a prophet and still could not see that the man standing in front of her was the Messiah that she was waiting for. Many times when we are convicted of our sins we do the same and hide behind a veil of self-righteous portrayal.

Lastly the women argues on grounds of religious belief what she thought ought to be the place of worship. To which Jesus’ answer was “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.”- John 4:23.

When she finally realized who she was talking to she left her water jugs and ran back to her city and told every one of the things Jesus said. The overflowing joy can be seen in the actions of the women as she brought many to Christ that day. That is the power of The Living Water.