John 4:10-15

Yesterday I found that Jesus was humble, willing to associate with a Samaritan woman in normal matters of everyday life. This astonished the woman, who wanted to understand why a Jew would associate with a Samaritan woman.

 

Jesus' response both does and does not answer her question. He does not come out and say, "This Jew is willing to associate with you because He is the Son of God who has come to offer all men eternal life." But He does say that the problem is her understanding of Him. If she knew the gift of God (Jesus) and who it was that wanted a drink (Jesus), she would have approached Him – even though she was a Samaritan woman and He was a Jew – to ask for living water. The value of Jesus is so great that all nations should pursue Him. Remember, in Jesus is life, the light of men. He is glorious, full of grace and truth, which He is displaying just by approaching this Samaritan woman.

 

None of us would have known what Jesus meant by "living water," and neither did the Samaritan woman. She shows her ignorance, but also her openness to learning, by her response. Essentially, Jesus has no tools with Him for drawing water from wells, so how can He provide her with water at all, living or otherwise? She goes on to ask more about Jesus Himself: "Are you greater than Jacob?"

 

Again, Jesus answers her questions in an indirect manner. Yes, He is greater than Jacob. Jacob provided a well of water that leaves one thirsty again, but Jesus provides a water that completely satisfies those who drink it and produces eternal life.

 

The woman recognizes that she needs this kind of water. She obviously still does not understand completely, based on her response, but who would have a total grasp of what Jesus was saying? She says to Him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

 

Ironically, the Samaritan woman is still wanting to meet the wrong need. If Jesus had a kind of water that left people without physical thirst, why would He have told her to give Him water in the first place? If He had that kind of water, He wouldn't be physically thristy Himself. Still, Jesus has made it clear to the woman that what He is offering is of great value. She wants it. She needs it.

 

Isn't that the point? Even though so many of us don't initially understand all that Jesus says to us, don't we have to recognize that we need whatever it is that He has for us? John has made it so clear that we need Jesus. In the first chapter, we found that Jesus brings life, glory, grace and truth. And since then, we continue to see His value. He is the Son of God. The ruler of Creation. The One who brings testimony from above so that we can receive blessings from above. The One who knows that He will die and rise again for us. The One intended to receive glory, the One to whom Heaven is giving a bride. And now again, we find that He offers living, completely satisfying water – eternal life! Even if I didn't believe all this, I would want to! I would want to believe that there actually was such a person who had everything under control, who offered such hope, who offered such goodness and life! We can believe! Jesus has come, and He is the person we wish for! It is not just wishful thinking that leads us to look forward to righteousness, peace, and perfection. It is Jesus, the Son of God, who came to earth as a man. He is the foundation for our hope. It is right to need Him. We would be crazy to deny our need for Him.