Living Water

Scripture:There came a woman of Samaria to draw water.  John 4:7

Jesus was very tired the day he and his disciples reached Samaria, so much so that he sent the disciples into town to buy food while he waited by the village well.  Soon a woman from the village came to collect water.  It was a little odd because it was almost noon, much too hot for a woman to collect water and lug it back to her home.  With great tack and courtesy, Jesus asked the woman for a drink.  He knew this woman needed what he alone could give. You can almost hear her sneer as she asks him why he, a Jew, would ask her, a female Samaritan, for a drink.  (Jews and Samaritans did not socialize.)  Jesus's gentle answer might surprise us today for he told her that if she know who was asking she would readily ask and he would give her "Living Water".  His answer sparked her curiosity and her response changed from curt to respectful.  "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep, where do get that living water"?  The woman is now convinced that this man is different and she has a deep yearning for the water he offers. Jesus fills her deep yearning and she runs back to her village to tell everyone about the man at the well. Thus she became the first Christian Missionary.

When we take a close look at this story we gain insight into how Jesus deals with people, both in the past and in the present.  In this story, Jesus uses great tack, combined with love and gentleness to show the woman her spiritual need.  Jesus still leads us to the "Living Water", which we receive as His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Thank you Father, for the gentle reminders that we also have a great need for the "Living Water", the presence of Jesus in our life.  Amen.

Noel and Jane DeKalb

noeldekalb@gmail.com