We are continuing the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at a well. But the claims Jesus makes of Himself are not what she expects.
When Jesus, tired by His journey from Judah midway to Galilee, asks for a drink, the woman who came to the well is puzzled or perhaps suspicious. “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (John 4:9). She knows that Jews avoid her people at all costs.
Jesus said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (v. 10).
Did you know that Jesus is the gift of God given to us? Paul praised God for “His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). Unfortunately, through daily interactions with our Bibles, we can grow accustomed to the characters, dulling our sensitivity, and thus dimming the glory of God. At this moment, who is Jesus to you?
At this moment, Jesus is offering living water to this woman. He is offering that water to all who read this passage. At this moment, Jesus is showing us that He gives forgiveness and favor to all who believe Him and ask. Has life made you thirsty for something more? Are you looking to satisfy your drought and are coming up dry?
Did you see the invitation? Jesus is offering us living water. I missed it when I read it before. Read it again. It is held out to you by the Gift-giver, and it will be obtained by parched souls who respond, who receive it by faith and asking.
If you knew who was making this claim of restoring your soul to life and vitality through Him, “you would have asked Him” (v. 10). Through faith in Jesus and trusting His words, He will give the living water of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
Jesus made this same claim to those who were celebrating the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37), when water was being poured out as part of the ritual. They observed a dry ritual. Jesus provides the actual substance. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38; Isa. 12:2-3; 55:1-3).
The woman at the well misunderstood Jesus’ offer, saying “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?” (John 4:11). She was not hearing Jesus’ words from a spiritual point of view, not being spiritual herself. She understood Jesus’ words from a human point of view, as someone who needed a bucket like she did.
Do we not shrink God down to our size at times? Do we think what’s hard to us is hard for the Son of God as well? We see this most acutely in our prayers that lack confidence in Him who is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).
This mentality shows that we lack the living waters of the Spirit who opens our eyes to the divine realities of God, realities He is willing to share if we ask (1 Cor. 2). We can’t share the goodness of the gospel to others when we don’t see the goodness of God to us. We stopped believing too soon.
The invitation is still extended to all, “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1). Through faith, without strings attached, by the grace of God.
