THE GIFT OF LIVING WATER

PROCLAMATION

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.’  ‘Sir,’ the woman said … Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself …?’  Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ”  John 4:10-14 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here, John records the conversation between Jesus, The Christ, and a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar in Samaria. (John 4:1-26)  After He asked the woman for a drink, she questioned Him. (John 4:7-8)  Jesus replied to her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for a drink, and He would have given her “living water.” (John 4:10)  Jesus makes it clear that He is not talking about the water in the well, but about spiritual living water which is linked to eternal life. (John 4:13-14)  When Jesus tells her about her life, her past five husbands and that she was living with a man whom she had not married, she wanted to change the subject and talk about religion. (John 4:16-19)  When Jesus told her that she did not know what she was worshiping, she replied that she knew that the Messiah was coming.  Then Jesus said, “I am He.” (John 4:25-26)  The woman left and brought the men in her life and many others to Jesus. (John 4:39-42)  The chapter ends with the second miracle of Jesus, the healing of the son of the nobleman in Capernaum. (John 4:46-54)  After his son was healed, the nobleman brought his whole family to Christ. (John 4:53)  Both the woman and the nobleman shared the living water.

 

APPLICATION

If we have the “living water” within us, it should spring forth and we would share it with others.  Many people will argue about religion, but they do not want to live it.  There are many people who worship regularly, but they do not know very much about that which they worship.  People all too often are quick to point out the faults and sins of others, but they want to change the subject when their own sins are uncovered.  You cannot come to Jesus, The Christ, hiding your sins and expect to receive eternal life.  We all must confess our sins, ask to be forgiven, and believe that He is who He says that He is. (Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9)  We must believe and have faith in Him.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  Jesus responded to the nobleman’s faith when He healed his son.  We must have faith, confess our sins, and believe.  We must also humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our sinful ways if we want Him to forgive us and to heal our current situation. (2 Chronicles 7:14)