Water for the Thirsty

MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that 1 shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” —John 4:14

JOHN 4:7-15

THERE is much picture language in the Bible—symbolic language, some would call it—a good example of which is Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman who had come to Jacob’s well to secure a supply of water. This well was located in or near a Samaritan city called Sychar. Jesus and his apostles were traveling from Judea to Galilee, “and he must needs go through Samaria”—John 4:4

Actually it was possible to go from Judea to Galilee without passing through Samaria, but it was a longer route, yet used by many who were specially prejudiced against the Samaritans.

But Jesus chose to travel the direct route, for while he knew that he was not to conduct a general ministry in Samaria, he realized also that his Father loved these people and that in his own due time would give them an opportunity for enlightenment, and that those who then responded in faith and by obedience would receive his Heavenly Father’s promised blessings of life. That will be during the thousand-year reign of Christ, and then the Samaritans and all mankind will be awakened from the sleep of death in order that they might receive the kingdom blessings of life and happiness.

When Jesus and his disciples reached Sychar, in Samaria, Jesus, being weary, decided to rest while his disciples went into the village to buy food. He was sitting on the well when “there cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water,” and he asked this woman to give him a drink of the water.—vs. 7

“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans” (vs. 9) It was in answer to this question that Jesus, in pictorial language, presented a great message to the woman. Ignoring for the moment his own need for literal water, he said to her that he was able to give her, if she desired it, “living water”—thus using water as a symbol of life which he had come into the world to provide and to supply for all mankind.

But the woman failed to comprehend that Jesus was not speaking of literal water, and said to him, “Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”—vss. 11,12

Jesus then explained further. He said, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman replied, “Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.” This reply indicates that the Samaritan woman did not yet understand what Jesus was explaining to her.

The Samaritan woman returned to her people in Sychar, and told them of her experience: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”—John 4:39-42

There is no record in the Book of Acts that a Christian church was ever established in Sychar, but certainly a witness had been given. And the last time Jesus met with his disciples after his resurrection and before he returned to his Heavenly Father, he said to them, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8

QUESTIONS

What does water represent, as used by Jesus in this lesson?

When will all mankind have an opportunity to draw water from “the wells of salvation”?

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