Thursday December 13, 2018

 

It is a hot and sunny day. You are at the beach and you are thirsty. How much ocean water would you need to drink in order to quench your thirst? I’m sure you’re thinking: that’s a ridiculous question! Everyone knows you can’t drink ocean water to quench your thirst; you would get even thirstier.

Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” – John 4:6-7 NLT

 

This is an unusual conversation. Samaritans and Jews hated each other. Therefore for Jesus to be speaking with a Samaritan was quite rare for the culture of that time. The Jews felt a deep hatred towards the Samaritans because they believed the Samaritans were contaminating the Hebrew race by intermarrying with Gentiles.

 

The Samaritan woman that Jesus asked a drink of water from had been married five times to five different men. To make matters worst, she was living with a sixth guy who wasn’t her husband. She wasn’t married to him because more than likely he was the husband of another woman. It isn’t clear why this woman had so many relationships. What is clear is that none of them were able to quench her inner thirst.

 

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” …But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” – John 4: 9-10, 14-15 NLT

 

Jesus’ response to the thirsty soul was grace. Sometimes all we need is a second chance. One more opportunity to get it right. The Samaritan woman tried on at least six occasions to no avail. Jesus gave her a seventh option, the life quenching grace of God. This grace fills in the holes that our past sins and the sins of others left in our souls. This quenching grace liberates us from the past.

 

Just like the Samaritan woman, we have come up with our own ways of dealing with our past and present situations. Just as drinking ocean water cannot quench our physical thirst, attempting to quench our thirsty souls through sex, drugs, alcohol, work, religion, or any number of other things will never work. Only God can quench our thirst. But, we must declare that we are thirsty and need Him. A declaration like this is an invitation for God to come in and quench your thirsty soul.