Jesus Promises He is Living Water

John 4:10 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.”
 
You’ll note Jesus didn’t specifically say, “I am living water.” But as “I AM” defines God’s character, Jesus was clearly defining his eternal character through the illustration of a constant flow of life-giving water.
   As in the previous lesson, Jesus was ministering to a woman at a well at Sychar, Samaria. The Samaritans were descendants of the 10 tribes of Israel that formed the Northern Kingdom. Because of their continued rebellion, God dispersed them among the nations around them in the 700’s BC. As they intermarried with foreign nations, the 10 tribes became a mixed race known as Samaritans. The Jews of Jesus’ day were descended from Judah and Benjamin. No Jewish rabbi would talk to a woman, much less a woman who came alone to the well at noon. She was not permitted to associate with other women in her village because of her past and current immoral relationships.
   Jesus on his way from Jerusalem to Capernaum, stopped his journey. He sent his disciples to get some food. Then he began to pour into the woman’s soul.
   Living water is Jesus’ salvation that continually flows into the rescued soul. Note Jesus says it the gift of God. Jesus later said   at the Feast of the Tabernacles that your faith in him will open the flowing faucet: John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  For the faithful believer, God is lavish with his salvation because God is love. Salvation flows from God, so our salvation will flow from us into others’ lives.
   Perhaps the woman at the well represents all of Israel. “If you knew the gifts of God.” he said to her, “and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Oh, yes, Israel, if you had known of God’s gifts to you, your cup would have overflowed with joy. You would not have been dispersed among the pagan nations. You would have continually celebrated your relationship with God and feasted at the Lord’s gracious table. Grace and peace would have been your life. You, Judah and Benjamin would still be the 12 tribes, one nation under God’s love.
   Jesus urgently loved the woman, “Come,” he essentially says, “serve me and see what I will give to you. I have living water for you. It is my gift of life. Drink now. Be alive forever. Be blessed eternally. Come, lie down beside the still waters and know rest for your soul. This drink will last you forever.”
   Do you need this today? Are you thirsty for God’s presence? The woman received Jesus’ gift. She became free from her isolation to become a confessing member of a redeemed community. The Holy Spirit moved that village to repentance. It became an image of the church to come. Its members received the Spirit’s power. They drank the living water. The I AM God quenched their thirst as he had long promised.
   This is also for you. This is for your church, too. God has steams of living water prepared to flow into your soul.