Quench the Thirst

John 4:1-14
1 Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is baptizing and making more disciples than John" 2 (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them -- his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea to return to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 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?" 10 Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." 11 "But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?" 13 Jesus replied, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14 But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."

I have halfway noticed a commercial on television where people are unexpectantly hit with water. I think it is a commercial for a razor, I guess I need to pay attention to that. Anyway, instead of getting hit in the face with a boxing glove or a pillow, these objects become water, cool, refreshing, and non-traumatizing water. I would have really appreciated that last Friday while mowing the grass during the sweltering heat. It would have have been so nice instead of the branch that smacked me square in the face to have turned into water. But, it wasn't...and i had the mark and scratches to prove it.

What was refreshing that day was when my adorable wife came out and brought me a cold bottle of water. So cold, the bottle was sweating. Oh how it hit the spot! Nothing like cold water to quench the thirst on a hot and steamy day.

Sometimes it is easy to know what you want and what you need. Other times, you know you want something, but you don't know what. I hate those moments; especially when they involve food. I will clean out the refrigerator and cabinets trying to fill that insatiable taste. Then when I find it, I am usually to full from all the other "stuff" to fully appreciate the savoring moment.

The passage of scripture above addresses those kinds of moments. Jesus saw that the woman was searching for something. She was looking for love. Later in the story, we can see that she looked for it the arms of several men...and she was still thirsting. Jesus peered straight into her soul and saw that what she was craving was the love that only could come from God.

What about you? Does your soul thirst? Have you tried to satisfy a craving that nothing, no matter how delicious and appealing it may be, still left a thirst that pleads to be quenched? Then let me ask, How is your relationship with God? What Jesus gives truly is a well-spring of hope and joy. Go ahead and take a sip and see that the water is good.

Godspeed,
Tim