This holiday season let us consider who Jesus is, finding strength and joy.Who is Jesus? Why does this matter? Does this bring you joy? Jesus, our Savior, brings the Spirit with living water so that we will no longer be spiritually thirsty, but satisfied forever.Let’s take a “next step” in following Jesus today, by receiving the Holy Spirit and drawing our spiritual life from God.In John 4:1-42 we read an important story for our search. Jesus sat down at a well, tired & thirsty from days of walking, and makes Himself available for conversation with a Samaritan woman. This is a decision counter to the culture of Jews, who viewed themselves as superior to Samaritans. It’s easy for us to talk with people and yet not truly see who they are or perceive what they’re experiencing. Jesus truly sees her and recognizes that her heart is craving something more than what she was currently finding in life. In this setting, Jesus calls her to a fulfilling relationship with God and reveals His identity as the Messiah.Many people in a Samaritan village find faith in Jesus, believing Him to be the Savior of the world. Jesus teaches His followers that the fulfillment found by being part of this process is life-giving and valuable.
In their conversation, The language of a changed life calls to mind a string of prophecies anticipating new hearts, the exchange of failed formal religion for a heart that knows and experiences God, and that hungers to do his will. (as seen in Jeremiah 31:29-34 Ezekiel 36:25-27 Joel 2:28-32)The language of “living water” was not a new idea to them. “My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me – the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all.” – Jeremiah 2:13 They had rejected the fresh running water supply of God as Giver of life, choosing instead things that they fashioned themselves (which were cracked leaving them with nothing to sustain them).They also had received word of future days:
In the day of God’s salvation:
“will draw water from the wells of salvation.” – Isaiah 12:3
“They will neither hunger or thirst,” – Isaiah 49:10 Revelation 7:16The pouring out of God’s Spirit will be like pouring “water on the thirsty land, and streams on dry ground,” – Isaiah 44:3 “On that day life-giving waters will flow,” Zechariah 14:8-9 Ezekiel 47:9This was not a new spiritual idea to them: “Come all who are thirsty, come to the waters… that your soul may live.” Isaiah 55:1-3Later Jesus talked about this more: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from this heart.’ (When he said, ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered his glory.) When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’” – John 7:37-41We receive Jesus as Savior and are born again into this new life. We are cleansed and given a limitless supply of spiritual life through the Holy Spirit and an uninterrupted personal relationship with God. From our God we can now draw life-giving strength and joy. We look to God as our source.
What do we learn?
1. Jesus is the source of limitless spiritual life.
2. We can find peace and fulfillment through Jesus.
3. We will not be driven by cravings, held down by guilt, lacking supply when we draw from Jesus.
What should we do?
1. Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Receive the Holy Spirit as your Guide. Receive God as your Source of life.
John 14:26-27 Holy Spirit Advocate. Peace of mind and heart.
2. Draw strength and joy from this personal relationship through daily contact.Let’s take a “next step” in following Jesus today, by receiving the Holy Spirit and drawing our spiritual life from God.