Dear Christian friends:

Because water is still cheap and plentiful we often do not appreciate it as much as we ought too. But if we stop to think a little bit, we realize that water is very precious and we cannot live long without it.

Our text today is about water. Jesus talks about another "water" that we need. Jesus calls it


All people have a thirst for this "living water" that natural water cannot satisfy. (verse 14)

The woman who came to Jacob's well had this "thirst." She was a bad sinner woman. She came to draw water from the well at noon. All the other women of the village came in the evening when it was cool and they could sit by the well and visit with each other. Why did this woman come at noon? Because she wanted to avoid the other women. They did not like her and refused to talk with her. She was a divorcee. She had four husbands before and was now living with her fifth man. (verses 16-18)

Nobody really loved her or cared about her. She had few friends. Everyone in the village gossiped about her and called her bad names. She had a "thirst" for someone to really love her and care for her. During her past life she had not received any real love and support from anyone. Her parents, her brothers and sisters, her five husbands and the people of Sychar did not love her or care about her. She was "thirsty" for real love and support.

But when she came to the well that day and met Jesus sitting there her life began to change. Jesus impressed her by showing interest in her. Although Jesus was a Jew he spoke to her and even asked her for a drink of water. Jesus was not like the other Jews who refused to talk to her. Jesus was not like the people of the village who refused to talk to her.

People today are "thirsty" like this woman. People are “thirsty” for real love and for real friends; thirsty for someone to accept them as they are; thirsty for forgiveness and peace.

People today have few real friends. Nobody seems to love us. Everyone is selfish. Often even our families who should love us fail to do so.

Like this woman in our text, we all are very "thirsty" for true love and friendship.

Jesus is the “living water" that can satisfy our "thirst."

He said to the woman at the well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who I am: then you would ask me for a drink, and I would give you living water." (verse 10)

Jesus is the "living water" that can really satisfy our strong "thirst." He really loves us and is a true Friend and Helper for us in every need.

See how Jesus loved and helped this woman and all the people of Sychar. He told her that He was the Son of God the promised Savior. (verse 26)

She believed herself and then hurried to the village and told all the people that she had met the promised Savior. (verses 28-29) Many of the people of Sychar then also believed in Jesus. They found a true Friend and Helper. (verses 39-42)

As Jesus loved and helped this woman and all the people of Sychar, so He loves us and helps us. He is the “living water" that satisfies our "thirst" for forgiveness, friendship with God and hope for eternal life. Let us come to Jesus and drink His living water often.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
(TLH 277, verse 2,
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say)

After we drink by faith of Jesus' living water we will gladly hurry to tell others, just as this woman in our text did and as Jesus Himself brought the living water to this woman.

Jesus showed true love and friendship to this woman, and then she listened to Him and believed. We, too, can show true love and friendship to those who do not yet know Jesus. In that way we will find opportunities to bring the water of life to many thirsty souls.

Amen.