Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of December 13, 2020

Weekly Reading: Hebrews 13, John 1-4
Passages Referenced: John 4:1-41; John 14:6

In a time of global uncertainty, a pandemic has plagued the world with fear, sickness, and unknowns. People near and far have faced difficulties that will be recorded in our history books. Believer and non-believer search for truth, hope, happiness, rest, and love. Many are drinking empty pursuits from dried-up wells that attempt to provide temporary relief for their tired, weary soul, but it will not quench their thirst.

In this week’s reading, we find Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman. (John 4:1-42) In this passage, He speaks about the spiritual thirst that is rampant among today’s generation and those who have yet to know Christ, and how they can quench their unfulfilled spiritual thirst by coming to the well of living water.

The story begins with Jesus and the disciples, who came to the Samaritan town of Sychar. There Jesus rested at a well. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please, give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because His disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised because, in those days, Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans. They certainly did not associate with sinners. The woman had a particular past, and Jesus knew it. Jesus referred to the well and said to the woman, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 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.” The woman said to Jesus, “Give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” Jesus told the woman that He is Christ the Messiah. The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came from the village to see Jesus. Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat something. But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about. My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” Many Samaritans from the town believed in Jesus.

What does Jesus want us to see in this story of His interaction with the Samaritan woman? First, we see that Jesus embraced awkward moments. Jesus loves people. We see this in how He dealt with the woman at the well. Jesus broke cultural rules to initiate conversation with the woman right where she was. Jesus embraced awkward opportunities to love and forgive. This causes us to ask ourselves: how can we say we love someone and not share with them the greatest thing we ever found? We also see that Jesus went into her world to bring her into His. He does the same for all people.

Another lesson we learn from this story is that we should start where people are, not where we think they should be. Jesus talked about what the woman was interested in – water. He asked her for a drink of water and used words that she could relate to. He was interested in her story. Once we find which well a person drinks from, that is when we can offer them “Living Water.” Jesus told the woman that He was the Messiah and gave her the free gift of living water – salvation, eternal life. Jesus loves people too much to leave them the way they came. We also see that God wanted to fill a city with revival. Jesus skipped a meal and brought back a harvest. And the woman brought the whole town back with her to hear Jesus.

Jesus is calling all to Him. Look at the lyric of the song O Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship: “Have you come to the end of yourself? Do you thirst for a drink from the well? Jesus is calling.” You can continually drink from the world’s sources, but you’ll thirst again. (John 4:13) But one drink from Jesus, and you’ll never thirst again. So, have you asked Jesus for the living water of eternal life? And who has God placed on your heart to share this Gospel with? How is the Holy Spirit leading you to embrace a world that is crying out, “I am thirsty!”?

Remember, “He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” (John 14:6) Jesus saves! Amen! – Jamy Gregory