Out here in the west, we can never seem to get enough water.  After July's record-setting rainfall, the experts tell us we're still in a drought.  Reservoirs are not as full as they should be, they say, so keep on conserving water, and of course, they'll still keep the water rates high.  There are some issues in life that never go away in this part of the world, and water shortage is one of those.  We will never have enough water in Colorado.

          They never had enough in Jesus' time, either.  In a desert climate, any rain is welcome and any well, spring or river is a great blessing from God.  Of course, they didn't have the kind of water needs we have.  Our average household uses hundreds of gallons each day, while the average household of Jesus' day used a dozen or two.  Water had to be hauled in by hand - there was no hot and cold indoor running water as we know it except in homes of the wealthy.

          I can recall our getting indoor running water in 1955, and it revolutionized our family.  No longer did I have to carry drinking water from the well a half block away.  No longer did Mother have to use the same wash water over and again.  Indoor water meant more and better water.

          Hauling water in Jesus' day was done in early morning and late afternoon, and it was the women's work.  The well was a place of social gathering, of visiting and sharing conversation.  News was exchanged, people and situations were discussed and deals were made at the wells.  Rebekah found her future husband Isaac through her afternoon duties at the well.  The Samaritan woman Jesus met, however, had come for water at high noon.  That meant she had social problems, and Jesus knew it.  She'd done something wrong, and coming at noon removed the embarrassment of being there when the others gossiped about you.

          Jesus and His disciples had been down south in Judea and were going back up north to Galilee.  Their journey took them through Samaria which is located in the middle of Israel.  Most Jews chose to go around, but that added days to their journey.  A more practical solution was to get through Samaria as quickly as possible, avoiding any contact.  When they came to Jacob's well, the Disciples went to town looking for food, but Jesus sat by the well.

          Samaritans were mixed-blood Jews and considered unclean.  There were other undesirables, such as Canaanites, similar to our Native American Indians.  In the manner of most nations, the vanquished are considered lowly by the victors.  So Samaritans were at the bottom of the social ladder.  So when Jesus asked the woman for a drink, it took her by complete surprise.  Who was this guy?  Didn't He know the rules?

          Jesus often takes people by surprise.  He is an unlikely Savior, doing surprising things to unsuspecting people.  He is the unexpected Savior, the perfect Son of God who mingles with sinners.  Where others think sin might rub off, He jumps right in.  He hopes His nature will rub off onto us and others who have made ourselves unclean by sin.  He comes to the well unafraid, knowing who He's going to encounter.  Jesus always takes people by surprise.

          This unnamed Samaritan woman obliges His request for a drink, but not without objection.  "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan Woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?" (John 4:9)   Jesus responded, "If you know who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him for a drink of living water." (4:10)   He tells her His water will quench her thirst forever, so she says, "Sir, give me this water so I won't have to keep coming here to draw water." (4:15)   That's understandable.  If He could take away even a part of this daily drudgery, let's have some of this water!

          Then Jesus changes the subject.  "Go call your husband."  Said she, "I have no husband."  Said He, "I know, and the fact is, you've had five husbands and the man you're living with now is not your husband."  Said she with a concerned tone in her voice, "Sir, I think you are a prophet.  Our fathers worshipped here on this mountain, but Jews tell us we're wrong in doing that."  Jesus said, "The time is coming when all people will worship God wherever they want, not in a temple or some certain location, but they will worship God in spirit and in truth."  The woman said, "I know that the Messiah is coming and He will explain all things to us."  Jesus said, "I who speak to you am the Messiah."

          What a remarkable conversation!  This is no simple talk of weather or gossip, this one has substance!  This Samaritan woman knew what she was talking about, and she'd met her match in this remarkable Rabbi.

          Many people today tell me they can't hold their own in a religious conversation.  Someone at the office asks a question and they don't know what to say?  I wonder why not?  We all can read.  The Bible comes in our language.  It's in all our homes.  We already know what's in the news, so why not know what's in the Bible?  The Bible says, "Always be ready to have an answer for the hope you have." (1 Peter 3:15)   I challenge each of us here today to pick up that Book in our homes and read it!  There is no reason to apologize for not knowing what's in our Bibles.  We may not know the little details, but we should all know the main stories.  I hope you all get the point!

          This story doesn't end here.  The disciples return, wondering what Jesus is doing talking to this woman.  She, on the other hand, goes into town and tells everyone that she's met a prophet.  "Come and see the man who told me everything I've ever done!" (John 4:29)   Come and see Jesus!  Here's a man who will quench your thirst better than anyone you've ever met.  Maybe He's the Messiah!  Come and see Jesus!  No longer was this woman worried about what people thought of her - she wanted them to meet Jesus.  She turned from a shameful skeptic into a evangelist.

          You and I can all do the same.  Jesus quenches our thirst.  He has what others don't have - something lasting, permanent, eternal.  Christ is what's important - not presidents or popularity, not money or mutual funds, not even health or happiness.  Jesus is what's really important!  Getting what He offers is far greater than being wrapped up in our small worlds of money or makeovers.  He is the Living Water, the stuff that satisfies.  With Him you won't need as much as you think.

          Jesus is Living Water and Living Water is moving water.  It doesn't stand still.  It doesn't stagnate.  Living Water gives life and cleanses.  You and I have been made clean in the waters of our Baptism.  Our sins have been removed by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.  His forgiveness washes us clean and makes us new.  The Living Water takes away the death of sin.  Living Water wakes us up from sleep and moves us to action.  Ordinary water helps a little, but Living Water does miracles.

          After a hymn, the pastor of a small church introduced a guest pastor with them at the service.  He told the congregation this old fellow was one of his dearest friends and wanted him to share whatever he wished that night.  Here is what the older man shared:  "A father, his son and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast when a fast-approaching storm overtook their sailboat.  The wind came so quickly their boat capsized and all three fought for their lives at sea.  Grabbing a rescue line and life preserver amid the terrible swells, the father had just seconds to make the most difficult decision of his life - to which boy would he throw the lifeline?

          "He knew his son was a Christian, but his son's friend was not.  In that split second, the father yelled out, "I love you son," and threw the line to his son's friend.  The friend and the father lived, but the son was swept out to sea and never seen again.  The father knew his son would step into eternity with Christ, but his son's friend might not, so he sacrificed his son to save his son's friend."  The old pastor likened this event to God's giving His only Son so that all people who trust Him could be saved.  And then he sat down amid a great silence.

          After the service, two teenagers came up to him and said, "That was a nice story, preacher, but not very realistic.  What father would ever do that to his son in the hopes the other boy would become a Christian?"  "You have a point there, said the old man, "But the story is just a glimpse of what it must have been for God to give up His only Son.  You see, I'm that boy's father and your pastor over there is my son's friend."

          You and I have a book and it points us to Jesus.  He is the sacrificed one, who gives us life.  All who follow Him will not have to worry about becoming stagnant.  Baptism does more than wash away sins; it plunges us into the Living Waters of God Himself.  Baptism removes our inborn sin, and makes us ready to tackle the problems of each day.  I am baptized!  I have been rescued!  I am washed clean by God.  I am the beloved child of the Eternal Father.  I have the Living Water all around me.  This is water we need not fear.

          There's a young swimmer I know, named David, who has trained for the Olympics almost fulltime the past 6 - 8 years.  He's tried qualifying for two Olympics and just missed by a fraction of a second each time.  David is totally unafraid of the water.  Water is where he lives.  Unlike me, he doesn't choke on it, sink in it or swallow it.  Instead, David slices a path through it with ease and grace, often in near-record time.

          That's what it's like in the Living Water of Christ.  We have nothing to fear, everything to gain.  He is the Water of Life for we who are baptized.  By His mercy we are washed clean forever.  God grant us grace to open His book and learn to share His love, amen.

Copyright © 2004 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.