Mine Shall Never Thirst | Sermon 12/11/2022

John 4:1-19

Jesus leaves the Judean wilderness from where He was gaining followers and baptizing, intending to go north to the region of Galilee. It is divine compulsion that leads Him to tarry in Samaria on the way. Samaritans were considered interbred, syncretistic, and unclean people hated by the Jews. Nevertheless, Jesus was resting at Jacob’s well when a lone Samaritan woman comes to draw water in the heat of the day. She like Nicodemus must have things to hide as most women went in groups to get water and they went in the morning or early evening.

Jesus breaks all social norms and rabbinical tradition and asks this “unclean” woman for a drink of water. She is surprised as normally Jews don’t speak to Samaritans or if they do it is not pleasant. Jesus essentially says if she knew the long-prophesied promise of the Messiah and that He is sitting before her, she would ask for living water. The Old Testament is abundant with pledges of springs of water coming from God. Ezekiel indicates that these God-given waters will spread upon the land and even into other nations. Christ is giving a foreshadow of breaking down the barrier wall between Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. Salvation is for all types of men and women.

She asks how can He give this water; is He better than Jacob their father? And that’s the point the apostle John has been making is that Jesus is in fact, better. And yet, the Jews aren’t necessarily better than the Samaritans or the other way around. He brings light to her husband situation and sinful relationship. She, like many who are saved by Christ, has sinned against others and others have sinned against her. She recognizes Jesus is more than just a weary traveler but a spiritual authority: a prophet. The well they have drunk from doesn’t fully quench thirst. Jesus will produce a well in us connected to the heavenly source of the Trinitarian God that springs up to eternal life.