The Encounter at the Well

The Encounter at the Well

By Pastor Gary Wayne

When Jesus was talking to the women at the well, He said some things I want us to look at today.

Text: John 7:37-39, John 4:9-14
Jn.4:14b “the water I give him will become in him a fountain… springing up…”
“For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!” Passon Translation

A side note in the in the PT margin: The Greek verb used for “springing up” is not normally used for inanimate objects (water). It is a verb used for people (living things) and means jumping or leaping up. The Septuagint translates this verb elsewhere as an activity of the Holy Spirit.

What’s the difference between a cistern, a well and a fountain?
So what is Jesus wanting to give? The Holy Spirit springing up, jumping, or leaping up in our lives.
Having the baptism of the Holy Spirit isn’t about just making you feel good about yourself, He is to be active in our daily lives – NEVER intended to be just a Sunday Morning thing.

Jn.7:37a
Why did Jesus “cry out?” What evoked / induced this passion in Him?
Let’s look at the context - this event took place about 6 months before His crucifixion.
Ver.37a - “on the last day, which was that great day of the feast…”
It’s the celebration of the “Feast of Tabernacles.” Which was the annual recounting of the trip through the wilderness.
Among the things the feast included was the “Water pouring ceremony.” What would occur was a very dramatic moment. It was the climaxing ceremony of a weak of celebration.
A week of high feasting – can you sense the excitement at this moment?
There were tents and little sheltered areas built from branches, all over the place where families came from all over Israel to get together in this one place for the time of festivities.
This whole celebration was a reminder of how the Israelites traveled in the wilderness for 40 years.
Here on the last day of the feast, the “water pouring ceremony” was remembering the miracle of the water given all through the wilderness journey.
We learn from Rabbinical writings that the priests had huge golden pictures filled with water from the pool of Siloam which would be poured out upon the altar as an offering to God.
And while the water began to be poured out and would be splashing down the steps of the temple and the people would shouting and singing, lifting up high praises to God reciting Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
They were recalling the power of God to sustain life.

I wonder if Jesus wasn’t frustrated by all the religious activity, the singing, shouting, excitement, yet they didn’t get it. `
These people were celebrating what they didn’t even understand.
I wonder how often on a typical Sunday morning do we do much the same?

Understanding the contest and setting let’s read this text – Jn.7:37-39.
Now jump forward to our day, when the Holy Spirit has now been given, what does Jesus say would happen to those who have baptized in the Holy Spirit?

“…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

Eph 5:17-8 “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life (NLT); but be filled with the Spirit…”
This verse gives us an understanding that being “filled with the Spirit” is an ongoing happening. And exact translation would be something like, “be you being filled…”
Not a one time event, but the wording in the Greeks means it happens again and again and again and again…..

Being “filled with the Spirit” does not point to an experience we have had.
Being filled is not measured by what I contain, but by what flows from me.
How do I know if I’m’ filled with the Holy Spirit? By the continual overflow of His presence throughout my day, throughout my weak, throughout my life.
This is not intended to be a Sunday church thing. But a daily outpouring of His presence.

The picture Jesus gives us in this passage is the Holy Spirit is like a river flowing from our lives.
The picture is not of a bottle containing Him, but a river flowing, impacting every place I go.
He lives in us, but He wants out.

Let’s take a moment and ponder what God is saying to you personally as He encounters you at your well.

Knowing the setting of these verses, and God’s intention for Jesus to give us the Holy Spirit, if Jesus were to encounter you at your well, what would be His prayer for you concerning the presence of the Holy Spirit in you?
“I want to pour My presence out in you – filling your life with My blessing and manifesting My presence everywhere you go.

I think the Holy Spirit’s prayer for me would be something like: I want to flow in and out of you wherever you go. I want to spring up in your home, at your play time, when you go to Missoula, when you go to the post office.
I don’t want to be like a cistern, but a fountain in your life.

What should be my prayer to the Holy Spirit?
God, I want what You want. – And You know my hear if I actually mean this, so help me to want what You want.