As we continue to look at selected passages from Scripture that detail face to face encounters with Christ we find ourselves at Jacob’s well. One of the most important things we need to sustain life is water. Christ offers us something better, living water. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Going places is a way of life especially for those who race. Where have you gone recently? What trips have you made? Did you go because you wanted to or because you needed to? Travel is a part of the world we live in. We travel from here to there at a moment’s notice. Isn’t it great to have that freedom? What motivates us to go places? Generally it is a race, right? We are in Florida for a race, actually several. There are many options here for racers and race fans, so we travel to Daytona in February. What would happen if we let our travel plans be directed by God? Where would we go then?
We have been studying passages that talk about meeting Jesus face to face. We have been talking about the changes that are possible, and probable, in your life when you come face to face with the living God. Those that know Jesus are the face of Jesus to the world. That means we are the ones people need to come face to face with. We must go to the places Jesus would.
When we start to look at things through those eyes we should start to see a different motive. We should go to places with the desire to meet people face to face and show them that Jesus cares for them. We stop being motivated to please ourselves and start letting Christ guide our lives, after all that is what Jesus did.
John 4:4, Now he (Jesus) had to go through Samaria.
Jesus found it necessary; he had to go through Samaria. Samaria was like a bad neighborhood, Jewish people didn’t go there because they didn’t like the people there. Jews believed that the people that lived there had corrupted their faith by intermarrying. They avoided the area by crossing the Jordan, traveling up the other side and then crossing back over when they reached their destination. Crossing the river was not without risk, but they would rather take the risk then go through Samaria.
Jesus set a different tone; He had to go through Samaria. What does that mean for us? Do we go where we are comfortable and safe? Do we avoid those places where people are different than us? Do we reach out to those who need to know Christ or do we only reach out to those we are comfortable with?
We have to go through Samaria. We have to follow God’s lead and go to the places that maybe we wouldn’t think to go, where people need to know Jesus and the love and care Jesus has for them. Ask God to give you the faith, strength and courage to go through Samaria.
When Jesus arrived he needed to rest and get a drink. He headed to a well-established watering hole, Jacob’s well. Our passage relays the story of a hot summer day and the need for water to quench our thirst.
John 4:7-15; When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
There are many things we can discuss about this conversation. First, Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along; in fact they didn’t even talk to each other. I am sure there are some teams in the pits that have the same kind of relationship. We start to see the why Jesus had to go through Samaria; he had to start breaking down the barriers that man had built.
Another thing to look at is the fact that we don’t always see things for what they are. The time of day was noon, the hottest part of the day. Why would you come to draw water at that hour? Why wouldn’t you come in the morning when it is cool and everyone else comes? Because you don’t want to have to answer the questions about your lifestyle that those people were asking. We will learn as we continue to examine this passage that this woman wasn’t leading the best life she could.
Another thing to notice is that she didn’t expect to meet Jesus at the well. She really hoped to be alone at the well so when someone was there she was surprised. When Jesus spoke to her she got defensive. She wasn’t sure who this man was. She also knew she had never seen him before.
Did you notice the question she asked when he offered her a drink? How can you give me a drink, you don’t have anything to draw water with and the well is deep. Jesus draws from a different well than we do. He doesn’t offer us water from a well, he offers us living water.
Living water restores your soul, cleanses your sin and allows you to enter into a relationship with God as one of his children. Living water gives us eternal life in heaven with God. Let me ask you, are you thirsty? Do you want the forgiveness that comes through Jesus? Do you want the inheritance that comes with being a child of God? Do you need a drink?
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.