John 4:13-15
J.B. Phillips New Testament
13-14 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again. For my gift will become a spring in the man himself, welling up into eternal life.”
15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may stop being thirsty—and not have to come here to draw water any more!”
15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may stop being thirsty—and not have to come here to draw water any more!”
Two things spoken by the Samaritan woman at the well:
First is she seeks a sustainer. We thirst for much more than just water in life. Some
thirst for power and recognition and will step over everyone on their climb up
the corporate ladder, but most just need to be assured that what they work for
and what they build and grow will not perish or be taken from them. That when we invest of ourselves in something that is precious and valuable to us that it will increase and net fruit. Wether it be our bank accounts or our relationships. Our hopes are all the same, we want the best for our families and our children.
This woman has had numerous men in her life and is now
involved with another who does not respect her enough to marry her. If we can
see past the immorality of her life choices and not judge her then we will see
that in those lost relationships there must be much pain and sense of failure
and loss. She thirsts for companionship, true friendship, love.
And second she asks
for relief from having to draw water from that particular place. Notice she
says, nor come HERE to draw (NIV)... In her time the village women came to that well
to draw their days water, they did so in the cool of the morning. This woman
comes in the heat of the day. Why? Why come when the work is most laborious?
When all the other women are gone? The answer is ridicule and shame. Shame of
her reputation, shame of her lifestyle, personal shame of yet one more bad
relationship.
She thirsts for Redemption! She is really saying to Jesus before
she even knows Him as Messiah, please be my unending source of peace and please
take my shame from me that I may again enjoy the cool of the morning and the
friendship of those around me. Be my companion, my endless love.
The heart of a person is so clear to see, if we can but only
not look through the lens of judgment.
