“This was Jacob’s well. Jacob (also known as Israel) had dug that well to provide water for his family. . . . Jesus was claiming to be greater than Jacob, offering ‘living water.’ In Jewish culture, living water referred to a flowing stream rather that a stagnant well. But it’s more profound than that. Jesus says . . . that this water would bring eternal life, quenching all thirst.”- Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore
“A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”- John 4:23 (NIV)
As Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore move on in Chapter 3 of The Missing Messiah, they begin their study of the first passage that the New Testament uses to form a portrait of Jesus the Messiah.
1. Christ revealed to the Samaritans. As Kyle and Mark note, one of the clearest descriptions of Jesus as the Messiah was revealed early in His ministry. Above all, it came from His own lips.
While Jesus traveled north through Samaria, he stopped at a historic well. A well dug by Jacob. There Jesus rested, waiting for a woman. By the cultural standards of the time, Jesus should not have been talking to her. Because volatile and violent tensions existed between the Samaritans and Jews at that time. Also, men and women avoided interactions with each other.
Most significantly, Kyle and Mark stress, Jesus responded to the Samaritan woman with a spiritual depth charge. He offered the woman living water. In addition, the authors suggest, given Jesus’ bold claim, perhaps we need to capitalize “Gift of God.” Because this gift refers to a person, not a thing.
Today’s question: How do you respond to Jesus as living water, a flowing stream? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Jesus’ blessing for you – bless others”