Welcome to part 2 of the Wisdom from The Well series! This week we’re discussing the concept of “living water.”

Christ offers it to the Samaritan woman in John 4. She’s had a few dry seasons — five to be exact. It represents each time she came up empty from the well of her five marriages.

Marriage itself wasn’t the problem. It’s good and God-ordained. But even good things can leave us unfulfilled, if we seek our worth from them instead of God.

The woman in this passage is referred to based on where she’s from (Samaria). As we encounter Christ we all come from something or somewhere that could define us apart from Him. However, He offers His redemption to bring cleansing and renewal to our lives.

If we’re tempted to judge Ms. Wells (my term of affection for the Samaritan woman), it helps to remember faulty fountains spring up in all kinds of places. They appeal to us for all kinds of reasons. You may have a few in mind already.
Whatever “well” we seek to drink from, it can skew our aim at significance or become an assault on our confidence — unless it’s filled with the Messiah’s living water.

Ms. Wells was intrigued and yet, she struggled with the concept. Jesus offered her “living water” without a rope or bucket to dip into the sacred solution. It’s likely she knew water hydrates, cleanses and transports. But now she had to consider if it had a Life of its own.

But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” - John 4:11-14 NLT

As they talked at Jacob’s well, she thought this was the well of wells. After all, Jacob’s lineage established Israel’s covenant with God (See Exodus 2:23-25). In her mind, if living water existed this would be the spot.

Now Ms. Wells’ mind was reeling. Mine is too. The words “thirsty again” resonate. It’s a sign I’m drinking from a place that will never satisfy. However, I won’t grow beyond my frustration and misery until I learn what my emptiness reveals. Human reasoning, quick-fixes and societal standards fluctuate and eventually disappoint.

But just like Jesus met her, He meets us too. What would you ask Him at the well?

Maybe the questions we have for Jesus point to what we need most from Jesus.

Her question: “Where would you get this living water?”

Christ is the source of eternal life. (see John 3:16)

Her question: “Do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well?”

Christ is the Messiah. There is none greater. (see John 3:30-32)

Her question: “How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

Christ doesn’t just offer “better water” than anyone else, He existed long before anyone else. (see John 1:1-5 and 14) His death on the Cross did what no one else could do, offer a sinless sacrifice for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The “living water” Christ gives could never fit in a bucket because He gives Himself.

In biblical numerology “five” is symbolic of God’s grace. After her 5 attempts to quench her soul’s thirst, she met grace — Personified. Jesus wasn’t just another man. He offered her another life — one where she would never thirst again for a faulty fountain. Whenever we fail or thirst, may we encounter Him until we overflow with hope for the heart and joy to the soul.