A Fountain of Living Water (II)

by Mitchell Tan
February 26, 2021

A SAMARITAN WOMAN’S DISCOVERY OF THE LORD JESUS

The Lord Jesus reaching out to the Samaritan woman was an act of great grace and compassion. There were both racial and gender boundaries that had existed between the Jews and the Samaritans for many years. But the Lord Jesus significantly went beyond these social rifts and sought to bear witness to this Samaritan. As the divine Teacher purposefully taught and revealed Himself to her, she was able to discover the Lord Jesus for who He really is. One of the ways to having living water is through a growing knowledge and a personal discovery of the Lord Jesus.

1. INITIAL REGARD OF JESUS AS ONLY AN ORDINARY MAN

“How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”
John 4:9

When the Lord Jesus first asked the Samaritan woman to give Him a drink, she was taken aback that a Jew would even ask her for a drink. At this point of time, she saw Jesus as only a Jewish man.

2. GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS FOR WHO HE IS

As the Lord Jesus taught the Samaritan woman, she began to have a growing understanding and regard for Him.

A. GRAPPLING WITH THE IDEA OF LIVING WATER

“Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?”
John 4:11

As the Lord spoke to her about having living water, the Samaritan woman grappled with this idea. She was obviously still thinking about a physical well.

“Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”
John 4:15

The Lord Jesus spoke to the woman of Samaria about Him being the giver of living water. However, she did not understand that he was talking about spiritual waters. The Lord had to teach her further.

B. RECOGNISING JESUS AS A PROPHET

“Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.”
John 4:19

The Lord Jesus sought to deal with the sin situation that she was in. As He did this, she began to see that He was like one of the prophets of old.

3. BEING CORRECTED OF WRONG UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP

“Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”
John 4:21

The Samaritan woman spoke to the Lord Jesus about the different places of worship that the Jews and the Samaritans had. She was discussing religious matters with the Lord. The Lord Jesus went on to correct this woman’s wrong understanding of worship and taught her what true worship is.

4. COMING TO SEE JESUS AS THE MESSIAH

“‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’”
John 4:25-26

The Samaritan woman knew that the Messiah would be coming and that He would be able to speak forth all things with regards to the lives of the people, which the Lord Jesus did concerning her sins. The Lord Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman that He is indeed the Messiah.

THE RESPONSE OF HAVING FOUND LIVING WATER

Immediately, the woman left her waterpot and went to the men in the city and began to excitedly speak of Jesus as the coming Messiah. He was able to tell her all things in her life.

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that ever I did. Could this be the Christ?”
John 4:29

She had found this living water in Him. She had genuine faith in Him and spoke to others about Him.

Young people, you too can find this living water in the Lord Jesus. Let’s seek to discover more about the person of the Lord Jesus. Let’s seek to recognise Him as the Christ; the One who knows all things about us and to believe in Him. And if we truly have found this living water, let’s seek to share it with others. We can’t help but do so.

Back to Article Listing