Living Water

John 4:1-26

Main Idea: Jesus offers us living water so we might be saved and satisfied in him.

I. Surprising (4:1-9)

As Jesus “had” to pass through Samaria (4:4), he crosses a number of barriers in this encounter:

Jews and Samaritans (4:9)
Men and women (cf. 4:27)
The Messiah and a moral / social outcast

“It is difficult to imagine a greater contrast between two persons than the contrast between the important and sophisticated Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews, and the simple Samaritan woman. He was a Jew; she, a Samaritan. He was a Pharisee; she belonged to no religious party. He was a politician; she had no status whatsoever. He was a scholar; she was uneducated. He was highly moral; she was immoral. He had a name; she is nameless. He was a man; she was a woman. He came at night, to protect his reputation; she, who had no reputation, came at noon. Nicodemus came seeking; the woman was sought by Jesus.”
~ James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John

If Nicodemus needed to be “born again” (3:3), then everyone must be born again; if this Samaritan woman could receive “living water” (4:10), anyone can receive living water. These conversations teach us that no one is “too good” to achieve salvation, and no one is “too bad” to be ineligible for salvation.

II. Satisfying (4:10-18)

Jesus offers this Samaritan woman “living water,” which entails a number of meanings:

Literally: living water refers to fresh, flowing, running water, rather than stagnant and sitting water sources

Spiritually: living water is a frequent reference in the Bible to God, who is the source of both physical and spiritual life and vitality (cf. Jer. 2:13; 17:13; Isa. 44:3; Ez. 47:1-12; Rev. 22:1-2)

Jesus seems to introduce a “non-sequitur” into the conversation (cf. 3:3): “Go, call your husband…” In this question and the subsequent interchange, Jesus is doing what all prophets do: exposing sin and shame by the Word of God. Jesus is doing this not to condemn, but in order to save (cf. 3:17), lovingly inviting this woman to come into the light, rather than deflecting or hiding.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
~ C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

III. Saving (4:19-26)

Rather than the Samaritan woman changing the subject, she is actually in search of the proper response to being exposed in her sin. “The woman does not seek to defend herself or to hide the sin. She has placed her trust in the stranger and she does not draw back…. Where sin has been exposed one must ask about the possibility of atonement, or forgiveness. A prophet can bring no healing if the ministry of the priest is not available, if there is no ‘mercy seat’ where sacrifice can be accepted, and sin put away. Where is that mercy seat?” ~ Lesslie Newbigin, The Light Has Come

The Samaritans and Jews had a long-standing and hostile disagreement about the true temple. However, Jesus tells this woman that while “salvation is from the Jews” (cf. Rom. 1:16), the “hour is coming and is now here” when true worshippers will no longer need to travel to the temple, but they will worship in “spirit and in truth” from their inward being.

Jesus then reveals that he is the “true temple” and the “Messiah” that she is looking for. On the “hour” of his crucifixion, Jesus thirsts in our place (cf. Ps. 22:14-15; Jn. 19:28) so that we might be saved and satisfied in him.

“The heart is as insatiable as the grave until Jesus enters it, and then it becomes a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fullness in Christ that He alone is the believer’s sufficiency. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the provision of Jesus that he no longer thirsts – except perhaps to drink more deeply at the living fountain… Come continually to the fountain, and take the water of life freely. Jesus will never think you take too much, but will always welcome you, saying, ‘Drink abundantly, loved one.’”
~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening

Isaiah 55:1-3: Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.