The One Who Provides Living Water

“Sir, give me this water,” the woman said to him, “so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:5 

She assuredly had the reputation of being an adultress. After all, she had had five husbands and now was living out of wedlock with a sixth man. She lived in a day and age and culture where this was extremely uncommon. Her reputation would lead her to being ostracized by the people of Sychar. This is why she would come to the well at noon, as the day was first beginning to heat up, rather than coming in the cool of the morning with the other women of Sychar. 

So when Jesus spoke of living water, her mind raced with images of clear, cool, flowing water that would not have to be drawn from a cistern. Better still, if she alone knew where this living water could be found, she could go and draw it without being under the scrutinizing eyes of the women of Sychar. She thought Jesus had brought to her the answer to what she perceived as a great need. 

But Jesus had come to meet a greater need for this woman than she could ever imagine. He did not speak of a hidden mountain spring bubbling up from the depths of the earth. Rather, Jesus spoke of the living water of the gospel, a water which would well up to eternal life…a water which would speak of the blood He would shed to cover her sin. 

Jesus would reveal this truth to her, He captured her attention when He disclosed to her what would, outside of Sychar, have only been known by God. He revealed to her His knowledge of the depth of her adultery. And then Jesus revealed to her that He was the Messiah, the Savior God had sent to free her from guilt, shame, and isolation. 

In the course of life, there are times when we live under great shame. We, like the woman at Sychar, seek worldly ways to deaden the guilt. We run away from the truth through addictions and vices. We try to hide the truth from others and from God. We only, in the end, isolate ourselves from the only One who can help us, the One who provides living water. 

Jesus calls on us to worship in spirit and in truth. Repentance begins with the truth, with contrite hearts confessing our sins. There is no need to be dishonest, to try to cover our sins with fig leaves of justification or rationalization. Jesus knows our transgressions fully. Come to Him in honesty. But also come to Him in Spirit-given faith, coming knowing that He provides living water. He has covered all our sins. In Him, we stand forgiven, free from guilt and shame. We are no longer isolated from God. Blessings. 

Frank Van Brocklin 

Principal/Staff Minister 

Coming up at Immanuel Lutheran School: 

❖ March 14 School Board Meeting 

❖ March 15 NLHS Academic Challenge 

❖ March 17 End of Third Quarter

❖March24, 25Parent-TeacherConferences

❖March30NLHSChildren’sTheatre