Title: Living Water Third Sunday of Lent

Date: 2008-02-24

Reference: John 4: 5-14

Years ago several men were shipwrecked and left drifting aimlessly, on the ocean, in a lifeboat. As several days passed, under the scorching sun, rations of food and water were depleted. The men grew deliriously thirsty. One very thirsty man ignored all previous warnings, and gulped down salt water, and quickly died. He died because ocean water contains seven times more salt than the human body can safely ingest. Drinking salt water dehydrates a person because the kidneys demand extra water to flush out the overload of salt. The more salt water a person drinks the thirstier he becomes until he actually dies of thirst.

We were all created with a deep inner thirst for God. The Bible says: “As a deer pants for water, so we long for God.” This desire, this thirst can only be satisfied by God. Like the man drinking sea water, we often thirst for something that looks like what we want. We think it will quench our thirst. We don’t realize it is the exact opposite of what we really need. In fact it can actually harm us.

We often try to quench this deep inner thirst with everything but God. Family, accomplishments, possessions, career, power. The more we drink of what the world has to offer, the thirstier we actually become. Jesus told the woman at the well that the water from the well, will satisfy for one day only. “Tomorrow” said Jesus, “you will have to come back for more. And the next day, and the next, and the next.” “If you drink the water I give you will never be thirsty again.”

Water baptism is a symbol of this living water offered to each of us by Jesus. Years ago a Methodist Minister and a Baptist Minister were discussing baptism. The Methodist asked if the Baptist considered a person properly baptized if he were immersed in water up to his chin. “No” came the quick answer. “Up to his nose?” Again, “No.” “If you immerse him up to his eyebrows do you consider him baptized?” “You don’t seem to understand” said the Baptist, “A person must be immersed completely until his head is covered.” “Well that’s what I’ve been telling you for years” responded the Methodist. “It’s really only a little water on the top of the head that counts.”

However much water is used, baptism is an outward and a visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. The inward grace is our acceptance of the living water Jesus spoke about.

Today’s Scripture reading describes how Jesus met the woman at the well. Jesus was tired and sat down to rest. The disciples had gone into town to buy some food. A Samaritan woman came out to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her for a drink. She responded: “We’re not supposed to have anything to do with each other.” Jews and Samaritans were supposed to hate each other. Racism is alive and well today as well. Even in the church racism is real. We justify it and call it other things but it’s a problem.

Jesus looked past all that divides us and said: “You don’t know what God wants to give you and you don’t know who is asking you for a drink. Everyone who drinks water from this well will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again.” Soon there was a reversal or roles at the well. The one who had been asked for a drink of water addressed the thirsty traveler and asked him for the water he offered.

Jesus had time for everyone. Jesus had time for Nicodemus the proud Pharisee and he had time for a Samaritan woman.

The woman at the well was filled to overflowing with living water. She left her water jar there at the well and ran back to town. She said to her neighbors: “I may have met the Messiah. Come and see a man who knows all about me, who told me everything I have ever done.” Everyone in town went out to see Jesus. Many Samaritans put their faith in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. They asked Jesus to stay with them. He did stay on for two more days. And in that time, many more believed because of what Jesus said and taught. When they heard Jesus personally, they were so excited about what he had to say they begged Jesus to stay with them. The Samaritans began their spiritual walk by trusting in what the woman said. Many of them soon developed a personal relationship with Jesus. “Now we know for ourselves” was their happy testimony. Week after week I stand here and describe what a personal relationship with God is like. There comes a time for each of us when we accept that friendship with God for ourselves.

Perhaps she left her water jar there at the well because she now had living water that could not be contained in a jug. Living water, springing up to eternal life cannot be contained in earthen pots. On that day, as this particular woman went out to draw water she was the least likely prospect for salvation. She certainly didn’t expect for her life to be turned upside down. And yet God used her to win almost an entire village for Christ. God is ready, willing, and able to offer anyone of us the same living water he offered the woman at the well. The results could be the same.

We will never know the name of the woman who visited with Jesus at the well that day. We only know she was a faithful believer and even today we are inspired by her example.

Who knows, how many, over the years, have come to Christ as a result of the witness of this faithful woman. Sometimes in life we feel insignificant and even useless. We sometimes feel we are of little use to God, of little help to God. If only I had more money, more talent, more ability I could become an effective role model.

Remember, Jesus cared about everyone. He had high praise for the poor widow in the Temple who tossed only a few cents in the offering plate. And Jesus took time to visit with a Samaritan woman who had been married six times. God calls us into relationship with Himself and is willing to use us to make an important difference in our corner of the world.

In some cultures if a person accepts a drink of water from another, there is an unwritten understanding that they should always be friends. This certainly the case at the well that day. This woman would never, ever, be the same again. And because of her witness, ministry, and testimony, hundreds of others would be changed as well.

We all know the sensation of being thirsty. Nothing worse. When Jesus was on the cross he cried out: “I am thirsty.” He was speaking for us all as he was dying for us all. Nothing quenches our thirst like a cook drink of water. Even worse than physical thirst is being parched spiritually. The spiritual thirst we all feel can be satisfied only by the living water Jesus alone offers.

There are many references to water in the Bible. The very first verse of the Bible says: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

And the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the deep water.” The book of Exodus tells how the Israelites were thirsty as they traveled in the wilderness. God had Moses strike a large rock with his staff, and water came out so the people could drink. Earlier Moses parted the water of the Red Sea so the people could cross over to safety. Our best known Psalm 23 reminds us how God leads us beside the still water.

The Prophet Jeremiah described a time of drought when people would languish. He said: “In that day the nobles will send their servants for water. They come to cisterns but they find no water. They return with empty vessels.” Jeremiah was describing not only a physical drought but also a time spiritual dryness.

We should never take water for granted. We should never take any of God’s gifts for granted. The fact remains each of us has unlimited access to all the water we want and need this day. Water to wash with, cook with, water to drink. I remember a man who whoever he prayed over a meal would say: “We thank you for these gifts. For this food and water.” This water is a gift from God.

None of us will be physically thirsty this day. But many of us here are in need of the living water Jesus continues to offer. Jesus offers this living water through His Spirit, through the written word the Bible, and through much prayer. This gift of living water cannot be received without receiving the gift giver. Jesus is anxious to offer anyone of us living water this day. Jesus is anxious to begin a personal relationship with anyone who does not know him. Jesus wants to deepen the relationship with those who are following him.

I think we are afraid to let go and let God. We are afraid to give God the control of our lives. We are afraid of what receiving this living water will mean. And so we go through the trappings of religion rather than enjoying a relationship with Christ. We’re like the woman who saved for years and finally had enough to buy her life’s desire.a sailboat. She had the sailboat installed in her backyard explaining.”I’m actually terrified of the water.”

Come to the water this day and enjoy the gift Jesus has for you.