DRINKING FROM THE WELL

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

Having been introduced by John the Baptist, the ministry of the Lord Jesus got off to a remarkable start. Some with faith had waited for the Deliverer for over 4,000 years. Scripture tell us that, at that time, "the people were in a state of expectation" (Luke 3:15). The fiery John had whetted their appetite for the Messiah! Following His temptation in the wilderness, "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about" Luke 4:14). It was not long until the Pharisees heard Jesus "made and baptized more disciples than John." Knowing this, Jesus left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. The trip led Him through Samaria.

Here, in Samaria, was Jacob's well, dug by the patriarch over 1,700 years before. The Word tells us Jesus sat on that well, "being wearied with his journey" (John 4:6). While there, a lonely figure approached Him--brought to Him, as it were, by the Father. It was a woman--not a Jewish woman, not even a good woman. She was morally tainted and spiritually ignorant. Startling the woman, Jesus asked her for a drink. She knew it was not fashionable for a Jew to ask a Samaritan, much less a Samaritan woman, for anything. But Jesus did not honor the hoary traditions of men--He asked her for a drink. After expressing her surprise, Jesus said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:9-10). Confused by Christ's words, the woman asked how this could be. It was then Jesus gave the words of our text. "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

The nature of spiritual life was thus unveiled! The source from which nourishment and satisfaction would be derived would be placed within the one who drinks what Jesus gives--who believes. It would well up within, springing up into everlasting life, bringing one into intimacy with the Living God and eternal verities. No stagnant pool here! A bubbling well, giving forth fresh and invigorating water from within. The child of God carries the well within himself! No wonder Solomon said, "a good man shall be satisfied from himself" (Prov 14:14).

It is fashionable these days to drink from the other person's well--like the woman drinking from Jacob's well. The number of these wells are to numerous to mention. They range from denominational wells to convention wells, from library wells to seminar wells. But they all have this in common: the person is drinking from a second hand source, and therefore thirsts again. Genuine satisfaction of soul is not realized in this manner. It cannot be denied there is some profit in this--exposing ourselves to the insights of others. But, like Jacob's well, we will "thirst again." Such wells cannot be our main source!

At some point, you must drink from within--from the well that springs up within you. That well is available to you wherever you are. Paul and Silas drank from it in a Phillippian jail. John drank from it on a rock Isle jutting into the Aegean Sea. It has sustained people in deserts of trial, storms of testing, and floods of opposition. It is another view Divine fellowship, fulfilling the Covenantal promise, "AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD" (John 6:45). At the most trying moment, this well can "spring up" to life everlasting, yielding refreshing water to the soul. It clarifies the promises, and diminishes the difficulties of this present life. It strengthens us to fulfill our ministries, and enables us to stand against the wiles of the devil. When was the last time you drank from this well?

-- MONDAY:. New Series: INNER CONFLICT --