‘Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”’ John 4:10-15(NLT)
‘On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)’ John 7:37-39(NLT)
‘So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”’ Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11(NLT)
‘When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ‘ Mark 16:19(NLT)
‘‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ Acts of the Apostles 2:17(NLT)
Yesterday, we saw Jesus starting up a conversation with a Samaritan woman by asking her for a drink. He told her that if she only knew who it was that had asked her for a drink, then she would’ve asked Him for living water, and He would’ve given it to her. It was a wedding proposal.
God chose the Jewish people as His own and set up the law, prophets, and Old Covenant through them. Through the seed of Abraham came Christ, God’s one and only son. However, in this significant encounter at Jacob’s well, we see Jesus opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles, too. They’re also His bride.
In today’s other passage in John, we see again that a feast is coming, and that in order for Jesus to send His spirit to us, He had to be glorified. At this point in John, He had not yet been crucified or ascended into heaven.
Once the ascension took place and He sat down at the right hand of God the Father, then and only then, He poured out His spirit on all who would drink the cup of salvation. There was a divine sequence to these spiritual events.
Today, we’re in a period called the “Church Age” where the Lord has poured out His spirit. The Holy Spirit is now available to any who will receive Him. Just like at the wedding in Cana, we are to drink in His spirit that He poured out for us, His bride.
When we drink in His spirit and accept the cup of living water He offers, we’re born again, making us new and alive in Christ. His spirit takes up residence in us and we’re saved from our sins. This is a spiritual occurrence.
The Samaritan woman didn’t fully understand the spiritual meaning behind Jesus’ living water because she took His words literally. I love that she says she wants the water so she doesn’t have to keep coming to the well because, whether she realized it or not, her response also carried spiritual meaning.
Here’s how: The Jews had to continually perform sacrifices at the tabernacle so their sins could be atoned for. Only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies to communicate with God and intercede on behalf of the people. In other words, the people had to keep doing the works required to get to God.
In the New Covenant, we don’t have to do works anymore. It’s a new system based on grace. Jesus took our punishment, and as a result, we now have direct access to Him. We don’t have to “go to the well” and draw from the water of works or religion because we have His living water dwelling inside of us. Jesus is with us and in us at all times.
For this Samaritan woman, the trips to the spiritual well have become unnecessary. She’s becoming the well that can hold the water of the spirit of Jesus and learning how to be His bride. All she has to do is ask for it.
from Will You Marry Me?