“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'”
– John 4:13-14
Main Thought: Here we find a conversation in John’s Gospel that many of us are familiar with; the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. To the apostles of Christ, I’m sure it seemed very unusual that their Master would choose for them to go through Samaria, for Jews hated the Samaritans, considering them a defiled race and when traveling would do all they could to not go through that area. Also, for Jesus to speak to a Samaritan woman in particular was shocking to the apostles (John 4:27), and as we know from previous verses she was a woman of low reputation, having had five husbands and living with a man who was not her husband. She came to the well alone, initially because of her thirst physically and to avoid contact with the other women who came to the well, but Jesus came here by divine appointment because He knew the great need of her soul was not for physical water, but for the spiritual water that only He could give. When Jesus begins to speak to her, which was to her amazement, and begins to engage her in conversation it is very soon that He identifies the need of her soul. She tries to avoid Jesus’ inquiries by talking about Jacob and the proper place of worship, but it is clear that Jesus will not be deterred. He goes beyond her desire for physical water and speaks to her of water that He will give which will eternally satisfy the great need, the eternal need of her soul. This is a great truth that applies to everyone who is born into this world, searching for something to satisfy their souls but finding really nothing that gives lasting and eternal satisfaction. We were created by God to glorify Him, and until or unless Christ gives us this eternal water, this spring of eternal life welling up within us, we will wander through life separated from God and unsatisfied in our souls. Perhaps Augustine said it best when he said “Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” The Samaritan woman sought satisfaction in human relationships with many men, but those relationships did not satisfy the longing or the emptiness of her soul. Others have sought that satisfaction in money, power, sex, alcohol, drugs, knowledge, and many other pleasures, but have come to find out, like her, that these things do not satisfy. When Christ says here that when He gives this water men will never thirst again, he means that His life, the life that He gives will eternally satisfy. This water that He gives is no mere trickle, it is no small cup or taste of water that temporarily satisfies, but it is an eternal spring of life that will never end; these are the “waters from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3) of which God is the source and supply. What a wondrous comfort and joy it is as a Christian to know that our souls, once wandering in the deserts of sin and darkness, are no longer searching but have found our rest and satisfaction in Christ. May we praise our Lord for finding us one day, as He did the Samaritan woman, and giving us the water of eternal life.

David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Matthew 16:6
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6
Philemon 1:7
“For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” – Philemon 1:7
Hebrews 12:5-7
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He flogs every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” – Hebrews 12:5-7
Isaiah 28:15-16
“Because you have said, ‘We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by. For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” – Isaiah 28:15-16
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalm 84:11-12
Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” – Psalm 84:1
Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” – Hebrews 2:1
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17
Romans 15:1-2
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – Romans 15:1-2