Thirst no more…

Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, " We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." (Jn 4:41-42)

She met Jesus at noon, in the heat of the day at Jacob's well. He was waiting; He "had to" pass that way to sit with her, to speak to her heart, to offer her the gift of eternal life, to quench her thirst...

You see, she had been thirsting, searching for a while, looking for love in her relationships. She had five husbands, and the one she was with now was not her husband. She didn't deny it, didn't take offense. She listened; she recognized Jesus as a prophet; she knew of the promised Messiah. Jesus revealed Himself to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking with you." (Jn 4:26)

Friend, Jesus wants to reveal Himself to us. Just as He pursued the Samaritan woman, He wants to sit with us and have that heart-to-heart encounter. He will meet us with love and tender mercy if we're honest, if we listen and don't take offense when everything we have done is revealed. He wants to draw us closer, to transform our lives, and the lives of others through us.

The Samaritan woman was so overwhelmed by the love of Jesus that she left her water jar... her thirst was quenched, her longings satisfied.

Do you thirst? Have you been drinking from a well that has you thirsty again? Perhaps you're relying on relationships, material possessions, or status to satisfy... and you keep coming up short, still parched. Jesus will satisfy the longings of your heart; He is offering living water: water that will become in you a "spring of water welling up to eternal life."(Jn 4:14)

He will give you His Spirit to lead you to truth and "He does not ration his gift of the Spirit." (Jn 3:34)

With exuberance, the woman told others about Jesus: the living water of His love was a spring that welled up in her and overflowed to others. Many Samaritans believed because of her testimony. However, many more began to believe in Jesus because of His word. They didn't just take her word, they heard for themselves and came to know Him as Savior.

May we come to know Jesus and invite Him to make His home in our hearts this Lent. May we believe in His word and accept His gift of eternal life. May we invite others to see, hear and believe.