thirsty at the well

When Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4, he told her the truth about how her life was not leading to the outcomes she desired, and invited her to the life that is truly life. In many ways, this is our story too.

Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in a way of living – habits, hang-ups, hurts – as they say. These things become so much a part of us that we barely notice them – and yet we’re dying a slow death because of them.

Jesus says to us, as to her, “everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.” Everyone who keeps trying to fill themselves up with these false versions of refreshment and fulfillment – the only outcome is emptiness – and a longing for more. This is the insidious death-dealing of Satan. 

Lest we cast stones at the woman at the well, let us remember, we are all the woman at the well. We have all had “five husbands” and are “living with another man.” All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Practically speaking, we all have sins and issues that, if left unaddressed, will lead us straight to the truest and worst kind of death – eternal separation from our loving God. This is the hard truth.

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” He offers us something different entirely. He offers us himself, and in him is life and light and love. Let us then, today, when we feel hungry and thirsty in our flesh, remember there is a truer, deeper thing available than just filling our mouths and stomachs and eyes and minds. There is a savior who, though he sees us for exactly who we have been, embraces us in love and will walk with us into a fuller, richer, truer life of who we will be, in him.

And that, for me, is truly Good News.