Water for Everyone

The Christian Community Comes Alive
Giving Bold Testimony

Trusting the Spirit

John 4:3-14  The Message

4 ^1-3 Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.

^4-6 To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon.
^7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
⁹ The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
¹⁰ Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
^11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”

^13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

For Reflection 

Ah, metaphoric language.  What would the Bible be with out the metaphor?  The meaning of scripture is steeped in mystery and unexpected, counter culture symbolism.  If one denies Biblical mysticism, much of he rich language may be misinterpreted.  What endless life is Christ talking about, physical or spiritual?  Or is there, perhaps another meaning. Isn't it possible that Christ is referring to a God driven human evolution that transforms the world's cultural systems into unending just, compassionate and forgiving societies?

Pray

for the realization of the Kingdom of God..