1 QUOTE

“What Jesus is really saying to the woman at the well is this, ‘You need me more than you need water.”

- Darrell Johnson

1 NOTE

In high school, my friend’s stepfather had a drinking problem. A really, really big drinking problem. He would wake up at 5 am every morning and chug down a pint of vodka. As a functional alcoholic, he would drink throughout his day, drink after dinner, and then pass out like clockwork at 8 pm every night. (We often took advantage of this by sneaking out the car). He went to prison for multiple drunk-driving convictions. His health deteriorated. His drinking problem ruined his life.

Many Christians have a drinking problem. It is not that we drink too much alcohol. The problem is we don’t drink enough Living Water. Jesus’ offer to the woman at the well is one of the most cherished promises in all the Bible: “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks my water will never thirst again” (John 4:13-14). The Apostle John contrasts the stale water of Moses’ religion with the good wine of Jesus (John 2:6). Jesus turned that stale water into 180 gallons of vintage wine. Clearly, quantity is not the problem. So why are there so many thirsty Christians? Was Jesus lying? 1,000 times no! He is the Truth and cannot lie. The problem is found in Christian drinking habits. Because some drink so little of the living water, their inner-life, core-values, life-goals, and deepest fears are no different than non-Christians. They might watch church on-line, or even go occasionally, but they are not satisfied in God. They are drinking the world water that only satisfied for a moment.

As an English major, I love to nerd out on Greek verb tenses. The verb tense Jesus speaks to the woman is present progressive. An accurate translation of Jesus’ promise to the woman reads, “Those who drink, and are drinking, will never thirst again.” Drinking the Living Water is not a one time event. Drinking the Living Water is something that disciples of Jesus are expected to do every day, as long as it is called today. Just like God provided a one-day serving of manna from heaven every day, so he provides us a daily dosage of Living Water. But our pride, independence and sinful entanglements keep us from daily drinking. May we meet Jesus at the well every day. We are invited. He loves us. And he looks forward to thirst-quenching, intimate, fellowship every morning.

1 QUESTION

Many of us fail to plan and prioritize meeting with Jesus and drinking his water. Do you have a drinking problem? How will make sure your thirst is quenched this week?

Until Next Tuesday,

John