Are You Thirsty?

N.T. #704 "Are You Thirsty?"

Dec. 30, 2025

John 4

And He must needs go through Samaria. (John 4:4)

LET IT GLOW

Is your soul thirsty for purpose of life, love everlasting, or importance? Come to the well that never runs dry-Jesus. 

Why did Jesus feel He must go through Samaria? Who was He going to encounter there? Why Samaria, of all places? Let's find out.

Most Jews traveling to and from Jerusalem/Judea and the Galilean area would travel east of the Jordan river in order to avoid going through Samaria. Why? 

The Samaritans were idolatrous half-breeds-ethnically pollute religiously confused, and morally debased. (Swindoll) 

In order to find the answer, we need to look back into the history of the Samaritans:

• After the Jews split into the northern and southern kingdom, the northern kingdom established Samaria as its capital.  
• The Assyrians captured the northern kingdom and took many Jews captives and deported to Assyria in 722 B.C.
• Foreigners were brought into the land to settle and keep peace. (2 Kings 17:24)
• There was intermarrying between those Jews who remained in the northern kingdom and the foreigners resulting in a mixed race called Samaritans.
• The Samaritans were considered an impure race by the southern Jews. They were considered to have betrayed their people and nation.
• The Samaritans set up an alternative center for worship on Mount Gerizim. (4:20)

While there was a long-standing prejudice between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus did not live by such restrictions. He took the shorter route to Galilee. (Don't you think Jesus knew a Samaritan woman in need would be at Jacob's well when He got there? I consider He went that way on purpose.)

[Resource: Life Application Study Bible]

It was necessary for Jesus to go through Samaria.

Isn't it necessary for us to go to our choice house of worship?

Do we expect to meet Jesus there?

LET IT GROW

It was a divine appointment, Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well. 

What happened?

• Taking the most direct route to Galilee, Jesus stopped at Jacob's well at Sychar. 
• Jacob had bought this parcel of ground and later gave it to his son, Joseph. (Gen. 48:22) (Falwell)
• Jacob was laid to rest there after Israel's Exodus from Egypt. (Joseph 24:32)
• It was noon when the woman went to the well to fetch water. She avoided getting it in the morning when other women would be there in the morning and evening, for she was an immoral woman. People knew her reputation.
• Here was a Jewish teacher (Jesus) asking a prostitute Samaritan living in sin, and a woman of whom the Son of God asked for a drink of water. (verse 7)
• Were His disciples there? No, they had gone into the city to guy meat, so Jesus was alone with her. (verse 8)
• What was Jesus doing asking her for a drink of water? She was beneath Him as a non-Jew, as a woman, and as a Samaritan. The woman knew her place in society. 
• Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. (verse 10 NLT)

Let's leave the situation there. Jesus didn't want this woman liker her past lovers/husbands had. 

Jesus gave this woman an extraordinary message about fresh and pure water that would quench her spiritual thirst forever. The Gospel is for every person, no matter what his or her race, social position, or past sins. We must be prepared to share it at any time and in any place. 

In the OT many verses speak of thirsting after God as one thirsts for water. (Psalm 42:1; Isaiah 55:1; Zechariah 13:1) God is called the Fountain of Life (Ps. 36:9) and the Fountain of Living Water. (Jeremiah 17:13) Jesus would bring Living Water that could forever quench a person's thirst for God. Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah. Only the Messiah could give this gift that satisfies the soul's desire. (Life Application Study Bible)

LET IT GO

I like this song:

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking, for things that could not satisfy. And then, I heard my Savior speaking, "Draw from this well that never shall run dry."

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord. come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

Come to Jesus, dear one, and you will find Living Water.