Mensa Otabil - No More Thirst (11/01/2025)
We continue our study of John chapter 4, Jesus’s conversation with the woman at the well. Jesus explains that he is truly the Living Water. John chapter 4, verses 13 and 14: Jesus answered and said to her, «Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.»
So, Jesus is continuing his explanation of what the Living Water is about, and he’s going into more detail to help this woman understand the kind of water that he is offering to her. The water that the woman is fetching from the well is something that has to be obtained with a lot of hard work under the sun. But Jesus pointed out that the water he gives will not be something she has to go up and down to fetch; it will be within her and will bubble out from her constantly.
He’s drawing a contrast between true salvation and false salvation. False salvation is based on our effort, our works-trying to be good, trying to be kind, trying to be generous-we try to please God. But the salvation that Jesus Christ gives to us is from God’s grace, and it starts with the Holy Spirit coming to live in us and pouring forth the Life of Christ in us. So, whereas the woman was working for the water, Jesus says what I give to you will be a work of God’s grace in your life; it will bubble out of you. There is a difference between what we can make of our lives and what God makes of our lives. The things we can make of our lives are based on our own effort. Jesus says to the woman, «Whoever drinks of the water of this world will thirst again, but what I give to you satisfies you forever.»
So, there are things we can do to get temporary fixes, temporary satisfaction for our soul, but the only thing that gives us permanent satisfaction and permanent fulfillment is that which God himself gives to us. This woman had been going up and down to find water, but Jesus says, «I’m going to give you something that does not require daily topping up and daily trips up and down.»
It is St. Augustine who said in his Confessions, and he prayed, «Oh Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.» God has made us for himself. There is an emptiness in every human being that only God can satisfy. People try to fill that emptiness with many things. Some try to fill it with knowledge; they accumulate knowledge and acquire a lot of education, thinking it will fill the emptiness in their soul. Some try to fill it with money; they get a lot of money. Others seek pleasure, indulging in all the pleasures of the world, thinking that will satisfy their soul.
But the hunger in the human soul cannot be filled simply by education, by money, or by pleasure. It is a hunger that is created by God, and only God can fulfill that hunger. That’s what Jesus is pointing out to this woman-that there is something in your heart you’re looking for, and the only one who can give it to you is the one talking to you, the Son of God. I pray that each one of us will find the true Living Water that only Jesus Christ offers. You may try your best to find satisfaction in your life, but if you are very honest, you would know that there is no real satisfaction. The satisfaction comes when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, and he pours out of us his Living Water. May you find the Living Water that he offers.
Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself; our hearts are restless till they rest in you. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»