THE WELL SPRINGING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE
“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life”
(John 4:14)
INTRODUCTION
Jesus was hard at work (4:1). The “people were coming and were being baptized” (John 3:23) by John in Aenon near Salim. Jerusalem “was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him” (Matt. 3:5-6). John was a busy man and many were going out to him listening to his preaching and being baptized, confessing their sins. There was never a preacher before like him. No one had had the success that John was having. It is quite rare to find anyone coming out to hear the prophets of God but that is the kind of preacher that John was. Even our Lord said, “among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!” (Matt. 11:11) And yet the fourth chapter of the gospel of John says that “Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John.” This was no small feat. Jesus was hard at work.
Visiting a historic place (4:4-6). Jesus was leaving Judea going to Galilee and “had to pass through Samaria.” And the piece of land on which he found himself was the very land that Jacob bought from the “sons of Hamor…for one hundred pieces of money” (Gen. 33:19). In that day it was called Shechem. At this place he erected an altar and dug a well. He called it “El-Elohe-Israel” which means God, the God of Israel. Jacob gave this land to his son Joseph who would later be name “Zaphnath-paaneah” meaning the preserver or giver of life (Gen. 41:45).
In Hebrews 11:22 we read, “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.” As it is written, “Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the piece of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons” (Josh. 24:32). Not only was there once an altar here, not only was there a well here, but Joseph’s bones were buried here. Why make mention of all this? Because it is at this place that a woman of Samaria would have an encounter with God, the God of Israel face to face. It is at this well where she would learn about the springs of eternal life. It is on this piece of ground where she would meet the Giver of Life. This historic place will no longer be remembered for Jacob’s well or Joseph’s bones, but for Jesus’ words.
Being wearied (4:6). Jesus didn’t grow weary from gathering his disciples (Ch. 1) or turning the water into wine (Ch. 2:1-12) or driving the money changers out (Ch. 2:13-22) or performing signs and participating in the Passover (Ch. 2:23-25). He was wearied by a late night meeting with Nicodemus or even baptizing more disciples than John (Ch. 3, 4:1). He grew weary from traveling. It is the physical labor that will wear a man out, not spiritual labor. This associated with the flesh will exhaust men while things associated with the spirit will strengthen them. The meeting with this woman would serve to refresh Jesus. This was the food that the disciples didn’t know about (John 4:32-34).
This is how spiritual life works. The things of this life cause weariness while the things of the life to come cause renewal. Therefore, we are instructed “do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13). And again, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9). Jesus did not grow weary from doing good, He grew weary from the activities associated with this world. Even in the persecutions He faced including the cross, Jesus endured because He was accomplishing the will of Him who sent Him. What an example (Heb. 12:1-3).
The Samaritan people. The Samaritans were a sort of spiritual mutt. They were half bread Jews. This is because Samaria was a boiling pot like America. When men from other nations came to the land, they brought their gods as well. It is a land that was purchased by Omri, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:23-24) and was eventually inhabited by men from many nations. “The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities” (2 Kings 17:24). They also brought one of the priests who “taught them how they should fear the Lord” (v. 28). So they had all the gods of the other nations as well as the “god of the land.” The citizens of the city had a spiritual smorgasbord every day.
“But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived. The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.” (2 Kings 17:29-33)
This kind of activity continued on. One god was as good as another in their minds. They wanted to serve many gods including the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But He is a jealous God and commanded, “The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods” (2 Kings 17:38). But these nations, “feared the Lord, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day” (v. 41).
Beyond prejudice (4:7-9). “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans).” Because of their spiritual idolatry, the Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans. Much of the enmity had to do with the turmoil at the rebuilding of Jerusalem. They approached the king saying, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here” (Ezra 4:2). When they were refused permission to participate because they really had “nothing in common” (v. 3), they then began to frustrate Nehemiah and company from rebuilding. There was hostility between the Jews and Samaritans. Jesus even instructed the apostles not to “enter any city of the Samaritans” (Matt. 10:5).
So why do we find Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman? Not only was she of these people whom the Jews had nothing to do with but she had five husbands and the one whom she currently had was not her husband (John 4:18). What will Jesus give her? What will Jesus give this woman, this Samaritan, this adulterer? Living water!! He had once instructed the disciples not to go to the Samaritans but upon His ascension into heaven we hear these words, “you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus went beyond the history of the Samaritan people and saw a soul. He knew that she was wicked. If she would ask, He would give her what He would give anyone who asks, living water.
LIVING WATER
Examples of those asking for it. This was the exception under the old covenant and the norm under the new covenant. When Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost the people asked Him, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) When Philip preached Jesus to the eunuch he said, “Here is water, what prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) When the jailor heard Paul and Silas singing hymns and praising God he asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he asked Him, “Lord, what will You have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) When each of these men was told what to do, they immediately obliged. Why? Because they perceived who Jesus was and what He offered. They asked. This is rare in our day. The reason people are not asking these questions is because they do not know the gift of God or who Jesus is. As it is written, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” It is just that simple. They don’t ask because they don’t know Him or what He offers.
If you knew the gift of God (4:10). The gift of God is stated in many ways describing the same thing.
Giving the Holy Spirit. Those who repent and are baptized receive the forgiveness of their sins and “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Simon tried to “obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20) “The gift of the Holy Spirit” was poured out on the Gentiles also (Acts 10:45). Peter recalled the event saying, “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17) Those in Christ have “tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 6:4).
Justification. “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).
Grace. “But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many” (Rom. 5:15).
Righteousness. “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17).
Eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
Participation in ministry. Paul was “made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace” (Eph. 3:7). Jesus gave “some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11) “according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph. 4:7). Timothy was to “kindle afresh the gift of God” given him through the laying on of Paul’s hands.
These are all included in the “gift of God.” When people perceive and understand this gift they will ask for it. They will ask for living water. And they will say things like, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)
If you knew who it is (4:10). She didn’t know Him. She knew and was waiting for the Messiah who would Many people know Jesus in the sense that He died for their sins and was the Son of God. But this is not what it means to truly “know Him” like Paul desired (Phil. 3:8-10). The reason people leave the Lord, fall away, turn back, neglect the assembly, don’t read the Bible, prefer the things of the world over the things of God is because they do not know the gift of God and Him who gives. They just don’t know, despite what they say.
You would have asked and He would have given (4:10). If she knew she would have asked. And if she would have asked He would have given. Jesus would have given it. Not, “He might have” but “He would have.” Make no mistake about it, if you ask for it you will get it. He said in the last pages of the Bible, “Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Rev. 22:17). God wants to pour out blessings on His people. He wants them to drink freely. If she would have asked, He would have given.
Living water (4:10). He would have given her “living water.” This is in contrast to the water of Jacob’s well. It is moving and vibrant water rather than a still stagnant water. This water has to do with God Himself, His Spirit, His Son, His salvation, His gift! Jesus will later say, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39). Jesus is the One who will “give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost” and will guide them their (Rev. 21:6; 7:17).
It doesn’t just have to do with the person Jesus but with having God as a refuge. The psalmist said it this way, “They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Ps. 36:8-9). Isaiah spoke of those who will “joyously draw water from the springs of salvation” (Isa. 12:3) while Jeremiah referred to God Himself as “the fountain of living waters” (Jer. 2:13; 17:13).
The idea is that fellowship with God is refreshing. He renews man and gives him vitality. No one among God and walking with Him is ever found exhausted or weary because anytime spent with Him gives strength. God brings life. He gives “living water.” This is why in the largest sense, He is the God “of the living” (Mk. 12:27). While He has always been the “Fountain of living waters” we now find Jesus saying that He will give this living water. Salvation had never been abundant and the refreshing waters of God had never been so available. Man now has access to God through Christ. If anyone comes to Jesus and asks, He will give him “living water.”
A GREATER WELL
Because He is the greater man (4:12-13). Several questions are raised by the woman concerning Christ’s ability to give her water. First she says, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with.” Jesus didn’t have with Him a rope, a basket or even a cup to draw any water with. She adds, “and the well is deep.” She then compares Jesus to the one who built the well, father Jacob. “You are not greater than him are you?” Indeed He is. While Jacob gave them the well, he himself drank from it, his sons drank from it, even the cattle drank from it. “Are You greater than him?”
Jesus answers, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Jesus offered a greater well because He is the greater Man. Those who drank from Jacob’s well would thirst again, those who drank from Jesus’ well would never thirst. Those who drank from Jacob’s well had to travel to it, those who drink from Jesus’ well have it inside them. Those coming to Jacob’s well must draw from it, those with Jesus’ well have it in them springing up. Jacob’s well produced water, Jesus’ well produced eternal life. He has a greater well because He is greater.
Whoever drinks will never thirst (4:14). This has to do with being satisfied. Those coming to Jacob’s well or any other would only have their thirst quenched for a time but they would have to keep coming to a well to be satisfied again. But those who have this well in them “shall never thirst.” The reason people leave Christ is because they are not satisfied and the reason they are not satisfied is because they did not drink the water Jesus gives. If people are spiritual stagnant or the things of God are boring to them; if people are not interested in the things of God it is because they have not been drinking this water. “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst.”
It will become in him (4:14). This living water is not something that is simply handed over but it will “become in him a well.” This does not mean that once it is given, Christ is no longer needed. But on the contrary, it becomes in him a well because the water Giver will be in him. This is another way of saying, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…I will put My spirit in you” (Ezek. 36:26-27). This is another way of saying “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). This is another way of saying, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
The container of the word. A point must be made as to how this water is conferred. How the well springs inside you. This does not happen through the witnessing of miracles. Despite popular practice, it is not associated with uncontrolled emotion leaving the recipient unconscious on the floor. It is brought to you through the word of God. No doubt, this will be an experience and emotion will be involved but it has to do with perception. Everything bestowed on man by God comes through a process of God promising and man perceiving it and believing it. Salvation is “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8).
Again, the word isn’t the water itself but is the container that carries the water. In this account the woman didn’t receive the water was because she didn’t ask and she didn’t ask because she didn’t know the gift of God or Jesus. The word makes those things known. It is the Scripture that speaks about Christ (John 5:39). The word is the seed from which the new life sprouts. “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23). It is “receiving the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). In order for us to have this living water we must hear and believe the word that carries it. Then it will become in us a well springing up to eternal life. In the words of Scripture, “I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Heb. 8:10).
A well springing up to eternal life (4:14). This is a well “springing up.” That is, it is overflowing, gushing up, leaping even. It is spewing forth in abundance. There is no wondering if there is any water at the bottom of this deep well for the water is springing up. It is like the water gushing from the rock in the wilderness when all the people and beasts drank as it flowed like a river. Not only does it spout forth like Old Faithful but it is continuous – ever springing.
When the gift of God is known and Jesus is perceived, inquiry will be made concerning this living water. When someone asks for it, Jesus will give it and it will become in him a well springing up to eternal life. A example of this is the Ethiopian eunuch who was thirsty for this water as he read Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:30-33). He asked saying, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” (v. 34) Philip “preached Jesus to him” (v. 35) and as he perceived who Jesus was and the gift that he offered, he asked for living water. “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (v. 36) The water was given and it became in him a well springing up to eternal life. “He went on his way rejoicing” (v. 39).