God Always Satisfies Our Needs

Today’s reading: John 4:7-15

Today’s reading is a tough one for modern discipleship purposes. I’ve heard more than one person present this very story as proof that Christianity is, to use their word, “b.s.” I suppose it’s easy to assume by this story that we Christians believe Jesus, literally, offers us a magical liquid — say communion wine — that, literally, cures our physical thirst. I’ve heard criticisms of Christianity along those lines anyway.

But  if that assumption happens to afflict someone who is only experimenting with Christian beliefs, it can be devastating. Christianity will certainly not live up to this false expectation, and disciples will be accused of fraud.

Living Water is an important concept for new Christians to explore thoroughly, and, as a disciple, I must take great care in teaching it.  Here is how I typically explain this passage:

The key to this story is not Jesus’s water but, rather, his loving manner. He is, after all, required by the world to  hate this Samaritan woman. Yet he offers her water.

Water, of course,  is certainly the source of all life on Earth, but, in this case, the woman is at a well, about to dip her own water. She doesn’t necessarily need water from Jesus’s hands. This means  it is the offer that is the miracle, not necessarily the water. Because the woman is, likewise, supposed to hate and distrust Jews, she too is doing something quite extraordinary in accepting this water.

And all of this holds true for everyone who offers or receives any gift  in such a circumstance. (Even a gift as seemingly bland, by today’s standards anyway, as a drink of water.)

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.” (Verses 13-14)

Confusion over this story can be cleared up by advising new Christians to imagine a parenthetical element inserted in verse 14: “but those who drink of the water that I will give them — in spite of the desires of The World — will never be thirsty.”

By accepting Jesus’s water, the woman breaks through the barrier that separates us all from God. And anyone who is with God has all of his or her needs eternally met. So, of course, the woman will never be thirsty again. It’s true that her body will certainly need water again (daily in fact) throughout her life.  But, needing water is different from feeling thirst.  So long as she stays connected to God, the woman never feel thirst (or anything negative) again.

Thanks be to God for taking care of all my needs. May I always remember to stay connected with Him, so I can confidently know He is worthy of my trust.