In John 4:14 Jesus says that, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus is speaking of spiritual “living water” that he offers. This “living water” that he offers is the only thing strong enough to quench the deepest spiritual thirsts of the human soul. And it is so satisfying that the result of drinking of this water is eternal life.
What is this “living water” Jesus offers to us? It is Jesus himself. Jesus offers us Jesus. Jesus himself, offers us himself. Only Jesus can satisfy our deepest soul longings. And He is so satisfying the result of drinking Jesus is eternal life. Life forever, satisfied forever, in Christ forever.
We know this verse to be in the context of Jesus’ encounter with the “woman at the well.” A well is a means of obtaining water. Without the well they had no water. Without water, no life.
But my friends, Jesus is not our means to blessings, or heaven, or wealth, or health, or success, or ease, or comfort. Jesus is our means to Jesus. We go to Jesus to drink deeply of Jesus. Let us forget the nonsense of going to Jesus for things or for what he can do for us. Go to Jesus for Jesus.
Jesus is the well and the water. Jesus is not the means to something else. Jesus is the means to Jesus. Jesus is the well and the water.
Jesus is the well which is the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Jesus is the eternal well, the unshakable well, the reliable well, and the well that never runs dry. Jesus is the most beautiful and glorious well with the appearance of jasper and carnelian gemstone (Rev. 4:3). Jesus is also the well that is a fortress, a city of refuge. Jesus is the well that is the radiance of the glory of God (Heb. 1:3).
Jesus is the water which is living water. Jesus is the sweetest, most excellent, and most satisfying drink of water. Jesus is the purest water and the water that makes pure (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the living water that is truly holy water. Jesus is life giving water in a desert. Jesus is water that is the finest wine amongst the finest wine (John 2). Jesus is the water that is better than life. Jesus is the most expensive and valuable water that is given freely to beggars with nothing to offer. Jesus is the water that is the blood that was poured out as a ransom for many.
So drink, and drink deeply. By grace upon grace, drink from the fullness of Jesus (John 1:16). Be satisfied. Have your thirst quenched. Never want for another again. And as you drink, it only gets sweeter, and better, and more satisfying.
Not only is Jesus the means to Jesus, but because, and only because of the work of Jesus, we are able to drink from Jesus, of Jesus.
Because Jesus satisfied the wrath of God toward our sin, we can be satisfied in Jesus and his work. In Christ, God is satisfied with us as he is satisfied in Jesus. Rest, joy, peace, life. Because Jesus drank the cup of wrath reserved for us, we can drink deeply from the cup of satisfaction and eternal life that is in Jesus.
We are all beggars with nothing to offer, yet Jesus holds out this cup of himself, offering it to us. Come, drink.
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