GRACE WINSSample

A woman arrives at a well, alone and at one of the hottest hours of the day. Jesus is already there at the well, resting. He feels the fatigue and weariness we feel—and makes that known to her with one simple request, “Give me a drink of water.” The woman is surprised, for Jews and Samaritans did not interact in this time, let alone a man and a woman! But with His request for a drink, He has crossed social and cultural barriers in order to reach her heart.

Jesus’ reply to her question is revealing: He wants her to know who He is, that He knows who she is, and that He has a personal gift from God for her.

Here, we see the beautiful truth that Jesus wants us to know who He is. In knowing who Jesus is, we finally know who God is. This is why Jesus says to the woman, “If you only knew who I am...” Jesus is the face of God, Jesus is God’s message to humanity—the “word made flesh.” He is the very face of God in human form, revealing very clearly who God is. Now there is no more guesswork, for God is plainly seen in the face of Jesus Christ. The gospel of John is powerful in this way for in it we see that “Jesus is the exegesis of God” (Bruxy Cavey).

When Jesus reveals the truth about her past, He doesn’t do it to expose her but to show her who she is speaking to—God Himself. And the gift He promises her is not just for her but for us all: the gospel of John indicates that we, too, might receive the gift of God! So what is this gift? The gift Jesus gives is living water, the Spirit of God Himself, which is the greatest gift any human could receive. The word “gift” (dōrea in Greek) is used only once in the gospels and four times in the Book of Acts; it always refers to the Spirit of God.

The cross of Jesus Christ is, for all of humanity, an aggressive forgiveness we call grace. Why did Jesus go through what He went through? Why did Jesus save us? God did not send someone else to save us; He came Himself. That’s how important this mission was! That is how valuable you are to Him, and that’s how eager He is to give you the gift of His Spirit.

He saved this woman and He saves you, with a grace that that defeats sin—all because He loves you so much! Because He wants deep communion with you, a deep relationship with you, He offers you the gift of His living water—the Spirit of God. He wants for you and Him to be friends forever. And the gift of His Spirit is what makes this possible.

In this passage we see that grace brings deep freedom to a woman stuck in a cycle of shame regarding her relationships with men. We witness a lonely, ostracized woman, struggling with deep disconnection, who finds a living water that quenches her never- ending thirst for love. Through her story we see that Jesus wants us to know who He is, that He knows us, and that He wants us to receive the gift of God.

By this grace we now have the first drink of His gift of the Spirit—the gift of deep relationship with God. This is why we believe in Jesus, why we praise Jesus, and why we are so thankful for Jesus. Like this woman, we were disconnected and looking for something to satisfy our soul’s deep thirst. And now we don’t just know God through the scriptures, but now we can also know Him by the Holy Spirit.

My soul was thirsty but it has been met with a living water—the gift of God, the very Spirit of Jesus. Place your faith in who Jesus is and what He has done for you, so that you will receive the gift He has been longing to give you. His friendship, His very presence, His Holy Spirit—this is the generous gift of God. Come Holy Spirit to fill our thirsty lives today. Grace wins.

- Josh Kelsey