Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within then, giving them eternal life. John 4:14-15

 

A non-profit that brings clean water to communities ran a commercial. People were shown in poverty-stricken, hot, dusty places before and after a refreshing source of water arrived to change their lives. The commercial ended with the faces of smiling villagers and the words: Human dignity… just add water.

 

Water provides us with the dignity of being clean and well. For humans, water is life. Jesus used our familiarity with life-giving, thirst-quenching water to help us understand just Who He is and what He’s all about.

 

Jesus once had a fascinating conversation about water with a woman who had come to draw water at a well. Jesus told her that, better than the well water she came for, He could give her “living water”—water that was flowing with life and not trapped in a well. Jesus told her, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10) He knew that her physical thirst would bring her once again to the well, saying, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within then, giving them eternal life” (John 4:14-15).

 

Religion, Jesus was symbolically saying, is like motionless, standing water. It’s not alive with the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Perhaps you’ve tried the stagnant well water of following rules or trying to be “good,” but are always slipping up. To you, Jesus says, come and drink of something that is always satisfying—living water that’s found in forgiveness and relationship with Him.