"Thirsty"

"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." - John 4:13-14a (NIV)

I remember a scene from my childhood where my Dad and I would go into a hayfield a pick up hay bales for the horses our family owned.  Between the heat and the hay, it would not take long for our bodies to crave something that would satisfy our thirsts.  Thankfully, on the way back home, we would find a convenience store that proved to be an oasis.  I still recall turning up those glass bottles of Montain Dew, enjoying the last cool drop of refeshing soda. 

While those trips to the convenience store provided much needed rest and refreshment, it would not be long before that physical thirst would awaken once more.  Whether it was another trip to the hay field or the barn, a neighborhood or church basketball game, or some other activity, those physical pangs of thirst would eventually come back.  Water, Mountain Dew, or juice could never provide any kind of lasting satisfaction.  Truth be told, our physical bodies require daily replenishing of fluids, no matter the level of activity.

Our spiritual bodies work that way as well.  We are in dire need of daily spiritual nutrients, no matter how intense the spiritual warfare may be for any given day.  Physical water means physical life.  spiritual water means spiritual life.  The word "thirsty," or "dip-sah'-o", in Greek, occurs six times in the book of John.  Once, in John 19:28, the crucifixion scene, it denotes a physical thirst.  Jesus' six mock trials, endless beatings, a flogging, and crucifixion have produced this natural need.  But in the other five instances where this word is used , it is refering to the spirtual longings in our heart.  The second meaning of this word is "figuratively, those who are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened."  (Kittell). 

This was the deep need of the Samaritan woman Jesus encountered one day.  A social outcast, as she happened to be a woman and a frowned upon Samaritan, she also carried years of emotional baggage.  Five former husbands and a possible number six spoke much into her past and present.  Broken, dry, beat down, and weak.  She, although unaware, is a perfect candidate for grace.  We should be careful not to judge.  Each of us have pursued that one thing that we thought would bring lasting fulfillment.  For some it may be relationaships; for some it may be habits, for some it may be religion.  Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet, speaks to us: ""My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."  (2:13, NIV)  We, like the Samaritan woman, are perfect candidates for grace, whether we realize it or not.

Jesus reminds us that only he can provide what is everlasting.  Apart from him, we are pursuing dry and cracked cisterns.  No physical water means death.  No spiritual water means spiritual death.  The Samartian woman found the One who truly satisfies.  In Christ, we have everything we ever need.  The stagnant waters of the cistern are replaced by fresh "living" water.  Christ gives us a taste, now, of what is to come.  In the closing chapter of the Bible, John records these words: "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Revelation 22:17, NIV)

Broken cistern or Living Water?  Where does his grace need to intersect your life, today?   Drink deep.   If this were a commercial, the voice over would say, "NOT SOLD IN STORES!"

"Light"

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'"   John 8:12 (NRSV)

On several occasions, my family and I have taken day trips to some of the popular caverns in Virginia.  It certainly is a joy to see the wonders of God's wonderful creation from a different  perspective.  The formations and glassy pools are a marvel to look at.  One of the highlights of the cavern tour, is when the guide will, with warning, turn out all of the lights, leaving the cavern visitors in complete darkness.  Unable to see anything, it is in the best interest of everyone to stay still.  I still remember clutching my children tightly so they would not trip or fall in the darkness.

Darkness can certainly play havoc on the senses.  At the least, one may become disoriented, lose sense of direction, and become lost.  At the most, the darkness can render one completely blind, resulting in injury or death.  This is true not only in the physical realm, but the spiritual realm as well.


In this passage, Jesus proclaims himself to be the "phos" (light) of the world.  "Phos" means to shine or make manifest.    Jesus has come to shine, expose, and illuminate.  It stands to reason that there must be some grand reason why Jesus makes this declaration.  Could it be it is because he is the light that illuminates my understanding of who I am and Whose I am?  Certainly I am capable of figuring things out on my own, right? 


Time and time again, Jesus shows himself to be for us what we cannot be in and of ourselves. It is important to note that Jesus does not merely give us light.  He is the light.  He does not shine a beam.  He is the beam.   As with most lighting, my way becomes clearer and safer when that light is applied to my path.    He is the "light of life".    In him I find "light" for traversing this rough terrain of life.  In his absence, I am left with darkness.  Without him, I may as well be trying to navigate this journey of life much like a cavern visitor would try to find his or her way out of the depths of the earth in pitch black.


Feeling in the dark?  Let him be your light!