Friday, December 11, 2009

A Lesson in Evangelism (Part 3) - John 4:11-14

“She said to Him, ‘Sir, you have nothing to draw with
and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?
You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You,
who gave us the well, and drank of it himself,
and his sons and his cattle?’
Jesus answered and said to her,
‘Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again;
but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him
shall become in him a well of water
springing up to eternal life.’”
(vs 11-14)
The encounter continues. Christ has started a conversation with this Samaritan sinner and He has turned it to the subject of living water. He’s made it clear that He would delight to give her of this water. Her response – “What are you talking about Sir?” Jesus has no bucket, no scoop, no nothing. How in the world could He possibly give her well water much less living water?! Christ quickly makes it clear that He is not talking about ordinary water. There is nothing worldly about the gift He is referring to.

The third evangelistic lesson that we find here is to note the excellency and the superiority of Christ’s gifts compared to anything this world could ever offer. When the door of evangelistic opportunity has sprung open we need to make a clear distinction between that which the world offers and that which the Creator of the world offers. There is a BIG difference!

“Riches and rank, place and power, learning and amusements are utterly unable to fill the soul. He that only drinks of these waters is sure to thirst again. Every Ahab finds a Naboth’s vineyard hard by his palace, and every Haman sees a Mordecai at the gate. There is no heart-satisfaction in this world, until we believe on Christ. Jesus alone can fill up the empty places of our inward man. Jesus alone can give solid, lasting, enduring happiness. The peace which He imparts is a fountain, which, once set flowing within the soul, flows on to all eternity. Its waters may have their ebbing seasons; but they are living waters, and they shall never be completely dried up.” (Ryle)

People are thirsty. That fact is obvious by the enormity of things that we try to fill ourselves up with. Money, relationships, work, drink, fashion, attention, fame, family, on and on and on it goes. Things, in the proper place, are not all bad – but they are not that in which we will find our chief end. We were made by God, for God and until we are in God through being in Christ we will always be dissatisfied.

The natural dissatisfaction that all men face is a point of contact for us with the gospel. Even the things that we consider good could always be better in this life. We have a lot of money – we could have more. We have great friends – we could have greater. We have a nice home – it could be bigger or cleaner, on a better lot, in a better neighborhood. The most wonderful spouse has some flaws. The cutest kids still have their blemishes. This world and all that it contains will always leave us reaching for something more, something better, something truly filling. The living water that Christ offers to this woman is the one thing that will fully fill!

Have we drunk of that water? Then let us pause to meditate upon its grandeur and point others to the eternal, free, and full satisfaction that is found in it alone. Everyone who is filling themselves on the world’s water WILL thirst again. Jesus informs this Samaritan sinner and He informs us that “ whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Drink of Christ – drink often – think as you drink – meditate on the wonder of this living water that He has provided for you and as you do, tactfully tell the world of His willingness to give to them this same source of everlasting satisfaction!

In His glorious grace,
Lori

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