In the previous lesson, we began looking at the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. We noticed how Jesus said, “whoever drinks this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst again” (John 4:13-14).
Continuing with this story, we now see what Jesus meant by “the water I give,” which He explained in a later chapter:
John 7:37-39 NIV On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (39) By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The Holy Spirit quenches our thirst, and we receive the Spirit of God at the cross of Jesus Christ through faith (Galatians 3:1-2). When we come to the cross and view Jesus’ suffering and death, when we believe in Jesus and repent of our sin, God puts His Spirit into us (John 7:39).
This Spirit begins flowing into us and flowing out of us to others. As we receive fresh and new mercy at the cross, as love is shed abroad in our hearts at the cross, our thirst is quenched, and we begin to tell others of Jesus and His love, and we invite them to come to the cross and drink up.
In all of this, our desires are being met in Christ by His Spirit; our hearts are being filled and satisfied. The Spirit of God is the Living Water that Jesus offered the woman at the well.
Question 2. What has it been like for you to come to the cross and drink in the good news?
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Kwabena writes, "I must say it has been refreshing and the statement "our thirst is quenched” is really true. My thirst for porn is being quenched, it’s not appealing anymore, by God's grace and not any effort of mine. I don't look at it anymore or scheme ways to gratify my flesh.
The cross is the sole solution and it’s given me liberation to serve God more. I enjoy Him now more than before, and I am very grateful. I've stopped counting the days of freedom. Because I know I’ve been satisfied with Him and He is going to keep me from stumbling or falling."
Notice what he said: "By God's grace and not any effort of mine." and "I've stopped counting the days of freedom." Here is the testimony of a changed heart that has found freedom. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36 NKJV)