One day an inspector came to the prison where I worked in Corrections and reported that the quality of our drinking water was unacceptable. Fortunately, the situation was temporary. Even behind the walls of a prison, we presume basic necessities like clean water will be provided.
Jesus came to Jacob’s well thirsty after traveling and asked a woman for a drink. She reminded Jesus that His religion was different than hers and that He worshipped elsewhere. You might be obliged to give a total stranger a drink of water. But you’d think twice about it if you knew that the stranger and you absolutely did not see eye- to-eye. Yet human as He was, Jesus needed water, food, and shelter. His thirst for this basic necessity hung in the space between Him and the woman.
Jesus knew the woman’s penchant for filling her life with husbands, all of whom left her feeling empty and wanting more. Jesus offered her the living water we all need: Himself! He invites us who are thirsty to come to Him. Only He can quench our thirst.