1/31/11- John 4:7-10 Doing Something for Jesus

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)  9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

(Greek Icon of Jesus and St. Photina- the Woman at the Well)
Thoughts: How can Jesus ask her for a drink?  He is the owner of the water.  He is the giver of water and the giver of life and eternal life.  The human barrier is an artificial one that Jesus does not reognize.  We are able to look on the other side of the cross and resurrection.  We know God offers the gift of life, and offers us living water that quenches our ultimate thirst. Jesus asked the woman to do something for Him.  It is an invitation that would change her life forever.  He asks us to do something for Him too.  Doing something for Jesus (as in doing for the least of these Mt. 25), allows us to enter into relationship with Him. 

Prayer: Lord you call me to serve you.  Give me grace to serve you.

John Calvin Abridged: Jesus did not merely want to teach her, but he also wanted to quench his thirst.  Yet in the end he laid aside his thirst to offer living water to the woman who would not offer him a drink.  The question Jesus asked next was "If you knew the gift of God- namely who it is that talks to you."  We only understand who Christ is when we understand what the Father has given to us in Him.  "He would have given you" indicates if we address our prayers to Christ, He will answer you.