[Scripture: John 4:1-15]

The Function of a Well

Today I will talk about the function of well. In the Old Testament, a well was what provided the water that spared the lives of all living beings. Whoever stayed near the well would be refreshed and revitalized. Also, it was the place where people developed cooperative social relationships with others and had new opportunities to fulfill their desires and dreams.

I have three examples of how wells helped people in the Old Testament. 

1. In Genesis 24:15, the servant of Abraham met Rebecca when he came to the well. He said the Lord had led him to meet Rebecca to fulfill his purpose for his journey. The well is where he met the person who would complete his plan to find Isaac a wife.
2. In Exodus 2:15, Moses ran away from the hands of the pharaoh. He met Zipporah at the well when she came to draw water for her father’s livestock. For Moses, the well was a place that gave him new life when he lost his way.
3. Joshua 15:18 tells about a well that was inherited from generation to generation as personal property for their own blessings. Inheriting the well meant they had a resource to become influential individuals in the society.

In the Old Testament, finding a well symbolized that those who had lost their way in life had new opportunities to revitalize their souls and restart their lives. The most fabulous thing is that these people could pass on the well to their children as an inheritance and as a blessing from God.

The Woman at the Well

Today’s passages tell about a woman at the well. I will share with you two important spiritual messages.

1. The first message concerns spiritual dehydration.
2. The second message concerns spiritual isolation.

Dehydration

The first is spiritual dehydration. The woman realized that her thirst had nothing to do with water but with her own dissatisfied soul. She didn’t know why she was always thirsty even after drinking water. But when she met Jesus at the well, she knew that water was not a matter of thirst but of a discontent of the soul. When she knew the reason for her thirst, she asked Jesus, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 

There are two kinds of dehydration.

1. The first is physical dehydration. If you feel dehydration in your body, drink water. You will be fine.
2. The other is spiritual dehydration. For spiritual dehydration, you need to drink the living water that comes from Jesus. John 4:14 said, “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In the story, she didn’t know that spiritual dehydration was more harmful to her life than physical thirst. But when she met Jesus at the well, she realized that her problem was not only physical dehydration but also spiritual dehydration. Practical symptoms of spiritual dehydration are the use of negative language, being easily angered, a lack of self-control, and unwise choices.

Image of God

There is biblical evidence that Christians should deal with two types of dehydration because God created us from two different substances. God made our bodies out of dust. After that, God breathed life into us. After that, we became living beings. The dust and God’s breath, these two parts combined to make us in God’s image. If you are thirsty and hungry, you need to take care of your physical needs, but if you are still dissatisfied after you have met your needs, perhaps that is a sign of spiritual dehydration. If spiritual dehydration is not properly dealt with, you will dry out. It’s the same principle as a vine that’s not attached to a tree. It will be abandoned and dried up as in John 15.

Jesus has given us a solution to prevent spiritual dehydration, which is dissatisfaction in our souls. He said, “Remain in me and my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands to remain in his love. If we remain in him, his joy may be in you, and that our joy may be complete in Jesus.”

Isolation

The second message is about spiritual isolation from the truth. In verse 20, the woman changed the topic of the conversation from a personal question to talking about a place of worship. She said, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” This conversation indicates that she has expressed her dissatisfaction with being separated from the place of worship in Jerusalem.

When Jesus heard the woman’s story, he knew that the woman’s biggest problem was disconnection from the place of worship. Separation from the place of worship caused her many spiritual and relational problems.

Jesus gave her the solution. That was to become a true worshiper. Being a true worshiper means to worship in spirit and truth. Jesus said, “God is spirit, and worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Gather Together

The words “in truth” have two linguistic clues in verse 24 that provide a clear picture of the true worshipers that God is looking for.

1. In Greek, the word for “in” can also be translated as “inside” or “within,” but it can also mean “among.” We use “among” to describe a person or thing standing with or surrounded by a group of people. Christian worship means we need to gather together to worship God among the people.
2. The other word is “truth.” What is truth? In John 8:32, it says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It is clear that the truth is Jesus Christ. Therefore, the biblical interpretation says a true worshiper should gather together with people and praise God in the name of Jesus Christ. That is the true worship that God is looking for. In Matthew 18:20, it says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The story of the woman at the well in John chapter 4 contains many valuable things that teach us how to avoid spiritual dehydration and isolation. At the same time, it also gives us spiritual direction like a treasure map to God’s hidden oasis for our life’s journey.

John 1:2 says, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” This tells us that our physical condition and health are closely related to our spiritual situation or status.

I will conclude my sermon with a quote from the book The Little Prince. “‘What makes the desert beautiful,’ said the little prince, ‘is that somewhere it hides a well.’” Likewise, as one Christian writer said, our Christian life is like a journey across the desert with a weary soul. Nevertheless, what makes your Christian life beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well for you.

Where is the well that you can come to when you feel the thirst and hunger of your soul? The place you worship is a spiritual well. Come to the well to feed your soul. If you have your well, it is transferable to your children. Our church will be the well where Jesus is waiting for you to feed your hunger and your thirsty soul.

2021.10.24. Pastor Cloud Poy

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