John 4:15-18; Luke 18:9-14, Gospel Bridges (4)

·       Bring others back across the bridge to life by meeting the deepest spiritual needs, v15-26.  Again, the work of the Holy Spirit is essential in this.  Like Nicodemus, the woman of Samaria also needed to be born again.  Jesus did not speak of that with her, but it is still true.  You must be born again (3:7).  Of course, Jesus did not tell Nicodemus about the living water.  The pictures are different.  And the two individuals are at different places spiritually. 

Yet, if you look at these deep spiritual needs, both had to come to grips with them: the need to acknowledge sin, to reject false foundations, and to meet Christ.  For Nicodemus, he came thinking he was generally a good person and not a sinner.  He rested on the false foundation of works in Judaism.  He did not meet Christ by faith on the night of his conversation with Jesus.  We think he did at a later time.  Now, let’s look at how the deepest needs of this woman were met by Jesus.

o   The need to acknowledge sin, v15-18.

If you ask someone, “would you like to go to heaven when you die,” you will likely get a “yes” answer.  Who wouldn’t want that?  The problem is, heaven is not just a place for dead people.  It is the ultimate experience of our relationship with God.  There can be no sin in heaven because sin separates us from God.

Jesus offered the woman living water by which she would never again thirst.  She responded, “give me that water!”  Who wouldn’t want that?  But again, living water is a picture of the refreshing, abundant life of one who is in relationship with God, and it springs up within them, like a gushing spring of pure water, into everlasting life.  What Jesus is offering cannot coexist with a heart full of sin. 

The Bible is consistent on this subject.  Only those who are sick (i.e. who recognize their spiritual sickness) will desire a doctor (Christ, the Savior; Lk. 5:31-32).  Only one who knows how sinful they are and who has been forgiven by God will truly love God (Lk. 7:36-50).  Jesus’ three “lost” parables in Luke 15 (lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) make this point.  The Pharisees could not be “found” because they would not recognize they were “lost.”  Jesus told of two men praying: one who congratulated himself for his good soul and one who lamented his sinful soul; only the latter was justified (Lk. 18:9-14).  The rich ruler would not trust in Christ because he would not recognize the sin in his life when Jesus pointed it out (Lk. 18:18-30).  On the other hand, Zaccheus repented of his sin and guilt and Jesus rejoiced that salvation had come to Zaccheus’ house (Lk. 19:1-10). 

Does the woman desire living water?  Then there must be a thirst for this water.  This thirst will not be truly awakened unless there be a sense of guilt, a consciousness of sin.  The mention of her husband is the best means of reminding this woman of her immoral life.  The Lord is now addressing Himself to her conscience. (Wm. Hendriksen)