Often during Lent we hear the story of the Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42). According to some biblical scholars, back at that time most women went to the well early in the day before it became too hot. Young men knew this and would often go to the well too. Not to get water, but possibly to find a wife. They didn’t have Tinder or any of the dating apps we do now, and you didn’t go to the bar; you went to the well.
If that’s the case then it can give us a little bit different perspective on why the woman in our story. She had five husbands and was living with another man. Along with wanting to avoid judgement, and gossip, maybe with all the man trouble in her life, she didn’t need another one, so she went when she thought none would be there. And then she meets the one man she did need in her life. She met Jesus.
We are all like the woman at the well. Christ comes to meet every human being at the well and asks each of us for a drink. He’s thirsty, but what’s he thirsty for? What do we give him to drink?
Jesus thirsts that we would thirst for him. That we would desire to spend time with him, telling him what’s going on, listening for his response, and responding to him with gratitude and action if he asks us to do something. We do this in prayer.
Prayer is our response to Jesus’ thirst. We go to the well. Sometimes this can be hard to do. We’re too busy, too distracted, or maybe like the woman in the story, we’re afraid of or won’t like who we’ll see at the well, our own image reflected back at us. But just as Jesus knew all about the woman and everything she had done and still thirsted for her devotion, so it is with us. Jesus thirsts for the real you. So, paying attention to what we are thinking and feeling, noticing what’s going on inside of us, in silence and stillness, we make our way, just as we are, to the well.
Like the woman, we have a conversation with Jesus, we tell him what’s going on in our life. Tell him about our joys, excitements and what we are happy about. Tell him about our struggles and those things that weigh on our minds and hearts. Even the small stuff. He wants to hear all of it.
Then we listen and humbly receive his help, comfort, healing, and peace. We thank him for his love and care for us and if asked, respond with action like the woman did when she went off to tell others.
Our thirst meets Jesus’ thirst at the well in prayer. The woman came to the well thirsty. She thirsted for more than just water, she thirsted for someone who she could be herself with, someone who accepted and truly loved the real her even with all she had done. She found that in Jesus, her real thirst was quenched, and so it can be for us.
Instead of pursuing things we think will satisfy us, but never really do, like the admiration of others, security in possessions or wealth, or a craving for power… we can go to the well and find Jesus. Assured of his acceptance, love, and forgiveness, we won’t be thirsty anymore. Jesus is waiting for you at the well. He’s thirsty. Give him a drink.