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How did the Samaritan Woman drink?

In her confrontational discussion with Jesus, Jesus made the Samaritan woman ask for a drink. Thankfully, perhaps illegibly, she got what she requested. Since she asked, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw water (John 4:15),” which was in quick succession of a thirst Jesus had kindled in her. If Jesus hadn’t this water to give, He wouldn’t have made her asked for the water. Thus, we may conclude that the woman drank. The question we seek to answer in this series given the preceding is: “If she truly drank the living water without a cup, how did she drink?” This is a conclusion of the previous episodes, where we remarked that the Samaritan drank for her cleansing and drank deeply to quench her longing. Here, we shall observe how she drank broadly and widened her heart to call others so they may share the taste of this living water.

Drinking for broadening

The aftermath of the revelation of the Messiah in the simple words, “I am He, the One speaking to you,” unearths the importance of this form of drinking. She went around Samaria proclaiming the Goodnews. She had been cleansed and deeply drank of the living water. Her depth provided for the next. But not until she was broadened by the knowledge of Jesus she could neither conform to nor manifest His largess. She needed a large heart that could accommodate others as Christ accommodates her and all others. And after this gulp, she summoned all who are anticipating “He who would declare all things to them,” to Him who was now “declaring all things to her.”

Our cleansed person and depth of knowledge may suffice for us and our spiritual growth. But without a large heart for others, we will do them no good. For example, who did the woman return to call to Jesus? Jesus came for the lost who despised Him, so did this woman go, calling many who had once reviled her. Both men who would not relate with her to protect their husband from her whims as well as those who forsook her, came to the saving grace of Christ through her. No man, no woman can do the work of God acceptably, whom after cleansing and cultivating a standing relationship with God, has not received a broadened heart for others from the Lord!

“If the expected Messiah could take time to attend to a society reject like me,” she must have retorted, “who am I not to forgive others?” The mercy received from the Master ousted her shame she may incur and was ready to be doubly reviled for the glory of Christ to be spread abroad. But God honoured her faith. No man who has not known the largeness of Jesus’ Heart can be a faithful servant in His vineyard. Such may end up beating up other male and female servants (Luke 12:42-48).

How may we drink broadened?

If cleansing gives us a new identity; deepening helps us denying our will; the cross broadens us in the knowledge of His will. The one who has been to the cross and crucified his affection comes renewed with a different taste (Galatians 5:24). The man who has been to the cross returns with a taste unified with Christ. The cross is typified by Paul as an altar on which we could offer ourselves (Romans 12:1-2). The outcome of which is the possession of acute discernment of God’s will. The will of God is that none perishes, but that all should come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus (2 Peter 3:8-10). How did she know and was propelled by this? She will explain to us on the resurrection morn. But to poorly propose, she had lost taste for all other things, with this man of Calvary to remain.

As far as God’s way is from us, so is our will from His. Therefore, though the cross is a thing of glory to God and the saved Christian, it is an object of disdain by the world (1 Corinthians 1:18). The man bearing a cross or carried by the cross is deemed done with the world. So the world will perceive us, denying ourselves and taking up the cross (that is, owning Jesus as the instructor of your behaviour) with disdain. And condemn us for folly and congratulating us with contempt.

In this and this state alone, can we contemplate the person of Christ, bid the world farewell, and express the compassion of Christ for others. After all, our sins were the fat nails that stayed Jesus on the cross with arms wide-opened. But the glory of Jesus that we behold on the other side where non-cross bearers or unbelievers penetrate then compels us to draw the wasting ignorant to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ with all sense of urgency. O like Jesus, how we will see, know, and tell why those who weep for our sake to weep for themselves.

Would you, for the joy that you would share, as you follow Christ up there, which none other can know, endure the broadening of a heart tilled by the cross? Beyond is men’s understanding-surpassing peace. Here the Jesus’ precious prophecy of pressure on His disciple is fulfilled, but not without reception of the fulfilment of the other – experience of peace unlike the one given by the world.

Conclusion

Finally, the woman drank unto cleansing, deepening and broadening. This also holds for anyone who will be useful to Christ. First, Christ to such must be for cleansing. Next, such a person must be dipped deep in the revelation of Christ. Finally, the revelation of Christ must broaden the life of such a person to expand his heart out of love and fetch others for the same purpose.

The kingdom of God, which this river of life gladdens, is like yeast. When dropped in a field of the heart and grows to leaven it up. It springs up and up to accommodate all sorts of people just as this woman did. So again, over a sinner who repents, there is joy in heaven. And we read it is a river that makes this city happy; the river’s flow makes the angels happy. This river must then be the river of life.

For when drank to the cleansing, the cleansed is always repenting, and the songs of salvation which the cleansed renders ascend to heaven as a sweet-smelling savour to God. The angels can sing “Holy, Holy,” and “Hallelujah” songs to God! But the songs that fill our mouths which are songs of redemption cannot be sung by them. Man alone received the help of redemption, not the angels. If they sing “Amazing Grace¹,” by the time they get to the line “That save a wretch like me,” they would have been lying before a holy God. It would not go unpunished. For if He did not spare the sons of Aaron, who offered an unholy fire, He would not spare any angel that profanes His dwelling place with unholy incense of lies.

Until you are cleansed, deepened in the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus by His revelation, You cannot tell of Him convincingly. Neither will you deem Him worthy of any sacrifice of service. However, after broadening, it will be easy to disperse His name abroad.

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