I Thirst.

Five husbands and lovers could not satisfy her. But Truth spoken in love filled her for eternity.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Jn. 4:13-14.

That infamous woman at the well... I want to meet her one day, don't you? A bold and courageous rebel in her time, I imagine her to be. A first-century Annie Oakley, living wild and free and couldn't give a care who knew it. Intelligent. Well spoken. Apparently well versed in scripture, because she knew the Messiah was coming. She knew it well, because her restless spirit was looking for him. Thirsting for him in all the wrong places. Nothing and no one could satisfy her. Until that day. This bold and radical character, Jesus, dared speak to her, a single woman with a haunted past. In a public place -- and in Samaria, where there was a bounty on his head and the risk was everything. Was he, then, also reckless? Unwise? No. There was no risk. He was on assignment. He "saw" her.

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19).

At the most difficult moments of our lives, when life is hard and wisdom hard-earned, he sees us. And relentless Lover that he is, he comes after us. Rescues us. Forgives our past, refreshes us with living water -- the only thing that satisfies. Five husbands and lovers could not satisfy her. But Truth spoken in love filled her for eternity.

Chaos and civil unrest in the streets. The cry of the fatherless, the widow, the disillusioned, the disenfranchised, and the deceived. We hear the daily cry of those who are thirsty for something no man, no government, no policy, no nation can give. Only Jesus satisfies. Only Jesus fills. Only Jesus sees. Right in the middle of the chaos.

But [in the midst of judgment there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord’s deliverance and] there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish...

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined (Isa. 9:1-2 Amp).

In the midst of anarchy and dissension I hear "The Kingdom of God is advancing." People are thirsty. True, there is roaring in the streets, roaring in the media, roaring on social media, but above it all is the sure sound of the shofar, calling the people of God to come and drink.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6).

Drink up.