Look at Who's Waiting at the Well!

Read: John 4:4-29

I love the stories of changed lives. Stories of how individuals were introduced to Jesus and subsequently began their journey of discovering all about Who He truly is and what He has done to show them His love. Each one is a bit different and highlights the truth that God intertwines lives in both simple and very complex ways. May I share a simple but beautiful picture of that truth that I heard this week?

David Jeremiah was telling the story of an atheist. He didn't give the gentleman's name. Dr. Jeremiah simply said that this now former atheist gave His life to Jesus through listening to his messages from the book of Revelation. Anyone who might read this would likely have the same question David Jeremiah had. Since the man was an atheist, why was he listening to David Jeremiah's teaching. The man's answer was simple. Even though he obviously didn't believe in what was being taught, he could tell that David Jeremiah did, and that fact kept him listening. Isn't that cool? God made him thirsty. Even though he didn't know it, and then, God provided the well!

There was a contemporary Christian song out a few years ago called "Jesus is in the House." The song talked about the man who was lowered down through the roof of a house because they couldn't get him to Jesus any other way. Jesus both forgave and healed this lame man. It was possible because "Jesus Was in the House." May I change the words to that song just a bit to say that lives are changed and renewed because "Jesus is also by the well." No, not the Savior Himself, but He places one of His Spirit-indwelt children "by the well". Right where someone who is thirsty is waiting. To see this truth, let's look at a wondrous story from John 4 where Jesus was literally by the well.

What a same as usual probably rather ho-hum day it started out to be. An ordinary woman had an every-day need. She needed water; so, with her vessel in hand or carried on her head I'm not certain which, she came to get what she needed. However, look Who was waiting at the well! Jesus, and His interactions with this unnamed woman show us that He knew she had a need far greater than the water that seemed so uppermost in her mind at the time. She needed to know Him. The One Who was the promised Messiah, John 4:25-26. Her life was filled with only stagnant water, but He offered to replace it with Living Water, John 4:13-14; John 7:37-39. When she began to understand what Jesus was holding out to her and Who He was, she was so excited to tell others about Him that she left without taking her water vessel, John 4:28-29. Lives were changed because of this woman's words and what many of the people learned when they came to listen to the Savior, John 4:39-42. All because Jesus was waiting by the well. Then the one whose thirst was satisfied became the one who eagerly told others about Jesus. Though she no longer was carrying her water vessel, her life became the container out of which the Living Water poured out as she spoke about Jesus.

He is the same One Who continues to wait at innumerable wells with His arms outstretched in love. Reaching out to those who aren't even looking for Him, Romans 10:20-21. Many who don't even know that they are thirsty for the life only the Lord can give them, John 10:10. Perhaps another example of how God reaches out in surprising ways will be encouraging.

This encounter involves a man who heard about Jesus "by mistake." Imagine it. He thought he was going to the circus. What a surprise Jesus had for him! It happened in the 1950s in New York. A man had come from another country. He saw that there was a big event going on at Madison Square Gardens and thought by all the fanfare, surely the circus was in town. He asked about the price of admission, and he was thrilled to discover that here in the United States he could get in for free. How surprised he was when instead of elephants and tight rope walkers, Billy Graham was present to give the message of Jesus' love. Surprise, look who was waiting for him at the well. Again, he didn't even know that he was thirsty, but God was there through the ministry of Mr. Graham.

What encouragement we who have precious ones who don't yet belong to Jesus can glean from stories like these that remind us of Jesus' unexpected encounters at various wells. How surprising it is that He will make Himself known through well-known people like David Jeremiah and also obscure people like me. Isn't it exciting to think about who might be waiting at the well to encounter those for whom we pray? Isn't it a privilege that God might place us at a well to be the answer to someone's prayers!

Lord, intertwine our lives so we will be at the well to hold out Your Living Water at the right time. Also, thank You for those faithful ones whom You used to tell us about our need of a Savior.