Bible Reading: John 4:1-26

IntroductionChristianity is a love story. It’s about a love lost in Eden, and a love restored at Calvary. We alone, out of all creation, were made not merely to serve God but to love, and be loved by, Him. It was not the angels and archangels whom He made for love; He made them for ministry (Heb 1:14), He made us for intimacy (Heb 1:12, Eph 2:6). God made us to be close to Him. To enjoy intimacy with Him. He never planned on being an absent Father! What do you want from your relationship with God, is it the same – or something more distant and disconnected?

Redeemed to be loversSong of Songs (which has to be one of the least preached passages in scripture) is an all celebration of human sexuality and intimacy within marriage. It is also an allegory of God’s relationship with the people. The bride, or the church, and groom, its God. It paints a picture of complete closeness, interdependence. It abounds in passion. The challenge is brought into sharp focus time and time again; we need to kindle that passion for Jesus. We need to be taken to His banquet hall and know that His banner over us is love (SoS 2:4). We need to hear Him speak words of love over us, to know His thoughts for us (SoS 4:1). We need to hear Him knock on the door and bid us open to Him (SoS 5:2). We need to show the world that I am my beloveds, and He is mine (SoS 6:3). Jesus is not simply our redeemer, but the lover of our soul. Redemption is not just from sin, death and hell but to and for blazing intimacy with Jesus.

And yet our experience is settling for much less. For many of us, preparing to meet with Jesus is more like sitting outside the office of an angry headmaster, rather than preparing to encounter the lover of our souls. When did focus shift, when did our expectations fall so low? We must learn to yearn for the renewing of the Holy Spirit, so that we might be renewed in our love for Jesus. We need to expect more; of and from ourselves. That’s why we read Jude say “pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love” (Jd 1:20-2). In Eph 3:14-9 it’s why Paul prays that the Ephesians may know the height, breadth and depth of the love of Christ.

A thirst quenched.In John we read of an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman with an interesting past. She is taken aback as this Jew, a rabbi no less, lowers himself to speak to her. Having accepted a drink from the woman, Jesus offered her something in return, a drink that if she consumes will mean that she will never thirst again. Jesus offers her eternal life, in this simple act (we read of him doing something similar in John 7). When we put these passages together, we see that Jesus is offering a two-fold promise. If we believe in Him and come to Him, and drink of the Holy Spirit He offers, we will never thirst again and receive eternal life.

Much of our teaching, and experience, appropriated only 80% of this promise. If we see Jesus, come to him and are filled with the Holy Spirit we will receive eternal life. I wonder, do you feel satisfied by this? I’m not sure that I am! I don’t mean to empty any significance from the work and person of Jesus. Far from it. It’s just that when I read scripture and meditate on the promises of God - there seems to be more. I’m thirsty for more! There are some of us for whom this thirst can lead to unhealthy relationships, addictions, or pre-occupations.

But how do we make sense of it when Jesus said we would thirst no more? Perhaps Jesus was speaking in a heavenly sense, you will thirst no more once you reach heaven. We will soon learn that it is there that Jesus is returning to to prepare a place for us.

Expect more: filled means filledThroughout scripture the word filled is a spatial term, used to depict the abundance of things. When the bible speaks of being filled with the Holy Spirit, it is saying that