THE Lord was weary, and He sat on Jacob's Well in the noon-day heat. The well was deep, cut in the solid rock, and its cool waters were far down beneath His feet. Presently there came to the well to draw its water a woman from the city of Samaria hard by, hushed in the heat of its noon-day stillness.
Behold the Lord of glory, a weary Man, and the woman, a sinner of Samaria, by the well-side! Thirst had drawn her to Jacob's Well—thirst for the water of which we drink but to thirst again; thirst had drawn Him from glory on high to this weary world—thirst for our salvation, our eternal good.
Then, as Jesus sat by the well-side, He discovered to the sinner her sinfulness, and Himself the Christ, the Saviour of the world. She believed, and filled with the joy of salvation, left her water-pot, and went to the city and proclaimed to the men the coming One. Right blessed mission, resulting in many of that city believing in Him.
When the disciples, who had gone to the city to buy meat, returned to Jesus, they found Him rejoicing in refreshment of which He had partaken. Our gracious Lord had given of the living water to a sinner. By His gift to the sinner, He received joy for Himself. Wondrous grace! showing to us His love toward us. And so it is still, even to-day. There is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth. In heaven He is the same Jesus He was on earth.
Will you not receive Him, thirsting, unsatisfied heart? Whatever the earthly fountain from which you would draw your refreshment, remember that you will thirst again. But the water Jesus gives shall everlastingly satisfy you. Yet it is not so much for your own blessing that we would with our last words for this year entreat you to receive Him, but because such is His love for the sons of men that your salvation shall be a fresh occasion of rejoicing to Him.
He bled and died to save the lost; His untold sufferings are the price at which He bought His people; He lives to bless, and in blessing is His joy. Come now, fall at His feet, and own Him Lord.