John 4:5–26; The Third Sunday in Lent — March 8, 2026

Living Water for Thirsty People

John 4:5–26
The Third Sunday in Lent — March 8, 2026
Life in Christ Lutheran Church — Grand Marais, Minnesota

“Jesus said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’”

John 4:10, ESV

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This sinful woman has an encounter with God. She has questions. He answers them. She has no illusions about who she is: a sinful, mortal person looking for the hope of eternal life through the coming Messiah.

It begins with Jesus asking for a drink of water.

Already she knows something is different. No Jewish rabbi would speak to a woman in public, let alone ask her to draw water for him. Jesus initiates the conversation. And the conversation is about who He is.

“If you knew who was speaking to you…”

But she does not understand yet. She sees only a tired Jewish rabbi sitting beside a well. She is there carrying out a daily, menial, never-ending task. Day after day she comes to the well, just as countless others had done before her, to fill jars with water and carry them home.

Jesus turns the conversation from earthly water to spiritual thirst.

“I have living water to give you. If you drink of my water, you will never be thirsty.”

After walking to the well carrying water jars, she certainly was thirsty. But Jesus is speaking about a deeper thirst: the thirst caused by sin.

She asks, “How can you give water? You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.”

Jesus answers that His water does not come from Jacob’s well.

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.”

“That’s what I want,” she says. “Then I would not have to keep coming here every day.”

Jesus is about to drive the point home. He has opened her heart to listen. Now He will show her exactly who He is.

“Go, call your husband, and come here.”

Jesus knows exactly who she is and exactly what her situation is.

“I have no husband.”

“You are right. You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.”

Her life, her heart, her sin—all of it is an open book before Jesus. He opens the wound of her sin. He reveals the true nature of her thirst.

Now she sees more in Jesus than she did before.

“Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”

Jesus is drawing her in. He has revealed her thirst. Now He is about to reveal where forgiveness is found.

She continues, “I am a Samaritan.” She believes she is on the outside. So she brings up one of the great dividing lines between Jews and Samaritans: worship.

They stand near Mount Gerizim, the holy place of the Samaritans. The Jews worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus makes both mountains secondary.

“Salvation is from the Jews.”

And later Jesus will say it even more plainly:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6, ESV

Jesus has laid it on the table. The woman is about to confess her faith.

“I know that Messiah is coming.”

There are two important issues with the reading as it is commonly heard.

First, the Gospel lesson often stops too early. We miss the woman’s reaction. Once she realizes who Jesus is, she cannot keep silent. She runs back into town announcing that she has found the Messiah.

Second, there is an issue with the translation.

The ESV reads:

“I who speak to you am he.”

John 4:26, ESV

Technically that is correct, but it misses something very important. A more literal rendering would be:

“I AM is the one speaking to you.”

The whole conversation has been about exactly who Jesus is.

He reveals her sin and points her to the salvation found in the Messiah. Then He speaks one of His great “I AM” statements.

The Greek is ἐγώ εἰμί — an emphatic “I AM.”

It is the language of the burning bush.

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’”

Exodus 3:14, ESV

Jesus is being explicit.

He is saying:

“I am God in the flesh. I am the Messiah. I am the One who has come to bring forgiveness.”

The woman’s reaction says everything. She leaves her water jar behind. Moments ago it seemed essential. Now it is almost meaningless compared to what she has received.

She has received living water.

She runs into town asking the central question of all Scripture:

“Is Jesus the Messiah?”

That is still the question today.

Do not be fooled by all the noise around you. There are endless voices trying to redefine Jesus. Popular culture denies the truth, reshapes God into our own image, and turns salvation into self-discovery.

But the truth is much simpler.

In this account we see exactly who Jesus is.

We see His humanity: tired, thirsty, sitting beside a well.

We see His divinity: using the divine name “I AM.”

We see His mission: bringing forgiveness to sinners.

The woman’s deepest problem was not merely sexual sin. Her deepest problem was her sinful nature. And so is ours.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…”

Hebrews 4:12–13, ESV

The Word exposes us. Our sin condemns us. By rights there should be no living water for us.

That is exactly why Jesus goes from Jacob’s well to the cross.

The sin laid bare by the Word—the thoughts, desires, and intentions of our hearts—is carried by Jesus.

The One who knew no sin became sin for us.

The living water He gives flows from His pierced side: blood and water poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness for the woman at the well.

Forgiveness for you.

The Bible, the Word of God, is an encounter with God in Jesus Christ. We bring our questions. God answers them.

Do not have illusions about who you are. You are a sinful mortal person looking for the Messiah to give eternal life.

And in His Word, Jesus gives exactly that.

He gives Himself.

His sacrifice.

His forgiveness.

His living water.

Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.