ENCOUNTERING JESUS AT THE WELL

• The well…
• Consequences of drawing from the wrong well
• Jesus, the true and living water.
• Exposure
• Conclusion

What does encountering Jesus at the well look like? We should not limit encounters with Jesus to a church building or a conference. Jesus wants us to encounter Him in the mundane, too. As you take your morning coffee, go to work, do house chores or even watch a movie, you can encounter Him. Peter, James, and John had an encounter with Jesus while they were fishing. In fact, He interrupted their schedule. I am sure that when they woke up that morning; they did not know that their purpose and identity would change. Jesus did not wait for them to go to the temple for Him to meet with them. Jesus INFACT met them at their lowest place. They had caught no fish that night. They were disappointed and frustrated. But it was at that point that Jesus encountered them.

One day, as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and have caught nothing. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Luke 5:1‭-‬6 NIV

Let me ask you this: are you frustrated? Are things not going as planned? Maybe you thought you would be further along than you are by now. Or maybe you have failed at something you thought you were good at. If any of the scenarios relate to what you are going through now, I want you to know that God wants to encounter you today. He does not have to wait for you to be perfect. And He is not waiting for you to be at your best. He wants to interrupt your schedule and encounter you at the well of your failures, sin, and disappointments.

And to give you an example, let’s look at 2 people Jesus encountered at their wells. One was a literal well and the other one a figurative well.

• Saul.

Saul’s life was transformed on his way to Damascus. He was on a mission to persecute Christians, and Jesus appeared to him in the worst of circumstances. He transformed his life while he was on his mission.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Acts 9:1‭-‬6‭, ‬15 NIV

During his mission of persecuting Jesus’ followers, Jesus encountered him. And this story is not here by accident. It shows you how despite your rebellion against God, Jesus will still pursue you. He will not stop because you deny Him. He will still come at you until the day you say yes. And He will not do so by shaming you. No! He will just convict you and show you that you need to repent. Which simply means turn from your ways.

If you have been living a life that is contrary to what Jesus asks of you, I want you to know that you can change. You are not too far gone for redemption. The price that Jesus paid is for you, too. Jesus wants you to know that He can transform your life and give you e brand new future. Your old you will become past tense and God will give you a bright future.

• The Samaritan Woman

The Samaritan woman was on her way to draw water when Jesus interrupted her schedule and transformed her. In fact, we are told that Jesus took a deliberate detour just for her.

Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
John 4:4‭-‬7‭, ‬9‭, ‬25‭, ‬28‭-‬29‭, ‬39 NIV

These ordinary people experienced Jesus while they were in their daily activities, and they experienced transformation. As human beings, we have wells in our lives that we are accustomed to drawing from to find fulfillment and satisfaction. A well is a place where people draw water from. Unfortunately, these wells are temporary and only lead to fickle satisfaction, to quench our insatiable thirst. The Samaritan frequented that well, as she needed to quench her thirst. We also see that her ancestor, Jacob, was the one who built the wall. What generational wells are you drawing from?

The well…

The well in itself was not bad. She needed water to quench her thirst. We also see that she had another well, which was marriage. The Bible tells us she was married 5 times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. Looking at her life, we see she had a void she was trying to fill. Whether it was validation, or whatever complex it was that she was trying to cover up.

What then we can conclude is that she was emotionally and spiritually broken, and that was why she thought she needed men to validate her. This woman felt inadequate and because of the society she lived in, she felt she needed a man to validate her and take care of her. Women in those days did not work, and it was the men that took care of them. Either their fathers, husbands, or sons.

Again I ask you what wrong wells have you been drawing from? The wells represent cycles that have held you captive. Habits that you cannot seem to shake and addictions that have taken over your life. It does not have to be alcohol, it could be noise because you don’t want to deal with the emotions that come up when you are silent and still. Some could use isolation because they fear rejection. Negative thoughts can also be wells we draw from because you are accustomed to things going the wrong way. Maybe the well is a wall that you have built because you do not want to let people in for fear of disappointment and pain. All these are examples of wells that people draw from to fill a void or protect themselves.

Consequences of drawing from the wrong well

Depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, worry, fear, frustration, insatiability, pain, emptiness, and trauma are all consequences of drawing from the wrong well. Anything that brings up emotions that are contrary to the word of God is wrong wells. The Samaritan woman had an emptiness in her that only Jesus could fill. Jesus tells us that in Him there is fulness of joy, abundance, peace, fruitfulness, praise, shalom, and fulfillment. If you are not experiencing these, you have been drawing from the wrong well and it is time to make a change. Have you been seeking validation and satisfaction from all the wrong wells? Is there a void inside of you that causes you to keep going back to that same well that never seems to fulfill you? Have shame and guilt become a part of your life because of drawing from the wrong well?

When we allow other things and not Jesus to validate us, we are drawing from the wrong well. If you have been experiencing anything other than the fruits of the Holy Spirit, I want to encourage you to re-evaluate your life. What well(s) are you drawing from? Jesus is always beckoning for you to come back to Him. He wants you to encounter Him and draw from Him. He is the well that will never run dry. And drawing from Him will reintroduce you to your true and whole self.

Jesus, the true and living water.

Jesus knew the Samaritan woman’s plight, and He decided it was time to rescue her. He even made a detour just for her. Jesus will leave the 99 just for you. We even see Him stop just to acknowledge the woman with the issue of blood. That is who He is, compassionate, loving, and willing.

Before Jesus can replace your well, He will first beckon you to give Him a chance. The woman had to be willing to listen to Jesus and hear what He had to say. Jesus is always speaking, it is we who do not always hear Him. Even in our wells, He is always there. He is not afraid to go to the ugly places with us if it means we will be set free. He will walk a thousand miles for you and even climb a mountain just to see you set free. Once He has your attention, He will expose the wrong wells in our lives.

Give Jesus room to speak to you and expose the wrong wells you have been drawing from. Jesus is always ready to redeem you and validate you. Just like He took a detour for that woman, He will leave the 99 just for you. Jesus is ready and willing. Are you willing to give Him a chance? This looks like you spending time with Him. It could be through prayer, reading the word, or worship. Either way, the only way you can encounter Jesus is by letting Him in and giving Him room to speak to you. Be open and vulnerable with Jesus. He wants to listen to your story too.

Exposure

Jesus revealed to the woman her well, which was marriage. He exposed the deepest parts of her because He knew that that was where she was most vulnerable. Jesus did not do this to embarrass her or cause her to feel guilty. No! He did this because He knew that the only way He could set her free was through exposure. Light exposes darkness. Jesus loves you so much, and that is why He wants to see you delivered. He knows He is the only well that can fully satisfy you. Nothing else has the power to fulfill you, gladly so. Behind every exposure there is redemption. The plan of Jesus is always to redeem.

Can you handle it when Jesus reveals the wrong wells you have been drawing from? Do you have the patience to stick it out so that Jesus can set you free? Just because Jesus attained our freedom doesn’t mean we automatically walk in it. We have to want freedom, to begin with. His freedom comes with a lot of transformation and let’s be real for a second. Exposure is very painful. The healing process is very painful. The wound has to be addressed and dressed and whether it is applying Spirit or whatever first aid kit it is. And the process is very uncomfortable.

Conclusion

That is the same with this exposure. Jesus has to uncover the wound and bring it to light, and then He can start working on it for you to receive healing. When He exposes the wound, will you exchange your well for His? He is the living water and His well never runs dry. You can draw from it every day and there will always be more for when you need it. Jesus is telling you today to come to Him all you who are heavy-laden and He will give you rest.

Aren’t you tired of doing the same thing and not getting different results? Jesus is asking you to give Him a chance. Allow His well to nourish you. Surrender it all to Him and give Him your well and see the transformation in your life. It will be worth it in the end! Child of God, stop drawing from the wrong well.