Filling the Void.

It was Sunday during church service I was talking to a friend about ministry. He then showed me a friend of his on Facebook who's also in ministry. And I then told him about a friend of mine in ministry, and asked that he send him a friend request on Facebook. Of course when he sent it, he noticed that one of the mutual friends was someone we both know (we'll call her Jane). He then asked how my friend knew Jane, and I told him that she use to date his friend. After telling him this, he said to pray for her as she was one of those women who just got to have a man. When he said this, I was reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well. But little did he know, I was once the Samaritan woman, until I found Jesus.

If you're not familiar with the story of the Samaritan woman, read John 4:1–26 before proceeding.

¹Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). ³ So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ⁴ He had to go through Samaria on the way. ⁵ Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. ⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁸ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. ⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” ¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” ¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” ¹⁵ “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” ¹⁶ “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. ¹⁷ “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ²⁰ So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” ²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴ For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

Here we find Jesus leaving Judea traveling to Galilee, and having to go through Samaria on the way. He then goes to Jacob's well in the Samaritan village of Sychar, where he meets the Samaritan woman and begins a conversation. From the conversation, we learn that the Samaritan woman had been married five times, and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Now, the point that this woman had been married five times, should not automatically indicate promiscuity. However, it is obvious that the Samaritan woman had a voracious need to be in a relationship....trying to fill a void.

 

Since the story of Samaritan woman, not much has changed. Truth be told, some of us today is the Samaritan woman. Not because we've been married five times, but because many live in repeat cycles attempting to fill a void that just never seems to get filled. It's important note that voids come in all different shapes and sizes. But in the case of the Samaritan woman, she tried to fill a void with her different relationships with men. And from those relationships, its evident that she either couldn't find what she wanted in a man and finds another, or they couldn't find what they wanted in her and left. I myself have been the Samaritan woman where I sought to fill a void within, through my relationships with men, and like her, those relationships never completed me. Here's a question for you, what void(s) do you notice in your life, and how are you trying to fill it?...For you, the void may be material possessions, money, sex, drugs, work, or other forms of fulfillment. However, when you try to fill the void with these things, you will remain empty and unsatisfied. These things bring only temporary satisfaction. There is no person, or thing that can fill that void, only Jesus can. This is why Jesus tells us in verse 14 that  "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again." Note: Jesus wasn't talking about the water in Jacob’s well, he was talking about living water: the water of life...the gift of salvation.

Reflection

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

In sum, you may be looking to fill a void, but just know that Jesus created us with that void intentionally. He put that void there to lead us to him. Like the woman at the well, she had been through five husbands trying to fill a void. Not only that, but she tried again with the sixth man, but he too failed to complete her. However, she did finally find completion in the seventh man, Jesus...the one who brought wholeness to her life! Speaking of the seventh man,  I would like to note that the number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible. The number seven represents completion! Remember, until one has a personal relationship with Jesus, your life will never be complete. It is He and he alone that can make your life complete. Colossians 2:10 says, "So you also are complete through your union with Christ. Jesus Himself said "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John14:6) He also said, "I have come that they may have life" (John 10:10)

If you are unsaved, go to the well! He's not only by the well of salvation....He is the well of Salvation!