Jesus replied, “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.” John 4:13-14

The woman at the well. Our second day of VBS was spent visiting an intimate moment at a well, a moment from another time and another place. A moment where Love looked deep into a heart, tattered and ruined and offered something beautiful.

This story found in the fourth chapter of John, is one whose various layers and meanings are ones I can see mirrored in my own experience with Jesus. If you are unfamiliar with this story, I invite you to read it, study it, and read it again and again. It is a story which is saturated with the love, hope, redemption and freedom that is offered through Jesus Christ.

In sharing the story of the woman at the well, we were able to share the beautiful message of love and worth. We were able to pour into the hearts and minds of little ears listening, the truth of a Saviour who sees us for who and what we are, image bearers of the one true God. There is no one so far gone or so thoroughly ruined to be outside the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. He sees all, even the ones who society (or we ourselves) would rather unsee and His mercy is extended complete to them; His thirst-quenching living water is offered to all who will drink of its goodness.

Friends, I don’t know about you, but this story forces me to think about who I see. Do I see those who Jesus sees? Do I look into the eyes of those Jesus looks into? Am I willing to offer the source of living water to those Jesus offers Himself to? The verse from Galatians 3:28 comes to mind:

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are all seen and loved by Jesus. His accomplishment on the cross binds us no longer to the things that separate. To every corner of the earth and all places in-between, His eyes are lovingly gazing. His rescue is found in the cup of living water…will we put aside our own judgments, prejudices, and biases to offer it to all who are dying of thirst? Are we willing to walk like Jesus and love like Jesus? Can we see the worth of others like Jesus? On our own, the answer is: no. If we are to see others through the eyes of Jesus, if we are to love others like Jesus loved them and if we are to share the good news of salvation with those Jesus came to save — then we have to do it through the grace and power of Jesus.

Day 2 of Vacation Bible School was as exhilarating as it was exhausting. The message being conveyed throughout the whole day to children and adults alike, was life-giving and saturated with the grace and love of Jesus. I am excited to see the goodness that day 3 has in store for us!