The Well Of Religion Is Too Deep

John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

In this historical account Jesus met a woman by an ancient water-well. To illustrate a truth in the ensuing discussion Jesus contrasted the water-well to living water, which is water flowing on the surface of the ground coming from an artesian well. The well is a metaphor for human religion, and living water was used to represent the everlasting salvation which comes freely though a faith relationship with Jesus by His Gospel.

In the metaphor of the water-well we find the marks of salvation-less religion.  If your religion has these characteristics, then you can be sure it is not the salvation offered by Jesus and illustrated by the metaphor of living water.

First of all, “the well is deep.” The water of salvation in religion is always out of reach to the thirsty person who walks up to the well needing a drink. A person who is thirsty for righteousness and looks for salvation in man-made religion will never find it flowing freely on the surface within reach.

Second, “Sir, thou has nothing to draw with.” Gaining salvation by religion will always take something more than a person has available. Thirsty travelers will have to go to someone in that religion to gain the tools needed to reach the water. But even with the tools the water always seems to remain out of reach. The depth of the well creates an economic niche for religion, but leaves the thirsty traveler unsatisfied. Christ Jesus offers tool-less access to the water of life. He died and rose from the dead to bring the water close... because without Him the water is too deep for any of us to access.

Third, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:” Even when you know how deep you have to go for water, and have the tools to get there, human religion cannot give you a lasting, sure salvation. You find yourself chained to the deep well of religion by a reoccurring thirst for righteousness which religion can never quench. The process never ends... even when you purchase a golden bucket with a silk rope. In the Gospel we have all the righteousness we will ever need.

In the salvation Jesus offers, you go straight to Him for it, and He gives it freely. You don’t need anything but gospel faith, and you only have to go to Him once. He gives living water, an everlasting artesian well within you. It goes where you go. His salvation is free and eternal.