This post is also available in: Hebrew Russian

For years I played music in New York City, which was something I really wanted to do since I was a young boy. It was the only thing that seemed to be enjoyable, much more so than a 9-5 job, particularly when you’re a teenager. That mindset continued until I felt an inner emptiness that I could not put my finger on. Despite playing music at a few backyard parties, still there was something “missing.”

Even after spending $3,500 on drums in pursuit of a dream of playing in a rock and roll band, there was still a cry within for something deeper and more satisfying. Thus, I want to share a true story that has significance, at least in principle, to what I am trying to say.

There was a woman who had one relationship after another. How long she went out with each one or lived with him is not known, but it was clear that she had been in five relationships, and that she was in her sixth.

A man sat by the well where she came to draw water each day. He waited there for her. In fact, He walked many miles to get to this well to wait to meet her. So there He waited, and then she came. He spoke first, since particularly in those days most women would not have started a conversation with a strange man.

This man then said, “Woman, give me a drink.” She found it strange that He spoke to her, because He was a “pure Jew,” and she was a half-Jew. In those days Jews (full-blooded Jews, so to speak) did not have dealings with those like her—Samaritans, as they were called. She was surprised…then He said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is who is speaking to you, who is asking you for a drink, you would ask Him and He would give you living water.”

She said, “The well is deep and You have no bucket… where do You get this living water? Are You greater than the one who gave this well to us?”

He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall by no means thirst forever, but the water that I will give him will become in him ( or her ) a spring of water gushing up into eternal life.” She said, “Sir, give me this water…..”

He said, “Go call your husband.” She said, “I don’t have a husband.” Jesus said, “You have had five and the one you now have is not your husband.” She said, “I see that You are a prophet.” Later on in the conversation this woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ), when He comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus then said something profound to her: He said “I, who speak to you, am He.”

She later realized that He was more than a prophet. She then dropped her bucket and ran to tell the whole town: “Come see a man who told me all things that I have done, is this not the Christ?” Then, many interested ones came and invited Him to stay overnight. Jesus stayed there for two days. After that time, the people of the town came and said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your speaking that we believe, for we ourselves have heard and know that this One is truly the Savior of the world.”

This woman did not really know what she needed. She was convinced it was in the area of “love,” or relationships, but did not realize that she had a deeper need, that is, the Lord Himself. Truly, if this need were to be filled, all the other areas of her life would be taken care of and she would be satisfied. Like all people, her real need was a spiritual one, not a physical or emotional one.

There are many fountains to drink from in this world, where we try to quench our thirst… the fountain of entertainment, amusement, relationships, pursuit of money, etc. Now I realize that I had this experience for years: I was drinking from a fountain that would run dry, and that I would thirst again and again.

In contrast to my past experience, I can now say that for 25 years I have been enjoying a new and wonderful fountain, a fountain that never runs dry. This is the fountain of Life, the fountain of true satisfaction….This fountain is Jesus Christ!