BY PASTOR JACK WARD
Remember way back in 2014, when they had the Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? It involved dumping a bucket of ice water over one’s head to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. It went viral throughout social media in mid-2014.
The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed as a bucket of ice water is poured on their heads, and to challenge others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by making a charitable donation.
John 4:7-14: “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 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? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
The Ice Bucket Challenge was a notable way to bring awareness of the dreadful disease ALS. But does awareness cure a disease? We are aware of cancer because it affects every family. Has it cured cancer? We have made progress on disease awareness, but as soon as we cure one disease, 10 others are discovered.
Jesus did not need the woman at the well to give Him water. Jesus wanted her to ask Him about Living Water. Jesus challenged the woman to give Him something that would give refreshment in this life, but He offered her living water.
You see we have nothing that can bring someone everlasting life. We do not have living water. Jesus is asking all of us. What can you do that will give life everlasting? Doing good deeds like the Ice Bucket Challenge probably will not cure any disease, but you will feel good about yourself, that you have done something worthy.
Water is the basic necessity for life, but we must constantly drink it to live. Jesus knew this and He expounded on His water as being everlasting. Never running out, always satisfying, living water!
Jesus knows it is not more water that we need. It is not an Ice Bucket Challenge; it is not a cure for ALS or even for cancer. This world needs Him! Physical life is in the water, but eternal life is about living water. This world needs the living water that comes from Jesus Christ. This world needs the cure for our one problem. We are sinners. We live in a fallen, sinful world and we need Jesus our only Savior!
I dare you to take the living water challenge! Pour Jesus into your heart and into your life.
Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on 98.9 WSIP FM. Check out the Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church Facebook page and our website: tomahawkmbc.com.