171. Jesus Sitting on the Well.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well; and it was about the sixth hour. - John 4:6.

MANY things may well remind us of our Lord. Chiefly may we think of him when we see a well or a weary peasant resting at noon.

How truly human was Jesus! To him a long walk brought weariness; his weariness needed rest; to rest he "sat thus on the well."

How worn was his humanity! He was more weary than the disciples.

· He had a greater mental strain than they.

· He had a weariness that they knew not of.

His self-denials were even then remarkable.

· He would in all points be made like unto his brethren.

· He would not exempt himself from fatigue.

· He would not work a miracle for his own refreshment.

· He would not refuse to bear heat, thirst, exhaustion.

He has thus made himself able to sympathize with—

· The traveler who rests by the roadside.

· The laborer who is worn-out with toil.

· The sufferer who feels pain in bone and flesh.

· The poor man who must rest on a cold stone, and look for refreshment to the public fountain.

· The weary mind, oppressed by life's long way, which has no luxurious comfort prepared for it, but finds a measure of repose in the simple arrangements of nature.

Reading this text, let it set a picture before you, and—

I. LET YOUR CONSCIENCE DRAW A SPIRITUAL PICTURE OF YOUR WEARIED SAVIOR.

1. He is wearied with our sins (Isa. 43:24).

2. He is wearied with our formal worship (Isa. 1:14).

3. He is wearied with our errings through unbelief (Ps. 95:10).

4. He is wearied with our resistance of his Spirit (Isa. 63:10).

5. He is wearied with our cavillings and rebellions (Mal. 2:17).

Perhaps we have specially wearied the Lord, as we read in Amos 2:13, where singular provocations are mentioned.

That is a grave question asked by the prophet Isaiah, "Will ye weary my God also" (Isa. 7:13)?

II. LET YOUR CONSCIENCE DRAW A SPIRITUAL PICTURE OF YOUR WAITING SAVIOR.

1. He waits for comers to the well: he seizes on all occasions to bless, such as affliction, the hearing of the Word, the recurrence of a birthday, or even the simplest event of life. Men have other errands; they come to the well only to draw water, but the Lord meets them with his greater errand.

2. He waits for the most sinful; she that had had five husbands.

3. He waits to enlighten, convince, convert.

4. He waits to accept, and to commission.

5. He waits to begin by one convert the ingathering of a great harvest of souls, as in the case of the Samaritans.

How long he has waited for some of you!

At how many points has he been on the outlook for you!

Is he not waiting for you at this very hour? Will you not yield to his patient love?

III. LET YOUR PENITENCE DRAW ANOTHER PICTURE.

Alter the position of the character.

1. Be yourself weary of your sinful way.

2. Sit down on the well of your Lord's gracious ordinances.

3. Wait and watch till your Savior comes.

4. Ask him to give you, to drink, and, in so doing, give him to drink for this is his best refreshment.

5. Drink yourselves of the living water, and then run to tell others. Will you not do this at once? May his Holy Spirit so direct you!