The Well of Salvation!

"Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well" (Jn 4:6).

Friends, this verse of Scripture illustrates an important principle, the application of which is often a great aid to the understanding of a passage, namely, noticing the place where a particular incident occurred. As another has rightly said, "There is a profound significance to everything in Scripture, even the seemingly unimportant details. The character of the place frequently supplies the key to the meaning of what is recorded as occurring there". For instance: the children of Israel were in Egypt when the Lord delivered them. Egypt, then, symbolizes the place where we were when God apprehended us, namely, the world in which we groaned under the merciless taskmasters that dominated us. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, for it symbolized the spiritual barrenness and desolation of Israel at that time. When the Lord Jesus enunciated the laws of His kingdom, He went up into a mountain — a place of elevation, symbolic of His throne of authority from which He delivered His message, and so on. We conclude therefore, that the place an event transpired is often equally as important as the event itself.

This same interpretive principle receives striking exemplification in the passage before us, from the Gospel of John: "Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well" (Jn 4:6). The meeting between the Savior and this Samaritan adulteress occurred at Sychar which means "purchased" — and so was the "gift of God" that He offered to her. And, as He revealed to her her soul’s deep need He sat "on the well." As we will see, this "well" was a figure of Himself, and its water was the emblem of the salvation that is to be found in Him alone. Isaiah testifies to this truth: "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells (Heb. "the well") of salvation" (Isa 12:3). What a remarkable statement this is! It is the key to the typical significance of many Old Testament passages. The "well" of the Old Testament Scriptures foreshadowed Christ Jesus and what is to be found in Him: the refreshment of the waters of life! Let's observe some Old Testament passages where the "well" is mentioned, and discover how remarkably they foreshadowed this One who gave the water of life to the woman of Samaria. Friend, these truths are to be our possession too!

(1) The first time the "well" is mentioned in Scripture, is in Genesis 16:6, 7, 13, 14: "But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness... And she called the name of the Lord which spake unto her, Thou God seest me... for she said, Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called, The well of him that liveth and seeth me." Note, first of all, that the "well" (the "fountain of water" of verse 7 is termed the "well" in verse 14) was the place where the angel of the Lord found this poor outcast. Even so Jesus is the only place where God may meet with lost humanity, for "no man cometh unto the Father" but by Him (Jn 14:6). Secondly, this well was located in the wilderness — a perfect symbol of this world. The "wilderness" well depicts the state of heart we were in when we first met our Lord! Third, the "well" was the place where God was revealed. Hagar, therefore, termed it, "the well of him that liveth and seeth me." So, again, Christ Jesus is the Revealer of God — "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father" (Jn 14:9). What a wonder!

(2) In Genesis 21:14-19 we read, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrugs. And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is . . . and God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water." How dense is this passage in its typical suggestiveness! First, we have before us again an outcast, and one whose water was spent, for she had but "a bottle". Similar to the prodigal son, she "began to be in want." And so much so, that she had cast away her child to die, and there she sat weeping. What a picture of the poor, desolate, despairing man, lost in his awful ways! Next, God "opened her eyes," and what for? In order that she might see the "well" that had been there the whole time! Was it not so with us? It was never our own mental elevation which discovered that glorious One of whom the "well" here speaks. Rather, it was God who opened our eyes to see Him as the One who alone could meet our desperate and deep needs! "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them" (Prov 20:12). Surely, "we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that (in order that) we may know Him that is true" (1 Jn 5:20).

(3) In this same chapter of Genesis, the "well" is mentioned again in another connection: "And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. Wherefore he called that place the well of the oath; because there they sware both of them" (Gen. 21:27-31). Here we find the "well" was the place of the "covenant" (vs 27), which was ratified by an "oath" (vs 31). And what do we read in Hebrews 7:20-22? — "And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament [covenant]."

(4) In Genesis 24:10-12 we read, "And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day." Not only is each typical picture close to perfect, but the order in which they are found evidences Divine design too. In the first scriptures we have glanced at, that which is connected with the "well" suggested the meeting between the Savior and the sinner. And in the last passage, the covenant and the oath speak of that which tells of the sure ground upon which our eternal salvation rests. And from that point, every reference to the "well" has that connected with it which is appropriate of believers only. In the last quoted passage, the "well" is the place of prayer: so, the believer asks the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, of whom the "well" eternally speaks.

(5) In Genesis 29:1-3 we read, "Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and beheld a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks." This is very beautiful; the well is a place of rest. Here, the "well" is found in the field — suggesting the "green pastures" into which the good Shepherd leads His own (Ps 23:2). Notice there were three flocks of sheep that were lying by this "well": their position denoting rest, that rest which Christ Jesus gives His own.

(6) In Exodus 2:15-17 we are told, "Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock." Again, how great is this type. First, Pharaoh the king of Egypt prefigures Satan as the god of this world, attacking and seeking to destroy the believer. From him Moses "fled". How often the great Enemy frightens us and gets us on the run. But how blessed to note the next statement here: fleeing from Pharaoh to Midian, where he now dwells, the first thing that we read of Moses is, "he sat down by a well." Thank God there is One to whom we can flee for refuge — the Lord Jesus Christ to whom the "well" pointed. To this well the daughters of Jethro also came, for water. But the shepherds came and drove them away. How many of the "under-shepherds" today are, by their teaching, driving many away from Jesus? Nevertheless, God still has a Moses here and there, who will "stand up and help" those who really desire the Water of Life. But be it noted, before we can "help" others we must first be resting on the well for ourselves, as Moses was.

(7) "And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it" (Num 21:16, 17). What a word is this! The well is personified. It is made the object of song. It evokes praise! No interpreter is needed here.. Beloved reader, are you singing unto the Well?"

(8) "Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court: whither they went down. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known" (2 Sam 17:17-19). Here we find the "well" providing shelter and protection for God’s people. Notice there was a "covering" over its mouth, so that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were hidden in the well. So it is with the believer — "your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). How striking is the last sentence quoted above, "And the thing was not known!" The world is in complete ignorance of the believer’s place and portion in Christ! Sad but true.

(9) "And David longed, and said, O that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" (2 Sam 23:15). Nothing but water from the well of Bethlehem would satisfy David. This Well is particular and distinct.. Should our desires be any different? Jesus alone will satisfy! No counterfeit will ever suffice (Jer 2:13)!

(10) "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well" (Prov 5:15). What a blessed climax! The "well" is our own, and from its "running waters" we are invited to drink. And if it is our own possession, we are then free to have our fill.. we can drink all we like! We can even encamp by the waters (Exod 15:27)!

Reader, may we never regard such Divine cohesiveness as merely imaginative! The Bible contains no accidents or coincidences. If we have trouble perceiving such things, perhaps we should ask the Lord Jesus for "eye salve", in order that we may behold "wondrous things" out of His Law. God's Word is so precious! His truth so sublime! And what meaning all these preceding thoughts give to our opening verse of Scripture, "Jesus, therefore, being wearied with His journey sat thus on the well" (Jn 4:6)! This Godly well, as we have just seen, is a clear type of Christ and of His salvation. It's the place where God is revealed, the place where our deep and desperate needs are fully met, it's the place of covenant, the place of prayer, the place of rest, the place of refuge, the place of worship, and the place of shelter. This "well" is particular and distinguished from all others, and it's to be our very own! We're even to become such a life-source ourselves! How wonderful! Therefore, what a splendid place for us (and the nations) to find rest from the journey, as God's glorious forerunner and pattern-Son, King Jesus, so adequately displayed. Dear reader, are you likewise weary? Then let's sit on the well! It's the well of salvation!