Jill was dying of thirst, and she was desperate to have a drink from that cool and refreshing stream that flowed in the distance. But it was the lion, laying across the path, who blocked her way to the stream. Surprisingly, the lion spoke, challenging her to come and take a drink from the stream. Jill had to make a choice, either to walk past the lion toward the stream and risk being eaten by him, or turn around, walk away, and die of thirst. She chose to risk being eaten by the lion and moved forward, walking right by the lion’s mouth, and drank from the stream. The lion watched as she walked right past him, and then he smiled as she drank. 

You and I are also thirsty, thirsty for something that will fill our souls. It’s in our very nature. Many refer to it as “The Hole in the Soul.” On one occasion, Jesus met a woman coming to draw water from a well near the town of Sychar in Samaria. She was of a people group who were despised by the Jews, and even though the custom of the day was that “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans,” Jesus spoke to her anyway. Jesus piqued her curiosity and let her know that if she “…knew the gift of God, and who it was speaking to her, she would ask him for a drink and He would give her living water, water that would become a well of water springing up in her soul so that she would never be thirsty again” (Jn. 4:7-14). At that, the woman responded, “Sir, give me this water so that I will never again be thirsty…” (Jn. 4:15). 

Jesus’ earthly lineage is from the Tribe of Judah, and this tribe is also known as the “kingly” tribe which is symbolized by a Lion. Hence, Jesus is often referred to as “The Lion of Judah.” It’s this same Lion that lay across the path as Jill tried to reach the water that would quench her thirst and give her life. She was understandably afraid, as many of us are. If we ask Jesus to give us this water, we wonder what He might do to us, or demand from us. At the same time, many are reluctant to ask because, in reality, they are far too proud to ask. We tell God that we really don’t need the life-giving water that only He can give us. Not knowing what the future held for her, both Jill and the Woman took a chance and walked past (or we might say “through”) the Lion and found the water they so desperately needed. There is no other way – we must go through the Lion, so to speak, by asking Him for this water that will satisfy our longings. 

Two thoughts come to my mind if you have never taken a drink of the Water of Life that only Jesus can give. First, you must be “dying of thirst” and desperate for a drink of the water that will quench the longing in your soul. If you are not desperate, you will probably never ask. Second, you must humble yourself, realizing that you cannot quench your own thirst, and ask Jesus, the Lion of Judah, to give you “The Water of Life.” Two thousand years ago the Woman at the Well asked the Lion, and He gave it to her. If you will do the same, He will give it to you freely. Furthermore, He won’t growl at you; He’ll just smile!