After all of these lessons about the living water that God provides, we come to these verses that say that even Jesus gets thirsty. Jesus gets lonely. Jesus needs clothes. This is a bit of a turnaround isn’t it?
Our Lord so fully identifies with us that He hurts when we hurt. And now He calls on us to hurt when others hurt. Service to others is service to Christ. As A. W. Argyle has suggested: to neglect others is to neglect Christ.
It is interesting that both those who have helped the needy (Matthew 25:37-39) and those who have ignored the needy (Matthew 25:44) are surprised to find out that all this has to do with how we treat the Lord. Those who followed Jesus helped others not in order to get special credit, but simply because their character of helping was formed by following Jesus.
This lesson from Jesus does not mean that we are saved by our good works. It means that because of our saving relationship with God, we will do good works. The good works are fruits of the presence of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24).
This is not the first time that God’s People have been instructed to care for others. Look at Isaiah 58:7 (The fast that God chooses is to help the hungry and homeless). Look at Ezekiel 18:7 (The righteous pays off debts, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked.)
This is not the only time that followers of Jesus have been reminded to be there for others. Look at 2 Timothy 1:16. (When everyone else turned away, one faithful household cared for the prisoner.) Look at James 1:27. (Pure and undefiled religion is caring for those in distress.) Look at Hebrews 13:2. (Helping strangers could mean actually entertaining angels.)
This lesson closes the series on the Water that God provides when our spirit is thirsty. Now, it moves us “to pass it on.” The One who has refreshed us is now thirsty because others are hurting. What do we do?
What Someone Else Has Said: In his book Is It Time? (Abingdon), Adolf Hansen has written: “According (to a study of physical and emotional well-being), the thing that has stood out with more importance than any other is ‘good relationships.’ They keep people happier and healthier than anything else.”
Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “Lord, are You thirsty? How can I help?..
