In Ray Ortland’s commentary on the Book of Isaiah, He shared a portion from C.S. Lewis’ book, The Silver Chair, to illustrate a point the prophet Isaiah was making to the nation of Judah.
I am going to use the material that Ortland used and apply it to the meeting that Jesus had with the woman at the well recorded in John 4.
First, I want to expand and paraphrase Ortland’s entry and incorporate quotes from both Ortland (O) and Lewis (L).
Picture a young girl, named Jill, coming into a clearing in a forest. In this clearing, there is clear, stream of water flowing with a ‘refreshing current’ (O). Jill sees the stream and wants to desperately get a drink of water. Jill is thirsty. She starts to rush forward and quench her thirst; but her progress is brought to an abrupt halt, …”she freezes in fear because a lion is resting in the sun right beside the stream.” (L)
Those familiar with Lewis’ series, The Chronicles of Narnia , know that the Lion’s name is Aslan and he represents Jesus Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
The Lion engages Jill with a question. “Are you thirsty?” Jill replies, “I’m dying of thirst.” To emphasize the point, she repeats her words. “I’m dying of thirst.” ( L)
The Lion calmly replies, “then drink.” (L)
Jill wants too; but her fear immobilizes her. She hesitantly asks the Lion to leave. The Lion doesn’t budge.
“The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl.” (L)
She engages the Lion again and says, “will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come? (L)
The Lion answers resolutely, ” I make no promise.” (L)
Jill, then asks the Lion, “do you eat little girls ?” (L)
The Lion responds, “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms.” (L)
Lewis interjects, the Lion “didn’t say this as if he were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.”
The Lion’s answer frightened Jill.
Jill responds, “I daren’t come and drink.” (L)
“Then you will die of thirst”, said the Lion. (L)
“Oh, dear!”, said Jill, coming another step closer. I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.” (L)
“THERE IS NO OTHER STREAM,” said the Lion (emphasis mine) (L)
We live in a world that is dying of thirst. Humanity seeks to quench its thirst from the many different streams that exist in this world. As the Lion said to Jill, there is only ONE (emphasis mine) stream that will quench her thirst.
Please read John 4:1-26.
Living Words of Encouragement 