I Give You Jesus, My Friend

A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water [at Jacob’s well]. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of

water?” The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman,

for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew

the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living

water.” Continuing, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who

drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing

fountains of endless life.” The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have

to come back to this well again!” (John 4:7-15)  

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come

unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living

water.” (John 7:37-38) 

Jesus said, “I am the living water.” And however hot and dry it may be, here we can hear the sound of

living water still running cool and fresh and full. Sometimes, seemingly of itself, it gushes out, and in a

moment, the bleached riverbeds are foaming torrents with new life and greenness all along their banks,

spreading far out into the gaping dryness. But we must all do our part if these parched, arid, dusty lives of ours

are to feel a reviving even from Christ.

Someone once said that when even one person stands on tiptoe waiting for Christ in a thrill of

expectancy, others soon will gather and watch for Him too. And, of course, we have our own definite part to

play. We come to a service not to get only, but also to give. Listen to Janet Paschal’s beautiful song:

If the ship of your life, Is tossing on the sea of strife; You need someone.

And if you feel so all alone, And your house is not a home; You need someone.

If it seems life isn’t fair, And there’s no one left to share;

All those lonely days and nights, And things just won’t turn out right;

And you need someone to care, And someone to just be there; You need someone.

I give you Jesus, He’s the peace that passes all understanding;

I give you Jesus, He’s the perfect love that casteth out all fear;

I give you Jesus, He’s the water that you drink and never thirst again;

I give you Jesus, my friend, I give you Jesus,

If the pressures all around, Keep your spirits to the ground; You need someone.

And If your body is in pain, And your health you can’t regain; You need someone.

And If at times when you have tried, With all the strength you had inside;

And it seems that you have failed, Remember on the cross He nailed

All the bitterness and grief, To give you peace and sweet relief

He is that someone that you need.

So I give you Jesus,

He’s the peace that passes all understanding;

I give you Jesus, He’s the perfect love that casteth out all fear;

I give you Jesus, He’s the water that you drink and never thirst again;

Oh I give you Jesus, my friend, I give you Jesus.

Would you like a drink of cool water?

Francis Mason