“I can’t walk another step. I’m just exhausted. Totally wiped!” I’ve only hiked up one mountain in my lifetime, and I vividly recall my steps getting slower and my breathing heavier. I also recall sitting down more than once on the journey upwards.
The Lord Jesus Christ was walking one day with His disciples. He selected a route from Judea to Galilee that few Jews would have taken because of their dislike for the Samaritans. They would have gone the long way around, just to avoid the Samaritans. But weighing heavily on the heart of the Saviour was a sinful Samaritan woman and for that reason, He chose the less-traveled route. But look at Him now: sitting on a well. Was He wiping the sweat of His brow? Was He breathing heavily? Were His shoulders slumped from weariness? All we know is that the Saviour had stopped walking and now He was sitting on the curbside of the well or on the ground by the well. How long had He been sitting there before the woman arrived?
John 4:6: “Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well…”
The word ‘weary’ simply means: fatigued; exhausted; faint from excessive labour; or worn out. This verse, along with many others, reminds us of the perfect humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He experienced weariness, thirst and hunger. When
He became flesh (The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…John 1:14), He never ceased being what He always was – the eternal Son of God. But He became what He never was before – A Man! This Man experienced the vicissitudes of life – He was troubled and disturbed over situations; He groaned with distress over the ravages of sin; his eyes were wet with tears at a graveyard; his stomach gnawed with hunger pains; his throat was dry from thirst and his muscles were tired from toil and labour.
In fact, when I am in distress, in tears, in pain, in hunger or thirst, when I am feeling the intensity of my emotions, when I am weary from the journey, I can go into my room and fall (collapse) on my knees and go directly to the Lord. If I listen closely, He will whisper into my soul: “Been there; done that!” Dear Christian, He has been here on this planet and He experienced life – rejection, betrayal, grief, and aloneness. He knew what it was to be totally misunderstood; His words were twisted and misinterpreted; He was falsely accused. He suffered intense physical pain. He felt the satanic attacks. He experienced spiritual suffering on the Cross.
Heb 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” ESV
Dear Child of God – is this a time of need in your experience? Are you weary with your journey? Draw near to the throne of grace. He will give you grace and strength to help in your time of need.