What Jesus Did! 'You Can't Do This ... Can You?' — John 4:10-12

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Jesus replied [to the woman at Jacob's well], "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"

— John 4:10-12 NLT

Key Thought

When life is not going well, when our dreams lie shattered at our feet, we long for someone who is bigger than our experience and larger than our hope to come and ransom us from our hopeless drudgery. "You can't get me water; you don't have a rope and bucket!" Behind the woman's skepticism is an inkling of hope. She's looking. She's longing. Her hope hasn't been encased in desperation so long that it has died. Of course, we know who Jesus is, and we know the answer to her real question. Yes, the one you talk to, dear lady, is greater than your ancestor Jacob. Much greater. And he doesn't need a rope and bucket. In fact, he doesn't even need a well. You are about to have your flickering hope revived and your parched soul refreshed. Just keep seeking. Just keep asking. Living water is already starting to flow.

Today's Prayer

O precious Father, I have several people on my heart today whose hope is nearly gone. They can't seem to find their way to Jesus. Please keep their flickering hope alive. Please use me to help them find Jesus to slake their thirsty souls. Use the people around them to keep them asking and looking and longing for something, for your Someone, to do what no one else can do for them. I pray this earnestly for those I love, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

11 Related Resources by Heartlight

Living Water
Article by Tom Norvell
Who can satisfy our parched souls? Tom Norvell reminds us that only Jesus can quench our parched spirits and souls with his living water.
If You Only Knew
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Jesus replied [to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well], "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and...."
The Giver
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"Jesus replied [to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well], "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would..."
Leaving the Bucket Behind
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, I surprised My closest disciples at Jacob's well in Samaria. We were traveling from Judea to Galilee, and Samaria was the region..."
See All 11 Related Resources about John 4:10-12

Illustration

Illustration of John 4:10-12 NLT — "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, March 4, 2026

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Wait for the Promise' (Lk. 24:48-49)
"[Jesus said,] "You're the first to hear and see [the fulfillment of the prophecies about the Messiah]. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important:...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'The Golden Life'
"Dear Beloved, We often make understanding what God wants much harder than it really is. One of the important aspects of My teaching is that I tried....."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: 2 Samuel 18:23
"Running is not everything, there is much in the way which we select: a swift foot over hill and down dale will not keep pace with a slower traveller....."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Satan Wants Us to Use Only Human Wisdom'
"Jesus turned to Peter and said, 'Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view,..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!