Living Water

 

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 42:1-2

Some people thirst for love and validation, others for wealth and power. Many obtain the pleasures they crave, only to become thirsty again. Insatiable thirstiness is a vicious cycle. Only spiritual water can quench our deepest needs; it provides limitless refreshment for the soul.

Worldly libation is never enough.

In John 4, Jesus and his disciples stopped in Samaria on the way to Galilee. Resting at a well, Jesus encountered a thirsty soul seeking fulfillment in dry places. However, the most critical aspect of their conversation is not her cycle of husbands. Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah at that well—the source of human fulfillment.

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 4:6-10

Consider the scene at the well. Jesus disclosed the woman’s marital history and even more! In the light of Christ’s righteousness, our sin is exposed—all the shady thoughts and self-destructive acts. If we repent, however, he will wash away our sins with the blood of that same righteousness. Also, even though Jesus was tired, he took time to minister to the woman. That graciousness is reminiscent of his words on the cross. Even though he had been tried, tortured, and hung, he uttered: “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” At great consequence—even unto death—he offers us eternal life.

The Samaritan did not know who Jesus was and, thus, did not understand she needed supernatural water. In that way, she represents all of us before we met Jesus. We may not have five spouses, but perhaps we have five hoarded dollars, five wicked lies, five festering grudges, or five innocent victims. To her benefit and to that of her neighbors, the Samaritan believed and proclaimed the good news. What did we do when Jesus revealed himself to us?

Spiritual Thirst

We were created to long for God.

We cannot drown out the pain of unhealthy addictions and relationships. Trying to quench the soul naturally is like drinking cola for water. It is sweet going down but rough on the gut! The problem is this: we have been drawing from dry wells.

What is Living Water?

As news of Jesus spread abroad, some believed, while others doubted and wanted to kill him. Nevertheless, Jesus continued to preach. He also explained the nature of living water and how it would manifest to all who believe:

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 7:38-39

Jesus promised that the Father would send the Spirit of truth (John 16:13) after his departure. Living water is the Holy Spirit, our comforter and teacher, who leads and guides us. Jesus Christ’s living water flows with refreshing grace, nourishing love, new mercies, overflowing hope, crisp correction, and rippling peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus Christ is the source of living water.

Why Rivers?

Jesus compares the indwelling of the Spirit to multiple rivers of water. The metaphor reveals how the Holy Spirit satiates people who would otherwise lead barren lives.

All rivers have a starting point where water begins its flow. This source is called a headwater (National Geographic). Similarly, Jesus is the source of life, and everything was made by him (John 1:1-3). He is the head of the church, and his birth was the starting point for human redemption.

Rivers generate power (Bosshard). Jesus rose from the dead with all power in his hands. The Spirit that resurrected Jesus is the same spirit that quickens our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). Jesus said that after we receive the Holy Spirit, we would receive power and be witnesses for him (Acts 1:8).

Natural rivers contain only 0.003 percent of the water on Earth but sustain much of life (Bosshard). Likewise, the Spirit sustains believers, nourishing and preserving them unto everlasting life. Moreover, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

When believers’ lives bubble up like mighty rivers, thirsty souls will wonder at the source! We can witness that Jesus Christ is the reason for the hope and power that is within us. And so, let us point them to the well of life—the Messiah—whose Spirit satisfies every need:

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Isaiah 58:11