January
18, 2003
LIVING
WATER
"Jesus
answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and
who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink," you
would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water'
" (John 4:10, NKJV).
Jesus
came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near a well originally
dug by the patriarch Jacob. Jesus, being weary from His journey
sat by the well. "A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink.'..
Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, 'How is it that You,
being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?' For
Jews have no dealings with Samaritans." Jesus answered
and said to her, 'If you knew the gift
of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink,"
you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living
water' (John 3:7-10).
"The
woman had not comprehended the words of Christ, but she felt
their solemn import.. Supposing that Jesus spoke of the well
before them, she said, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw with,
and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well,
and drank from it himself? (John 4:11, 12). She saw before
her only a thirsty traveler, wayworn and dusty. In her mind
she compared Him with the honored patriarch Jacob. She cherished
the feeling, which is so natural, that no other well could
be equal to that provided by the fathers. She was looking
backward to the fathers, forward to the Messiah's coming,
while the Hope of the fathers, the Messiah Himself, was beside
her, and she knew Him not. How many thirsting souls are today
close by the living fountain, yet looking far away for the
wellsprings of life!... ["And it shall come to pass that
whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved"
(Joel 2:32).]
"Jesus
did not immediately answer the question in regard to Himself,
but with solemn earnestness He said, 'Whoever
drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks
of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But
the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain
of water springing up into everlasting life' (John
4:13, 14). He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains
of this world will drink only to thirst again. Everywhere
men are unsatisfied. They long for something to supply the
need of the soul. Only One can meet that want. The need of
the world, 'The Desire of all nations,' is Christ. The divine
grace which He alone can impart, is as living water, purifying,
refreshing, and invigorating the soul.
"Jesus
did not convey the idea that merely one draft of the water
of life would suffice the receiver. He who tastes of the love
of Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks for
nothing else. The riches, honors, and pleasures of the world
do not attract him. The constant cry of his heart is More
of Thee. And He who reveals to the soul its necessity is waiting
to satisfy its hunger and thirst. Every human resource and
dependence will fail. The cisterns will be emptied, the pools
become dry; but our Redeemer is an inexhaustible fountain.
We may drink, and drink again, and ever find a fresh supply.
He in whom Christ dwells has within himself the fountain of
blessing,--'a well of water springing up into everlasting
life.' From this source he may draw strength and grace sufficient
for all his needs.
"As
Jesus spoke of the living water, the woman looked upon Him
with wondering attention. He had aroused her interest, and
awakened a desire for the gift of which He spoke. She perceived
that it was not the water of Jacob's well to which He referred;
for of this she used continually, drinking, and thirsting
again. 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor
come here to draw' (John 4:15)."-- The Desire of
Ages, pp. 184, 187. (to be continued)
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