What is Living Water
As the days of summer pass us by, the hot temperatures and outside activities make us more acutely aware of our need for water. Suppose we neglect to take in enough of this body's survival essential fluid. In that case, we quickly show signs of physical illness, and lightheadedness, and further neglect can cause organ damage, coma, and death. Fortunately, our body has an intense mechanism called thirst that tells us we need to drink water to replenish this required nutrient and keep our cells hydrated to ensure proper function.
In the same life-saving manner, our soul requires replenishment of The Word as spoken by Jesus. Jesus’s analogy of our soul’s intense need for Him is best described in understanding why He calls Himself “The Living Water.” Acceptance of Jesus is essential for eternal life, but not always understood with the same urgency as food, water, and oxygen because our body can survive in a world without The Living Water, but it will never thrive. Our souls will starve and die in an environment void of The Living Water, becoming corrupted, blind, and evil.
Throughout the Bible, as Jesus refers to Himself as OUR Living Water, His references/stories include moral direction and it beckons us to come to Him as He is our hope and The Way to eternal salvation. Living Water is depicted as an essential nutrient for the survival and thriving of our souls. It is an analogy so we can relate Living Water to a nutrient we KNOW that we need every day!
Filling our minds with His Words and example keeps our souls alive and able to properly discern good from bad in an ever-increasingly corrupt world. Living water in the person of Jesus prevents us from this corruption and completely fills our cup (entire being) with His Light and purpose.
Many people feel an emptiness in life and they try to fill it with material things and mind-altering substances, sex, gambling, or other addictions. These modalities give one a momentary “high” but once the substance wears off or the material thing(s) get old, people seek new and often more destructive ways to achieve those “feel good” moments. Eventually, people either completely destroy their bodies seeking these highs or get so depressed they end their lives because they are left feeling empty and useless. We are created to be filled with God, be generous, and do good. Anything else is temporary and unsatisfactory in the long run. Not only that but our soul decays instead of grows when we seek a full life from anything or anyone other than God.
John 4:13-14 is part of Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well. (Full story John 4:4-42) In this story, Jesus sends His disciples off to find food and seeks out this sinful woman who has been ostracized from society for her life choices. She must wait until all the other women who have arrived together in the coolness of the morning, have gotten their daily water from the village well and leave before slinking over by herself and get her water in the heat of the day. Jesus purposely arranges a private meeting with her and she is shocked a Jew (Jews thought of Samaritans as low-class citizens beneath them) approaches her. Jesus inquires about her marital status and she admits that she has had several husbands in the past, but the man she is living with is not her husband. Jesus tells her what she says is true and compliments her on her honesty. The woman is shocked since this was a capital offense (death as punishment) to the Jews so she is surprised by His knowledge of her life and His acceptance of her as a valuable human being despite her sins.
As they converse Jesus answered one of her inquiries with, "Everyone who drinks this (well) water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) He is offering a person considered the lowest of the low, eternal salvation. This shows us it is available and offered to EVERYONE!
In this conversation and statement, He is pointing out that the body is temporary and has constant needs of replenishment, but the soul is eternal and once it drinks The Living Water after the body dies, it will not need replenishment and will live forever in eternity. In this way, He tells us everything on earth is temporary and will pass away, but your soul will live forever. Through this story He encourages us to “go forth, live without sin and to fill our souls with Him: The Living Water that will keep our soul alive and well and ensure our eternal salvation in paradise!”
John 7:37-38 – “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (Eternal life is freely offered to anyone)
Isaiah 12:3 –“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Prophesized in the Old Testament meaning it has been a gift that has been offered since the beginning of life on earth. This scripture verse also depicts the joy found by those who seek, find, and accept The Living Water)
Revelation 22:17 - The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come, and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Again Jesus reiterates that EVERYONE is included in the invitation to eternal joy and salvation. This verse also reminds us who already have accepted the free gift – Jesus’s brides and our already have His joy in our Spirit – to invite and bring as many people as possible with us. It reminds us not to judge, but to encourage and help others who are struggling. We must evangelize and share The Good News)
Revelation 21:6-8 - Then he told me, “It has happened! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give a drink from the spring of the water of life to the one who is thirsty. The person who overcomes will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” (The last verses for today remind us that Jesus is God and that He has the authority to offer us eternal salvation, but it is up to us to accept. However, He purposely lists the groups of people who will be excluded and what the fate of their souls will be… This should motivate all of us in our behavior and motivate us to help others overcome their sinful natures.)
In summary, Jesus has depicted Himself as OUR Living Water and that if we seek Him (thirst) for His gift of salvation, we will be able to drink happily and freely. This concept must have been very difficult to understand in ancient times since most people were illiterate and most explanations about another world (heaven) were explained in parables/stories to help them visualize what Jesus was saying.
Imagine a world where all you ever saw during your lifetime was a small village or maybe made a trek the Jerusalem as your farthest trip, then a man suddenly shows up and starts talking about a world where there will be no more tears, no need for replenishment of food, water, oxygen, etc. I assume many were baffled and confused, but they could “feel” the move of their Holy Spirit, pulling them toward this man. Instinctively, many followed and were saved.
Now visualize our current world where we are literate and can understand why Jesus is The Living Water (Eternal Salvation) but many ignore the invitation and even rebel against The Word. To which group do you think Jesus will give more leeway and understanding on judgment day? Accepting The Living Water doesn’t mean you won’t have earthly needs, but it offers a path to righteousness and to be cleansed of sin so you can live happily forever in eternity.
We all thirst (want for something that feels missing in our lives) but the answer isn’t more of what the secular world offers, but to accept the ultimate gift of “drinking in” The Word and the example of Jesus Christ, thus accepting the gift of eternal salvation. Amen
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Love, hugs, and blessings, Lisa ><>