The Living Water
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture had said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whine those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. - John 7:37-39
Let’s also take a peek at the Samaritan woman:
John 4:1-15
Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. He tells her to give Him a drink. She responds inquisitively as to why He would ask her for a drink when Jews and Samaritans do not interact. Ignoring her question, he proceeds to reveal to her that she should actually be coming to Him for water because He will give her living water. This water will quench her thirst eternally. He is speaking of the eternal, not the temporal. He continues to say that this water will also become a fountain of water that springs up into everlasting life if she should choose to drink it.
All of us who come to Jesus must by faith draw this living water. Thereafter, we are filled with the living water of eternity. If Jesus is offering the living water, then He is the ultimate source of this water. Therefore, He is the Living Water. Although in John 7:37:39 He is speaking of the rivers of living water in reference to the Holy Spirit, we can remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is the person of Jesus.
By now we should realize that we have a job to fulfill! Now that it’s clear that we have rivers of living water flowing inside of us, we need to see more concretely what this looks like. Let’s go to Psalm 1:3.
Here a picture is painted of what it looks like to be drawing from that living water. We can see the outcome in more detail as we study the tree that is planted by the waters… this tree is drinking up the water. Therefore it is vibrant, majestic, tall, strong, sturdy, evergreen (unaffected by time and season), and fruitful in its season. This tree provides shade, rest, and fruit for anyone that is looking for a break from the heat of the day or the scorching sun. This is a who you are! You are like this tree!
You are planted by the waters, and rivers of living water are flowing out of you. You are now a thirst quencher, just as Jesus was a thirst quencher in the story of the Samaritan woman. You are a person that thirsty people can come to. They can find shade and rest when they are with you and you can give them something to drink that will satisfy them eternally.
I hope today you continue to drink deeply from the never ending supply of living water provided by The Living Water. And then go and find someone who is thirsty because you can bring them from a parched, dry place to an oasis of fruitful abundance that never runs out of supply.
- by Jamie Stirling, missionary with Overland Missions
jamie@overlandmissions.com