It is said that the average person can survive without water for about three days. Aside from quenching our thirst, water is essential in ways we are not aware of. It regulates body temperature, aides in digestion, delivers oxygen throughout the body, keeps our brains from “brain fog,” eliminates toxins and waste from our body and so much more.
In these verses from John’s Gospel, Jesus encounters the woman at the well and introduces her to “living water.” He contrasts the water in the well to that which He offers. People who drink the earthly water will thirst again; in fact, many may drink of it, not realizing what they thirst for is in fact, living water. The water Jesus offers sustains us in ways much like that of “earthly” water. Let us take a look at the examples listed above:
Water
- Regulates body temperature
- Aides in digestion
- Delivers oxygen throughout the body
- Keeps the brain from fogging up
- Cleanses our bodies inside and out
- Refreshes our bodies
Living Water
- Keeps us from getting “hot under the collar” and doing or saying something we may regret
- Helps us to understand (digest) the words of the Bible
- Delivers the breath of God throughout our life
- Keeps our minds steadfast on the LORD
- Sanctifies us by the washing of water with the word
- Refreshes our spirit
Jesus again spoke of living water to the multitudes “on the last day, the great day of the feast,” (John 7:37) and He invited those who were thirsty to come to Him and drink and “he who believes in Me, as Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet gloried. (John 7:38-39)
Are you thirsty today? Do you thirst after righteousness and wholeness? Do you need cleansing or refreshing? Do you need to gain some temperature control? Then come. Come to the water. Let Jesus give you the living water. Come to the water and drink deeply.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NASB
