“Whoever
drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:14
John 4 [11.] The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?”
John 4 [13.] Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4 [15.] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I don’t get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw.”
John 4 [16.] Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”
John 4 [17.] The woman answered, “I have no husband.”
Jesus said to her, “You said well, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.”
Meaning:
- Living Water:
Jesus uses the metaphor of "living water" to describe the spiritual refreshment and satisfaction He offers. This living water symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the abundant, eternal life that Jesus provides to all who believe in Him (John 7:37-39).
- Complete Satisfaction:
Jesus promises that whoever drinks of the water He gives will never thirst again. This goes beyond physical thirst to address the deepest longings of the human soul. In Christ, we find true satisfaction and fulfillment that cannot be found in anything else the world offers (John 6:35).
- Eternal Life:
The water Jesus gives not only satisfies in the present but also leads to eternal life. It is a source of spiritual renewal and vitality that springs up within believers, leading to everlasting fellowship with God (John 3:16).
- Personal Transformation:
Jesus describes the water He gives as becoming "a well of water springing up" within the believer. This imagery suggests an ongoing, dynamic process of spiritual transformation and growth. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live victoriously and bear fruit for God's kingdom (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Universal Invitation:
Jesus extends this invitation to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances. In offering living water to a Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrates His desire to satisfy the spiritual thirst of all who come to Him in faith (John 7:37).
Cross References:
John 7:37-39: "Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.' But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified." Here, Jesus again uses the imagery of living water to describe the Holy Spirit's work in believers' lives.
Revelation 21:6: "He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.'" In the final chapters of Revelation, the water of life is portrayed as flowing from the throne of God, providing eternal refreshment and healing for all who thirst.
In summary, John 4:14 captures the essence of Jesus' message of salvation and spiritual satisfaction. He invites us to drink deeply of the living water He offers, which satisfies our deepest longings and leads to eternal life in fellowship with God. This invitation remains open to all who come to Him in faith, offering hope and fulfillment for the thirsty soul.
delight - quaff - zeal
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible