The Living Water

With each contemplation, fresh revelations unveil themselves during one of my myriad journeys.

I have been studying the phrase “Living Waters” personally for years. In one week, I heard three sermons on Jesus talking about Him being the Living Water. Interestingly, the church I would later attend, until we moved 13 years later, underwent a name change to ‘Living Waters’.

When Jesus had stated this in the crowd, it was a shock to them. My research suggests that a god in the area was also known as “the Water of Life”. To the crowd, it was blasphemy that Christ was speaking as more than likely the Greek god Poseidon.

Several statements existed where Greek gods of the region had referred to themselves as ‘I am’. Christ had put Himself in the Hot Seat. Now, an opportunity has arisen for Him to show the authenticity of His claims.

During his time in Samaria, he encountered a woman who had come to the well to fetch water. Her four failed marriages and living with a man out of wedlock caused guilt to fester. Christ could see her fears, and anxiety, her anger, and also feel her rejection.

Again, He called Himself “The Living Water”. She was flabbergasted. Her anger spewed out as she called Him on His statement. He told her about her life. And He touched her heart that no one else had in their judgment.

She knew the law. None of the men she was married to had provided a writ. A writ could set her free in a divorce. Man after man took her as his wife, committing adultery himself when she was rejected. She had no rights of her own. Until a man offered her shelter. Yet she still didn’t feel free.

Now this Man, Jesus, was calling her out. Yet, the guilt was no longer there. A tsunami-like feeling surged through her body. She returned to the village to share the news. Even the excitement she brought to the town didn’t change her position.

She remained the woman who would venture alone to gather spring water on the outskirts of Samaria during the late hours of the day. Yet the burden of guilt and agony she once bore had dissipated. The men who tossed her aside held no remorse about what they did, but it didn’t matter anymore. She didn’t need their condemnation for her any longer.

The Living Water fills us and cleans us of all that hinders us from being who we are. It refreshes us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Living Water is accessible to us, just like the woman at the well.