João 4:14

DISCOURSE: 1616
THE LIVING WATER

João 4:14. Whosoever drinketh of the wafer that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

OUR Lord invites us to learn of him. To encourage us, he declares that he is meek and Jowly in heart. Never was this disposition more displayed than in his conversation with the Samaritan woman. She was of the most abandoned character; yet he condescended to instruct her. And, when she slighted his proffered mercies, endeavoured to recommend them to her more favourable acceptance. We shall consider,

I. What is that water which Christ will give—

The woman understood our Lord only in a literal sense. But in his words there was a mystical meaning. By the water which he offered her, he meant the Holy Ghost—
[The Holy Spirit is often represented in the Scriptures under the figure of water. It is he of whom the prophet Isaiah speaks when he says, that God will pour out water upon thirsty souls [Note: Isaías 44:3.]. Ezekiel also explains himself as referring to him, when he promises to the Church, in Jehovah’s name, that clean water should be sprinkled on them to cleanse them from their pollutions [Note: Ezequiel 36:25.]. We are taught by God himself to put this interpretation on similar expressions used by our blessed Lord [Note: João 7:37.]. By the help of these passages we ascertain beyond a doubt the import of that before us.]

This water he had full authority to give—
[Jesus had not received the Spirit by measure only, like other prophets [Note: João 3:34.]: he had the residue of the Spirit abiding in him [Note: Malaquias 2:15.]; yea, he had all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily [Note: Colossenses 1:19; Colossenses 2:9.]. As mediator he was commissioned and empowered to bestow this Spirit [Note: Salmos 68:18. with Efésios 4:8 and Atos 2:33. He received in order that he might give.]. Hence he frequently arrogated to himself this power [Note: Thrice did he claim this authority in his conversation with the Samaritan women, and often afterwards in the plainest terms. João 15:26; João 16:7; João 16:14.]. He actually exerted it while he continued upon earth [Note: João 20:22.]; and in a more abundant measure after his exaltation to heaven. The effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost is expressly ascribed to him [Note: Atos 2:33. before cited.]. Hence we may understand why the Holy Ghost is so emphatically called the Spirit of Christ [Note: 1 Pedro 1:11.]

To excite her desire after it, he proceeded to set before her,

II.

The properties it possesses—

Contrasting it with that which he had solicited at her hands, he told her it was,

1. Satisfying in its nature—

[Water from an earthly spring will quench the thirst only for a short time; nor will it at all allay our appetite another things. The men of this world are insatiable in their desire after the vanities of time and sense. The more they have of pleasure, riches, or honour, the more they want [Note: Jó 20:22.]. But a draught of this living water will satisfy the soul: of this heavenly spring indeed, all who have once tasted, will wish to drink again; yea, they will pant after it as the hart after the water-brooks. But their desire of earthly things will be greatly abated. The consolations of the Spirit will be regarded by them as the only satisfying portion [Note: Isaías 55:2.]: they will make every thing else appear insipid, as the beholding of the meridian sun will obscure in their eyes the splendour of all inferior objects [Note: Salmos 73:25.Filipenses 3:7.]

2. Heavenly in its tendency—

[The supplies of water in “a well” are constant and uniform: so the Spirit operates in the heart of man. There will indeed be seasons when his operations will be less manifest: but he will always reside in us as a principle of life [Note: João 14:16.]: he will excite holy and heavenly affections in our breasts [Note: Gálatas 4:6.]: he will keep heaven itself in our view [Note: Efésios 1:14.]: and the one aim of all his motions will be to lead us to everlasting life: nor, if we cherish his motions, will he fail of bringing us to the possession of it [Note: Romanos 8:13.]

Infer—
1.

How glorious a person must Christ be!

[The Holy Spirit is God equal with the Father [Note: Atos 5:3.]: yet Christ has power to send him into our hearts. He can as easily bestow him on us, as we can give a cup of water from a spring. Even though the whole world should ask him, he could impart the Spirit to all of them at the same instant [Note: João 7:37; Isaías 55:2.]. Let us then entertain worthy thoughts of him, and look to him for constant supplies of this living water [Note: Filipenses 1:19 and João 1:16.]

2. How earnest should we be in our application for this heavenly gift!

[The worldly man is indefatigable in his pursuit of earthly vanities: but which of them can be compared with this living water? Which of them can give us life? or satisfy the soul? or bring us to glory? O that we might thirst after this, and this alone! Then would the invitations of Christ be precious to our souls [Note: Apocalipse 22:17.], and we should speedily receive his promised blessings [Note: Isaías 41:17.]

3. How dead ought we to be to all earthly things!

[Our Lord represents all who have received his Spirit as thirsting no more. Hence we can have no evidence that we have drunk of the living waters, but in proportion as our thirst for other things is abated. Let those, who profess to have the Spirit dwelling in them, consider this. The Scriptures that confirm this truth are numberless [Note: Tiago 4:4.João 2:15; Romanos 8:9.]. May God impress them deeply on our hearts! Let the world then be crucified unto us, and us unto the world [Note: Gálatas 6:14.]: and if we would indeed be found partakers of Christ, let us both live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit [Note: Gálatas 5:24.]