What did Jesus mean when He spoke of living water?

The Lord spake to her of the living water which He gives; of that which slakes the soul’s thirst so perfectly, that whosoever drinks thereof “shall never thirst for ever.” But not only does this living water satisfy: it becomes within the one who drinks “a fountain of living water, springing up into eternal life.” Eternal realities and relationships are so realized that the once thirsty sinner becomes a true worshipper of the Father in spirit and in truth. Christ the Living One is the giver of this living water.

The misunderstanding of the woman led to further unfoldings contained in verse 14, which again seem to range themselves under three heads. First, the one who drinks of the living water as the gift of Christ will have it "in him," abiding in his very being. Then, it will be in him as a "well," or "fountain," of water, "springing up into everlasting life." A fountain of life within, which springs up to the level of its Source! Lastly, the drinking of such water and the possession of such a fountain will produce abiding satisfaction. The Lord used a very strong expression — "shall never thirst for ever."

By "living water" the Lord indicated the Spirit of God as is quite evident when we reach chapter 7:39. In the previous chapter the only begotten Son is God's gift to the world but in this chapter, the Spirit of God is God's gift to the believer, but a gift which is administered by the Son of God; who was the Speaker, seated on Sychar's well. By the Spirit we have the life within — He is spoken of elsewhere as "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2) — and by Him the life within springs up to the Source of the life above. In this way did the Lord indicate the life of communion and worship and satisfaction which He was about to make available for the believer. As a result, the believer today may anticipate the millennial joy, set forth figuratively in the beginning of miracles at Cana of Galilee: and not only anticipate, but also know it in truer measure and a more spiritual way.

All this depends on the Holy Ghost, "which they that believe on him should receive." Not only is the thirst quenched, but "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This is clearly by the power of the Holy Ghost, which comes from the glory where Christ is, and fills the heart of the believer with the glory into which He has passed. Wondrous words, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" (ver. 39). And what is more suited to an and wilderness, like this world, than "rivers of living water" flowing through it. We may well marvel that we should be the channels through which those rivers roll. But that is just why we are left down here after conversion. We are to witness for our absent Lord. This figure manifestly differs from that in John 3, where by the "water and the Spirit" we are new-born. Nor is it like "the well of water springing up" — the power of the Spirit within you, giving you to enjoy the sense of association with the Father, and the Son — the believer entering into the enjoyment of things not seen, because heavenly, and eternal, as spoken of in John 4. In John 7 the "rivers of living water" are undoubtedly connected, more with service, than with worship. They further suggest the thought of connection with an inexhaustible supply of perennial refreshment, making the believer, through grace, really superior to the circumstances that surround him. What is your thought of living water? Is it not a thing that sparkles with blessings? It conveys to me the idea of the fullest refreshment.

Whether there is any allusion in verse 37 to the custom of fetching water in a golden vessel from the pool of Siloam in the several days of the feast of tabernacles, and then pouring it out into another vessel on the altar, it is impossible to say. Nor need we be concerned to ascertain; for it is with the truth signified in this blessed invitation of our Lord that we have to do. It is clear, from verse 39, that the invitation is anticipatory; that is, that it looks on beyond the cross to the time when the Lord should be glorified on high; for it is from thence the Holy Ghost has been given to believers. (See John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7.) And living water represents life in the power of the Holy Ghost, life therefore in Christ. And hence it brings those who possess it into a new scene, into the place where Christ is. To quote the words of another, "It is well that we should call attention to three operations of the Spirit of God. In John 3 we are born of the Spirit; in John 4 it is a fountain springing up to everlasting life. Here (in John 7) the new man enters into the enjoyment of things not seen, of things heavenly and eternal. When they fill the heart, when the heart, drinking of that which is in Jesus, is satisfied, then these things overflow, and refresh thirsty souls. Heavenly affections meet souls, showing what it is that revives a soul without God, which groans without knowing, perhaps, what is wanting. The words of Jesus were truly some of these waters." But it is necessary to mark the two actions indicated., First, the thirsty soul comes to Christ, drinks, and is satisfied. To "drink" is, of course, a figure in relation to the symbol, water. In this gospel man is seen as dead rather than guilty (John 5:24-25), as without spiritual life. It is Christ therefore as risen out of death in the power of life, and as glorified, who alone can meet his need. Hence His cry, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." And coming, he passes out of death into life, himself now, by the gift of the Spirit, in a new state and condition, and belonging to the sphere "of things heavenly and eternal," into which he will be actually introduced when the Lord comes to receive him unto Himself, that "where He is, he may be also." (John 14.) Secondly, there is believing. "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water." Believing here, it should be well observed, is not like "coming," once and for all, but it is faith in continuous activity, as the condition for the outflow of the rivers of living water. It is the same in chap. 14, where we read, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father." (v. 12.) In other words, it is not simply a believer, but a believer in whom faith in Christ is in present exercise, of whom these things are said. This is of the first importance; for it reveals to us first of all the qualification for being a channel of blessing to others, viz., that we must be in living connection, through faith, with Christ as the fountain - and, together with this, it enables us to discover the secret of all power in service. (Compare Matthew 21:21; Luke 17:5-6, etc.) It is a wonderful thing to reflect upon, that the rivers of living water that first flowed forth from Christ may now flow, and will flow, from His people who live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.

The last day of the feast arrives. How well the Lord Jesus knew that there were many left unsatisfied by all the forms and ritual of their religious feast. What indeed can their feast provide without Him? He cried out for all to hear, “If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink” (v. 37). This was no mere teaching of religious doctrines: what they needed was the person of the Son of God, for in Him only is spiritual thirst satisfied. Absolutely no-one else in the universe could speak in this way: no popular religious leader would think of such a thing, unless thoroughly demented. Such men pride themselves on their ability to impress people with their subtle doctrines, but they know there is nothing in themselves personally to satisfy people's hearts. More than this, the Lord declares that one who believes in Him (not just believes His doctrine) would have living waters flow out from his inward parts (v. 38). John 3:5 has spoken of the water in connection with the Spirit of God quenching one's thirst. John 4:14 speaks of the water as a well, springing up, causing worship; now John 7 tells of its flowing out toward others, the power of the Spirit in testimony.

On the last day of the feast, typical of Israel 's promised blessing and glory, He stood and cried: "If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink." He offers now upon the rejection of Himself something new to "any man who thirsts"; the national promises of living water pouring forth from Jerusalem cannot be fulfilled now. They will be fulfilled when He comes again. It is an individual invitation, an individual promise, He gives. "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." We are then told that this means the gift of the Holy Spirit, which they were to receive who came to Him and believed on Him. The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Then the Holy Spirit came to dwell in believers. The overflow, the streams of living water to flow from the believer, is the type of the Spirit, the Spirit of power manifesting Himself through the believer in bearing testimony for Christ. In the third chapter we saw the Holy Spirit communicating life; He is the Life-giving Spirit. In the fourth chapter the Lord spoke of the Spirit as the well of living water; He indwells the one who is born again to make communion and worship possible. Then followed His teaching in chapters 5 and 6, again concerning the life the believer hath in Him and how it is sustained. In the present chapter the indwelling Spirit, Who is the well of living water in the believer, is seen flowing forth to others, just as a spring will overflow.

We come now to chapter 7, and here there is exposed another side of the world. It is not its gross and degrading side, but its religious side. It was on the last great day of the greatest religious feast in the Jewish calendar that Jesus stood and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." The Lord looked upon the weary faces of those zealous religionists, and into their hearts. He knew how empty of blessing were all their forms and ceremonies and how obnoxious to God was all their ritual. He had watched them throughout that feast and waited for the last great day of it, and then He presented Himself instead of all that that had disappointed them, "COME UNTO ME," He cried. How magnificent is His offer and how blessed must be His fullness who makes it. He does not speak of a river, but of rivers, and rivers of living water! and these not flowing in but flowing out — flowing out to a barren, polluted, sin-burdened and disappointed world. And the only qualification is thirst, "if any man thirst, let him come to Me." There are many who are trying organized religion in these days. Ritualism makes its appeal to them, but it is a dead and barren thing; there are no living waters in it, it leaves the soul unsatisfied and unsaved, while it gratifies the senses and deadens the conscience. You may not have been attracted by that sort of thing, but do you thirst? Have you been trying to satisfy yourself with going to meetings, and a humdrum round of religious duties? Do you feel that your life is not the life that the Bible describes, that there is a lack in it, and that consequently you are not happy yourself nor the blessing to others that you desire to be? Here is the answer and remedy. "COME UNTO ME." Remember the words "His fullness," and you will come with great expectation. Take His own words to Him, and say, "Lord Jesus, these words are Your words. I have not yet realized their meaning, but I come to You and ask You to make them real to me."

This was both striking and instructive, He who formed man's heart, and could read it, was in their midst. He knew well that earthly joys, and the fulness of agricultural blessing, could not satisfy the desires of an immortal soul. The barns might be full, the winepresses might flow freely, and the storehouses be crammed to the ceiling, abundance being within their reach, with no fear of famine, or even of stint; yet the heart might be unsatisfied, the soul be thirsty, and the individual have a craving which nothing he possessed could relieve. More than temporal blessing was requisite even for the earthly people. That more the Lord wished all to understand He placed within their reach, if only they would come to receive it. To drink He said, but did not define the quantity. To drink as each might need to satiate his thirst for eternity, was what the Lord desired and here offered. Blessing, such as the law could not provide, He in grace held out. Blessings unmeasured, as far as they were concerned, and limited only by the willingness and the capacity of the individual to receive, He offered that day. And to announce that, He raised His voice above its usual volume of sound, and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink." There was a fountain of refreshment of which He spoke. It was Himself. Who but One really Divine could thus have proclaimed Himself in the court of the house of the God of Israel? Would He, who will not give His glory to another, have suffered a mere creature (for if not a Divine Person He must have been only a mere creature) would He, we ask, have suffered a mere creature to present Himself to men in His house as the object for all to turn to? God must have the first place with the creature, and assuredly in His dwelling-place — the Temple. Who, then, thus presented Himself as the object for all, but the Son of God, the sent One of the Father?

That thirst in the soul, which temporal joys cannot meet, which all the wealth and honours of this world cannot satisfy, is caused by exercise of the conscience, and God only can minister to assuage it. And this Christ is willing and ready to do. At Sychar's well He offered to the woman living water, of which drinking she would never thirst (4:14). At Capernaum in Galilee He promised to those who believed on Him, that they should never thirst (6:35). Here in Judea He invited all the thirsty to come to Him and drink. In Samaria, in Galilee, at Jerusalem, He showed His perfect knowledge of man's need, and of the craving of a soul in which God is working, and He invited such, without distinction of nationality or race, to come to Him and drink. True, He was primarily addressing Jews and proselytes; but His language embraces any thirsty one upon earth. So to the Jews who were plotting His death, to the multitude who declared He had a demon, to those at Jerusalem who were sure He was not the Christ, to each and to all was the invitation given, if only they thirsted. If we think of the circumstances in which the Lord was, the opposition He met with, the different classes surrounding Him, and opposing Him, we may well marvel at so free an invitation, which could include all, and shut out none.

How sweetly fall His blessed words on the ear of a wearied, miserable, self-condemned sinner, — "If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink." Thirsty, all you have to do is simply come to Him, trust Him, believe Him, give Him credit for His love, and then drink and live for ever. He gives you eternal life; but more, He gives you also the Holy Spirit, to dwell in you, and lead you to all truth. When you have received from Him what His love supplies, then "rivers of living water" will flow out. Coming to Him and drinking, they flow in, as you believe. Afterwards they flow out in testimony and service for Him. How simple, and how sweet!

Again, as in chapter 4, He speaks of the Holy Spirit, but here His offer to quench thirst goes beyond the one in chapter 4: here it is not merely satisfaction of one's own soul ('a well of water springing up into everlasting life', 4:14) but refreshment flowing out to others - rivers (not drops only!) of living water - so that the believer becomes a source of refreshment for those around him.