THE KING’S BUSINESS
161 woman’s question, yet He does answer it, showing that He was far greater than Jacob, because Jacobi only gave a well of which one might drink and be satisfied for a short time, but soon thirst again, but He gave of the water to drink, of which the one who drank would never thirst again, but he fully and forever satisfied, and fur thermore would havfe a spring within to take with him wherever he went. What our Lord says of Jacob’s well is true of every earthly fountain of satisfaction pnd joy, whosoever drinketh is satisfied but for a short time, he' “thirst again.” There is no fountain in this world that will perma nently satisfy the deepest longings of the human spirit. One may drink of the foun tain of earthly wealth, or worldly pleasure, the fountain of fame and power, the foun tain of science and philosophy, the fountain of music and art, yes, even of the best of all human fountains, the fountain of human love and friendship, still he will “thirst again.” Not only is this true pf some or many, but “every one drinking of this water shall thirst again.” What our Lord sayp of Jacob’s well is true of every earthly fountain of satisfaction and joy, whoso ever drinketh is satisfied but for a short time, he “thirsts again.” v. 14. “But whosoever drinketh of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst: (;) but the water that I shall give him shall be (become) in him a well of water springing up into everlasting (unto eternal) life.’’ Here our Lord draws a very vivid and emphatic contrast between the water that Jacob had given and the water that He gave. The first “I” in verse 14 is very emphatic, and emphasizes the contrast which the woman herself had drawn between Jacob and Christ. It is a very definite answer to her question, “Art thou greater than our father Jacob?” “Indeed I am,” our Lord says in effect, “he gave you water that may satisfy for a few hours, I give you water that satisfies forever.” If Jesus were not God manifest in the flesh, then there was blasphemous presumption in His words, but if He ful-
and Jehovah only, who is “the fountain of living watelrs” (Jer. 2:13), Even more clearly in verse 14 does Jesus set Himself forth as the One who gives the Holy Ghost, and thus claims the position of Deity Him self. vs. 11,12. "The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: ('add, from) whence then hast Thou that living water? A rt Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?’’ The woman is evidently softening, but there is still a measure of hesitation and doubt, and a disposition to argue, but she more and more clearly sees that she is talking with some extraordinary One who has some thing to give that she sorely needs. The wonder is not that she was so dull, but that she came along as rapidly as she did. It is a marvel that our Lord should give the teaching that we here find, which is as profound teaching as ever fell from His lips, to a woman of this character, so dull, so earthly, so sensual. Yet His wisdom is proven in the outcome and there is here a lesson for every teacher, viz., that the profoundest teaching may,be given to seem ingly the dullest minds. Her great respect is found in her use of the word “Sir,” which literally translated is “Lord.” It shows that she had a growing feeling that a Person of dignity is addressing her; He is no longer a “Jew.” Though there was a dawning recognition of the majesty and power of the One with whom she was talking, yet the woman’s pride was piqued. There is a strong emphasis on the “thou” in verse 12, and the thought is “Art Thou, a poor, weary, helpless, lonely traveller who needs to ask drink of' a woman of Samaria, of greater power than the great patriarch Jacob, whom we call father?” On the surface there is a fast growing faith that He is indeed greater than Jacob. v. 13. “Jesus answered, and said unto her, Whosoever (Every one that) drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” Again Jesus does not give a direct answer to the
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