by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, we looked at John 4:4-6 and the historical and cultural context of Sychar, Shechem, Mt. Gerizim, Mt. Ebal and the Samaritans as a background of our study. Let\u2019s keep in mind that Shechem was the location of Jacob\u2019s well. It was a City of Refuge in the time of Joshua and the Judges of Israel. It was the location of the proclamation of blessings and curses relating to the Sinai Covenant. It was the location of the Renewal of the Mosaic Covenant in Joshua\u2019s twilight years. And it was also the location of Joseph\u2019s tomb. We now proceed to the actual conversation between our Lord and the Samaritan woman at Jacob\u2019s well (John 4:7-15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John\u2019s Gospel had a bit of an understatement in John 4:9 when it was noted that Jews did not deal or associate with Samaritans; given the long and deep historical antagonism existing between them! Furthermore, the Jews believed that the Samaritans were ritually \u201cunclean\u201d and hence, any implement they used, such as a water jar, or water dipper, would be \u201cunclean\u201d for Jews. Hence, the dialogue between the Lord and the nameless Samaritan woman in John 4:7-9 seems incongruous at first glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In John 4:10 the Lord Jesus pointed right away to the notion of grace when the Greek noun\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03ac,\u201cdorea\u201d (a free gift; needing no repayment), was used. This word translated as \u201cgift\u201d is only used 11 times in the New Testament (NT) mostly related to God\u2019s grace or gift of the Holy Spirit. Also, in John 4:11 the Samaritan woman made it clear that Jacob\u2019s well was deep. Archaeologists cleaned this well in 1935 and measured its depth to 42 meters. It was really deep! Now the emphasis of these particular verses is the theme of \u201cliving water\u201d (Greek \u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd,\u201chudorzon\u201d found in John 4:10-11) leading up to eternal life. This was God\u2019s gift of unmerited favor coming from the deepest inexhaustible source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are actually several water motifs in the Gospel of John; found in the first 7 chapters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1:26, 31 (water baptism);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:6-9 (turning water into wine);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3:5-8 (water and Spirit);<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4:7-15 (living water);<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n 5:1-9 (healing at Bethesda pool);<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6:16-21 (walking on water); and<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7:37-39 (living water and the Spirit).<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n We will focus on the very close relationship of John 4:7-15 and John 7:37-39 as highlighted above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that there are Bible passages that speak of \u201cliving water\u201d in the Old Testament (OT)as well: Jeremiah 2:13, Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Zechariah 14:8. These OT verses may have been in the mind of our Lord Jesus when he was in conversation with the Samaritan woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Jeremiah 2:13 the LORD God says that his people have forsaken him, the \u201cspring of living water.\u201d The Hebrew words for \u201cliving water\u201d (\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05bc\u0597\u05d9\u05dd\u05de\u05b7\u05a3\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd\u201cmayimchayim\u201d) are close counterparts of the Greek words found in John 4:10 (\u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd) and 4:11 (\u03c4\u1f78\u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03c4\u1f78\u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd) which just include the Greek definite articles \u03c4\u1f78, \u201cto\u201d meaning \u201cthe.\u201d The ca. 250 BC Septuagint (LXX) Greek translation of Jeremiah 2:13 used slightly different words; inflected variations of these same Greek words; (\u1f55\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2, \u201chudatos zoes\u201d) but the meaning is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ezekiel 47:1-12 tells of a river that miraculously flows from the New Temple that the prophet saw in his vision after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon\u2019s Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The water came out of this temple in his vision and became a river that even flowed all the way to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea (really a lake), in the southern part of and in between Israel and Jordan, is the lowest elevation on earth at 430 meters below sea level and has a salinity level of more than 33%, much greater than the 3.5% salt in the world\u2019s oceans. Because of this toxic salinity concentration, no life can thrive. But when this water empties into the Dead Sea, it becomes a fresh water lake! Then living creatures will live in the Dead Sea. The Hebrew word affecting the waters used in Ezekiel 47:8 is a passive\/reflexive form of the verb \u05e8\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05d0, \u201crapha\u201d which means the waters \u201care healed.\u201d Other Hebrew words are used in these Ezekiel verses together with \u05e8\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05d0. These words are \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9 (\u201cchay\u201d adjective) meaning \u201calive\u201d or \u201cliving;\u201d and \u05d7\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 (\u201cchayah\u201d verb) meaning \u201cto live.\u201d It may be that the Lord Jesus was consciously thinking of these verses and words and applying them to the Samaritan woman at Jacob\u2019s well. Unfortunately, for the Samaritan woman, the connections are lost because their only scripture was the Pentateuch (albeit their version) and only prophet was Moses. They did not recognize the other parts of the Jewish scriptures, namely the Prophets and the Writings. The rich imagery found in Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah were simply not part of Samaritan scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zechariah 14:8 references the aforementioned Ezekiel passages. On a day of the LORD God, Zechariah declares that \u201cliving water\u201d will flow out from Jerusalem; half will flow to the Mediterranean while the other half flows to the Dead Sea. The Hebrew words for \u201cliving water\u201d in Zechariah are \u05de\u05b7\u05bd\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd\u05be\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05dd\u0599, exactly the same words used in Jeremiah 2:13 we saw earlier. In the LXX translation of Zechariah 14:8 the exact Greek words (\u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd) used in John 4:10 are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now in John 4:13-14 the Lord Jesus gives us the direct connection of \u201cliving water\u201d to eternal life that he would say again another time to the Jews in the Feast of Tabernacles as narrated in John 7. John 4:13-14 states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13<\/sup>Jesus answered and said to her: \u201cAnyone drinking of this water will thirst again;<\/em>14<\/sup>but whoever may drink of the water I will give to him shall never thirst into perpetuity, but (also) the water I will give him will become in him a spring of water leaping up into eternal life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>John 4:13-14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Compare this to what is narrated in John 7:37-39 during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles\/Booths\/Ingathering or Sukkot where a water libation ritual had taken place at the Temple in Jerusalem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 37<\/sup>And on the last, great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried aloud saying:\u201cIf anyone might thirst, let (him) come to me and (let him) drink.<\/em>38<\/sup>The (one) believing in me, as the scripture said; rivers from his belly\/womb will flow of living water.\u201d<\/em>39<\/sup>But he said this about the Spirit; who the (ones) after believing in him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet (given), because Jesus was not yet glorified.<\/p>John 7:37-39<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The allusions to Jeremiah 2:13, Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Zechariah 14:8; mentioned above with respect to \u201cliving water\u201d are quite obvious. The Greek words \u1f55\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u201chudatos zontos\u201d are used in John 7:38 for \u201cliving water.\u201d The Greek words mean the same as those used in John 4:10 and 4:11 and Jeremiah 2:13 (LXX) we saw earlier. And in John 7:39 it is explicitly stated that this \u201cliving water\u201d is the in-filling Holy Spirit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n From my ESV and NASB Study Bibles, it is pointed out that there are thematic allusions or parallel hints to other Biblical passages with the Lord\u2019s words of invitation for those who are thirsty to come to him and drink (John 7:37 cf. Isaiah 55:1); for continuous life-giving springs of water (John 4:13 cf. Isaiah 58:11); the \u201cliving water\u201d is the Spirit (John 7:39 cf. Isaiah 44:3); and ultimately, the grace given for salvation (John 4:13-14 and 7:37-39 cf. Isaiah12:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, if we read on a bit more, in Zechariah 14:16-19 we see that the prophet says that the survivors of the nations who had fought against Jerusalem in some future war will join the Jews in the Feast of Tabernacles! This is the very same festival mentioned in the context of John 7:37-39 (NB. Sukkot was celebrated from sundown to sundown in Israel last Sept. 20-27).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It would be good to mention that in the historical future, after the conversation at Jacob\u2019s well in Sychar; in the last chapters of Revelation in particular, the theme of \u201cliving water\u201d was again taken up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Revelation 21:6 the LORD God says to the Apostle John that he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and promises to give freely from the \u201cspring of the water of life\u201d to the thirsty. The Greek adverb\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03ac\u03bd \u201cdorean\u201d (meaning freely done; used only 9 times in the NT), related to the noun \u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03acwas used. Furthermore, the Greek \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u1f55\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2\u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2 are again the same words (with definite articles) we saw earlier used for \u201cwater of life\u201d or \u201cliving water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, in Revelation 22:1 the Apostle John narrates that the angel showed him the river of the water of life (Greek \u1f55\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2) flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in Revelation 22:17 the Apostle records that this time, it is the Spirit and the Bride (i.e., the Church) who reiterate the invitation to the thirsty to come and take freely (Greek \u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b5\u03ac\u03bd) the water of life (Greek \u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1\u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2). The parallels and linkages of these Revelation passages to John 4:10-14 and 7:37-39; Isaiah 55:1, 58:11, 44:3 and 12:3; Jeremiah 2:13; Ezekiel 47:1-12; and Zechariah 14:8 are quite evident. Once again we see the beautiful unity of Scripture from the OT prophets to the NT Gospel of John and Revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going back to Jacob\u2019s well, with the silent witness of Joseph\u2019s tomb nearby, the Lord Jesus was extending grace and compassion to the Samaritan woman. He was not too concerned with doctrinal differences but seemed to be inviting the woman to have healing and \u201cliving water;\u201d the Holy Spirit, into her life and eternal life at that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In John 4:15, the unnamed Samaritan woman drops her guard and asks the Lord Jesus to give her this \u201cliving water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next week with a brief consideration of the person of the Samaritan woman prior to our Lord\u2019s first \u1f18\u03b3\u03ce\u03b5\u1f30\u03bc\u03b9,\u201cI AM\u201d revelatory declaration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Last week, we looked at John 4:4-6 and the historical and cultural context of Sychar, Shechem, Mt. Gerizim, Mt. Ebal and the Samaritans as a background of our study. Let\u2019s keep in mind that Shechem was the location of Jacob\u2019s well. It was a City of Refuge in the time of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,16,18,17,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-90","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-i-am","tag-jesus","tag-john","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90\/revisions\/91"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}