The Living Fountain by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1902

The Living Fountain

By Uriah Smith

WHEN Christ sat on Jacob’s well with the woman of Samaria, and asked her to give him a drink, she responded, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?” Jesus said unto her, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?” John 4: 7–11.

The object the Lord had in view in all this interview was to bring the woman to seek salvation of him. But she failed to catch the intent of his words, and fell right back to the literal and material water before her, and reminded him that he had nothing to draw with, and the well was deep. “Whence then,” she said, “hast thou that living water?” Jesus adapted his own language to her plane of thought, and gave her further instruction. “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water 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.” Verses 13, 14. Another scripture says, “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.” John 7: 39. The figure was that of a living spring of water, in contrast with that of Jacob’s well, which was simply the drainage and surface water from the surrounding hills. The meaning of his words was that his grace was like water from the spring, or living well, which is of the most refreshing kind. It ministers refreshment and life. It is also aggressive, and forces its way up. It is abounding, that is, it does not dry up, and is free to all comers. He intimated that it was in him, and he had it to bestow. There was no need of a bucket with which to draw it. It would be given for the asking, and he alone could give it. It was not to be found in any earthly well.

In her ignorance the woman inquires, “Whence then hast thou that living water?” That is a theme on which we can study. The revelation we have of the Lord Jesus reveals his source of power. He has now unlimited power to bestow, arising from his divine nature, allied with his perfect humanity. It springs also from the purpose and appointment of God respecting his Son; it arises from the anointing of the Holy Ghost, and from his redeeming work, which operated for good, even before its actual manifestation. It is in full operation now. It springs also from his prevailing intercession with his Father, where he is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high. He gives this living water from his appropriated and representative life in glory; for all power is now given into his hands. Matt. 28:18. What comforting and sweeping inferences we may draw from this, of his ability and willingness still to bless and supply all our wants. Since he has this living water in his own unchanging self, he has it now as fully as he ever had. He is himself the sole fountain, full and all-sufficient, forever. Wesley’s beautiful hymn, as familiar as it is Scriptural, is always in place:—

“Thou of life the fountain art, Freely let me take of thee; Spring thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity.”

Speaking of Cairo, the author of “Ragged Life in Egypt,” says, “Perhaps no cry is more striking, after all, than the short and simple cry of the water carrier. He goes along the street, carrying the water-skin on his shoulder, crying to all he passes, ‘The gift of God.’ It is impossible to hear this cry without thinking of the Lord’s words to the woman of Samaria, ‘If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.’ It is very likely that water so valuable, and often so scarce in hot countries, was in those days, as it is now, spoken of as ‘the gift of God,’ to denote its preciousness. If so, the expression would be extremely forcible to the woman, as well as full of meaning.”—Biblical Treasury.

A Biblical writer says: “The fountain of living waters is God himself.” Jer. 2:13. “With thee is the fountain of life.” Ps. 36:9. It is not a mere cistern; it is a pouring, running, living stream; nay, rather, a fountain that springs up perpetually. We all know that a jet or fountain is produced by a head of water that presses down from a great elevation; and the higher the spring, the loftier and more powerful the jet; which, however, never surpasses the height of the source. Our spiritual life, “wellspring of life,” has its source in heaven: “and it is heavenward that it rises, and is content with no lower level. It came from God, and to God it will return.”

With one more extract we bring these comments to a close: C. H. Spurgeon, of London, England, says: “When I have ridden through London, I have been overwhelmed with the greatness of the supply which must daily be necessary to feed its millions, and have wondered that a famine did not at once set in. But when I have seen the markets and storehouses, and have thought of the whole earth as eager to obtain a sale of its produce in this vast metropolis, I have rested in content. I see whence the almost illimitable supplies are drawn, and my wonder henceforth is, not that the millions are fed, but that they should be able to consume such immeasurable quantities of food. “Thus when I behold man’s spiritual need, I marvel that it should ever be met. But when I behold the person and the work of the Lord Jesus, my marvel ceases; and a new wonder begins: I wonder rather at the infinity of grace than at the power of sin.” U. S.