John 4:12
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
At Jacob's well the Samaritan woman asks Jesus if he claims to be greater than their ancestor Jacob who gave them the well that supplied himself, his family and his livestock with ordinary water. She asks this because she sees only a weary traveler with nothing to draw with, does not yet recognize who stands before her, and takes his offer of living water to mean literal water from the deep well. He is in fact greater than Jacob, for as the Son of God and the living fountain himself he offers water infinitely better than Jacob's gift, water that quenches thirst forever and becomes an inner spring leading to everlasting life. That living water is his grace, his truth, and his Spirit received by drinking daily through personal faith, which purifies the soul, satisfies its deepest thirst, and flows out again to refresh others.
Setting at Jacob's Well
The question was asked in the conversation at Jacob's well at Sychar, where Jesus rested, weary after coming from Judea, and asked a Samaritan woman who had come to draw ordinary water for a drink. He offered her the water of life in contrast to water that must be drawn repeatedly, and the encounter led her to bring others to Him.
The well was Jacob's familiar gift to his descendants, supplying water that Jacob himself drank with his children, family, descendants, and cattle or livestock. It was only temporal, ordinary, physical provision, set against the far greater gift of living water which springs up into everlasting life. Jesus used the well as a parable of the Fountain of Life, pointing to the living water He gives as a source of life extending to the close of time.
The meeting crossed the prejudice and separation between Jews and Samaritans, a people the Jews thoroughly despised and hated. Though a Jew, Jesus set aside Pharisaic customs of separation, mingled freely, and did not create separating barriers by constantly thrusting upon the people that they were wrong. He accepted Samaritan hospitality, slept under their roofs, ate with them at their tables partaking of food prepared and served by their hands, taught in their streets, and shared their homes and food. He treated them with the utmost kindness, courtesy, sympathy and social kindliness, recognizing the dignity of humanity, and His words fell upon thirsty souls with blessed, life-giving power. His care was not limited by race or nation and He did not share Jewish intolerance, preaching salvation to Samaritans and crossing social and religious barriers, while His divine grace brought them the salvation which the Jews rejected.
The talk stands at the commencement of His mission work with His positive, authoritative teachings, showing that no soul needs to remain in ignorance and doubt whether mercy and grace and salvation can be found in God. It was an earnest, eloquent talk showing how much interest He had in one soul and His readiness to instruct wherever hearts are open to receive truth. He gave personal instruction to a despised, humble woman and recognized her receptive spirit, addressing people individually and sharing rich spiritual truth with those whose hearts were open. He used no parables but spoke plainly, revealing the Father and the service acceptable to Him who reads the heart, and declaring Himself with, I that speak unto thee am He, though He did not reveal Himself so plainly to the learned Jews.
Woman's Question About Jacob
The woman appeals to Jacob as their father and ancestor who gave the well, honoring and revering him for providing water from which he himself drank with his children and his cattle. She cherishes the natural feeling that no other well could equal the one provided by the fathers. She does not yet recognize anything remarkable in the one before her, and her question contrasts reliance on Jacob's well with the living water that springs up into everlasting life.
She sees before her only a thirsty, wayworn, dusty, weary traveler with nothing to draw with, and seeing that the well is deep she does not understand how he can give the living water he speaks of. She does not recognize that the Messiah, the hope of the fathers, stands beside her, and so she asks whether he claims to be greater than Jacob. Her question grows from his lack of visible means to draw and the depth of the well, since he has offered water without a way to obtain it.
She takes his offer to mean literal water from the well before them, failing to discern his meaning and supposing he speaks of ordinary water to be drawn. Her light, bantering manner begins to change as she feels the solemn import of his words. In surprise and controversy that a Jew would ask drink of a Samaritan, a people thoroughly despised, she tries to enter into controversy with him.
She was looking backward to the fathers and forward to the Messiah's coming while the Hope of the fathers, the Messiah himself, stood beside her unknown. This means thirsting souls today stand close by the living fountain yet look far away for the wellsprings of life. Her appeal to Jacob and her withholding of the well's water represents many who withhold from him the recognition, sympathy, and love he hungers and thirsts for in response to his great love, while he withholds his grace and love from no one.
Some accounts place the setting and the contrast between water that must be drawn repeatedly and the spiritual gift he offers without explaining the comparison with Jacob. The setting is the conversation at Jacob's well where the woman came to draw ordinary water and Jesus offered the water of life, an episode showing him preaching salvation to Samaritans and crossing social and religious barriers. The living water is there presented as a gift people need and are to be led to receive.
Jesus Greater Than Jacob
Jesus is greater than Jacob, for he is the only-begotten Son of God who existed before Abraham. When asked whether he claimed to be greater than Jacob who gave the well and whose family and cattle drank from it, he could have answered with that greatness, yet he did not assert it directly to her. Seeing that he had no bucket and the well was deep, she did not understand how he could give the living water he spoke of.
He does not disparage Jacob's well and does not reprove her for drawing from it. Instead he offers something infinitely better and of far greater value, explaining that his water gives everlasting life, satisfies mind and heart, and brings the joy and hope of the gospel as a spring welling up within. He used the well as a comparison to present the fountain of living waters. He answers by contrasting Jacob's water, which leaves drinkers thirsting again, with the water he gives, which quenches thirst forever and becomes in the receiver a well springing up into everlasting life.
He himself is greater because he is the water of life, the living Rock, and the fountain of living water from whom all who thirst may come and drink as the spiritual source of life. Jacob's well was only temporal provision, while Christ was the invisible leader of God's ancient chosen people through their travels in the wilderness, enriching them with precious truth as the river of God and supplying them with the dews and showers of grace. He was just as truly the water of life to Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah and all who received his instruction then as he is now to everyone who asks him for the refreshing draft. The rock was to be struck once, representing his once-for-all sacrifice, and people receive this water by speaking to him and asking him.
He is the smitten Rock that follows his people and a river of water in a dry place. Anxious and troubled souls are invited to come to him because he understands them, and after doing their best to clear their own souls they are to trust fully and drink of the water of life he gives and be refreshed. He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, bearing the wrath of an offended God so that even the worst sinner may receive pardon, and he gives wisdom whose right hand holds length of days and whose left hand holds riches and honor, whose ways are pleasantness and whose paths are peace.
His work at the well in offering the water of life fulfilled God's promise in Eden that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and he will continue that work until every soul has been tested and tried. That grace is often nearer than thought, comes unexpectedly like rain before it is seen, and surprises the seeker as it surprised the woman, yet his blessings are often overlooked while men take the glory to themselves.
Contrast of Two Waters
Water from Jacob's well is ordinary, temporal water that must be drawn repeatedly and leaves all who drink thirsty again, while the water Christ gives quenches thirst forever, ends thirst, and becomes in the receiver an inner well or spring leading to everlasting and eternal life. The question measures his claim against Jacob's well, which Jacob himself provided and from which he drank with his children and his cattle, and it is asked because he stands with nothing to draw with and the well is deep, so that how he can give the living water he speaks of is not understood. He does not disparage that well and does not assert directly that he is greater than Jacob, though he is the only-begotten Son of God who existed before Abraham, but instead he offers something infinitely better and of far greater value that satisfies mind and heart and brings the joy and hope of the gospel. What he offers is to be prized more highly than Jacob's well, for it is received by depending on the Holy Spirit rather than working in human might, and one draft is not enough but it must be drunk constantly to give satisfaction.
The contrast shows how worthless are the hopes of this world and how necessary the water of life is. Earthly blessings, however great or numerous, can never satisfy the mind or cleanse the soul, for whoever drinks that water thirsts again. Every want is satisfied by the water of life imparted to the truly penitent who receive the Word of God as thirsty men receive water, with the truth of God in them as a well of water springing up into everlasting life, as bread is to the hungry and water to the thirsty to those who love him.
Ordinary water cannot meet the lasting need of the soul, while Christ is the water of salvation and the source of spiritual life. Without Christ a person remains spiritually hungry and thirsty whatever possessions he has. Failing to receive his living water leaves people vulnerable to the pleasure-loving spirit of the age, while closeness to him deepens hunger and thirst for righteousness. The people's hunger and thirst for that salvation reflect their need for the living water he offers in contrast with ordinary well water.
The thirsty soul must drink from Christ, the living source, rather than turn to human channels or lesser sources. His spiritual water stands in contrast with murky water, with turbid streams, and with ordinary well water that Jacob, his family, and his cattle drank. The water Jesus gives is the water of life.
Providing physical food alone in restaurant work does not give people the bread of life or the water of salvation, which are distinct from temporal food as spiritual sustenance. The water of salvation is spiritual sustenance set against Jacob's well and the water Jesus offers.
Nature of Living Water
The living water is the Holy Spirit, who purifies, refreshes, and invigorates the soul. It is received by depending on the Spirit rather than working in human might, and it begins to spring up as the Spirit works with saving power in the heart. It is daily appropriated through converting power that gives fresh spiritual strength and expels selfishness and worldly ambition. Receiving it requires self to die, seeking him, yielding self, and a heart subdued by the Spirit with an eye single to God's glory, after which a flood of heavenly light pours upon the soul.
It is the grace of Christ, the religion of Christ in the heart, and the experience of the gospel bringing joy and hope. It is Christ himself satisfying soul thirst with peace and life, and God himself longed for with the whole being. Keeping religion far from the soul temple means faith is not in Jesus and keeps Lord and Saviour in the outer court, while the heavenly Guest must occupy the throne, control every impulse, and bring thoughts into subjection. Human ambition and invention cannot satisfy this thirst, and the water is prepared at immense cost.
It is the truth of the Word of God that warms and invigorates the soul. Believed and lived, his words are spiritual food and living water that sustain spiritual life, give eternal life, produce spiritual strength and fruits of the Spirit, and shape believers to show unselfishness, integrity, kindness, and love. Drinking means receiving his grace, feeding on his words, learning from him and in his school, and receiving the life-giving teaching through Scripture and the Saviour. Every want is satisfied by the water imparted to the truly penitent who receive the Word as thirsty men receive water, with the truth in them as a well springing up into everlasting life.
That water is the word of life and the truths he spoke, more valuable than gold. If received it changes human nature from darkness to light and the heart from pollution to purity, dawning on darkened understanding as light and life, and leads to purification through obedience to the truth. It comes from an inexhaustible, unfailing source that can be drawn from without diminishing the supply. He has an inexhaustible supply for each member of the human family, a living spring that never empties and has been the fountain ever since the fall, and access is open to all to drink repeatedly.
One draft is not enough but must be drunk constantly, continually, and every day, together with eating the bread of life every day, as fitting for translation so life will measure with the life of God. Those who do not drink are in the godless position of Sardis, and those whose minds the Lord has impressed long for richer and deeper draughts. This water is an unfailing supply of grace that strengthens the believer. It must be sought personally and known through personal faith; no one can obtain it for another but each must plunge for it himself, and a person must choose to receive it because God does not force anyone to drink.
Its pure streams refresh and heal the one who drinks, bring life, strength, grace, peace, comfort, and rest amid suffering and in sorrow and pain. They take away relish for what is low, commonplace, and transient and create preference for better things, and those who know him can return again and again for help. Drinking it quenches the desire to have one's own wisdom regarded as superior, is pictured as drinking deeply in the rich current of love, and gives strength to work with God.
He gives the poor and needy spiritual life received through faith, bringing gladness and the dignity of God's children, and he gives the soul the water of life with the eternal riches of heaven, offered freely to those who come and receive. The living water contrasted with Jacob's well is received freely through Jesus as part of God's abundant gift of grace, and receiving it produces a genuine Christian life that reflects Christ's character and transforms the believer.
Receiving and Sharing Water
She came on a literal errand to draw water and had purposed to supply His thirst from the well, but after hearing of living water her soul earnestly desired it above the well's water, so she left her waterpot and forgot both her errand to the well and His thirst. Leaving the pot proved the effect of His words, and with heart overflowing with joy and gladness she hastened to the city to impart to others the precious light she had received, calling friends to come see the man who told her all she had done and asking if He was the Christ. Beneath her natural thirst He saw a deeper thirst of soul for the water of life, and her coming for natural water led her to that thirst of soul. Though she made no request to satisfy her spiritual wants, He offered her an abundant supply for her soul's great need. Drinking that living water aroused her moral nature, awakened her sense of higher need, aroused her slumbering conscience, quickened her spiritual perceptions, and brought conviction of sin and belief in the truth, so that forgetting her errand she left her waterpot and the water of life flowed through her words to many other thirsting souls.
Her testimony led many Samaritans of that city to hear Him and believe, and through her many were reached. She listened and accepted without miracles because she believed His word alone, was glad for the light, published it to neighbors, carried His message to her countrymen, and many believed He was the Christ, the Saviour of the world. The influence of those words has kept working for the saving of souls ever since. Though hated by the Jews, the Samaritans received the light with a teachable spirit emptied of prejudice and so knew the doctrine, in contrast to the Jews who saw His majesty and grace in mighty healings and the mighty outpouring of His Spirit yet would not recognize Him, because prejudice ruled their hearts so that even the mightiest miracles did them no good. Those who have never heard the truth have hearts more susceptible than those who have been in the truth with evidences yet remain in unbelief. He found a place for truth in her sinful heart as a new bottle for new wine, unlike the scribes and Pharisees who were like old dried-up skin bottles that could not hold it.
Those who receive become a source of life to others, for the living water was within Him and must also be within His followers, springing up to refresh those they influence. It continually overflows in blessings and is to be as freely imparted as it was freely received, in helpful and blessing speech that leads minds to God and sows truth and righteousness, in testimony of mercy and hope, in words, prayer, and song. Those who have drunk from the fountain should bring others to Him and share His words with others. Receiving means seeking God and being refreshed by Christ, feeding on the Bread of life in prayer and faith, and then leading others including children and family to drink. Sharing Christ crucified wins hearts more effectively than formal arguments alone, and the same words He spoke He speaks again through humble, faithful followers as with humble prayer and unselfish work they carry truth to those in need.
Workers must understand these words more clearly so they will drink deep from the fountain and be worked by the Holy Spirit instead of offering weak, common matter. Those who would refresh thirsting souls must themselves first drink of that water of life, drawing daily from the living fountain to give fresh nourishment to those they teach. Ministers need time to receive this spiritual refreshment and consolation and must themselves be spiritually quickened and thirst for and receive His life and Spirit, otherwise their words are dry and uninteresting, restless, and without saving influence. Those who serve others will themselves drink, turning interest from exciting amusements to saving the perishing. Those who would guide others to the fountain must first drink deeply themselves, for Christ as the Fountain of life must be drunk deeply to teach truth with saving influence, to keep the mind from restlessness, to live in harmony, and to keep from mistaking error for new light.
Leading thirsting, sick souls to Him is the object of establishing sanitariums, giving the water of salvation for rich and poor, high and low, together with healing of the body. This soul-winning work is to be done not by expensive, mammoth buildings or massive institutions in a city but by many small, homelike institutions in pleasant places out of the city that shine as lights in a dark place, where workers reflect Christ, keep their savor as salt, teach sound habits, and extend true, pure religion. Agencies planted at much expense separate the sick for a time from harmful surroundings and give health-restoring treatments and wise instruction from Christian nurses and physicians. A soul that does not hunger for righteousness or thirst for this life turns instead to empty sources, passing pleasures, and muddy, turbulent streams of earth that cannot satisfy. Drinking the pure fountain through true communion takes away relish for what is low, commonplace, and transient and creates preference for better things, while world lovers who cling to earth receive only temporal, artificial satisfaction and are deemed unworthy of the life that measures with the life of God.
The soul has infinite worth because Christ died for it, and its true need is not selfish worldly gain but the bread of life and the water of salvation; those who profess faith must lay aside selfish, worldly principles, realize the value of souls, live up to their profession, and purify their souls through obedience. Some received this water while others refused it, rejecting the healing and converting power they could have received. Those who drink are healed, while those who refuse remain filled with disaffection and keep a harmful influence they do not recover from, and they ought to be ashamed because they might have been healed.