The Water and Light of Life

JOHN 7:37-39; 8:12

GOLDEN TEXT: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”—John 8:12

HOW thankful we should be that so many of the profound truths of the Gospel have been made understandable by the use of illustrations. Both water and light are essential to human life, and Jesus explains that he is the water of life and the light of life. Both of these thoughts were expressed by the Master while attending the feast of tabernacles in Jerusalem. Opposition was rising against him, and knowing that the due time for his death had not come, Jesus purposely avoided any unnecessary risks, so did not attend this feast in company with his disciples, but was present incognito.

Even so, he was bold to proclaim the truth in the temple, and as a result much discussion was provoked, with the usual asking of questions and heckling. Through it all many beautiful gems of thought were expressed by the great Teacher, among them the assurance that to those who accepted him, he would be as life-giving water, and as light to guide them through the uncertain darkness of this sin-smitten and evil world.

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” This of course is not a reference to literal thirst, but rather a thirsting after righteousness, a burning desire to be in harmony with God, and upon the basis of this harmony, to have life. Only those who do thus thirst may appreciate what Jesus can and does mean to one who truly believes on him and is devoted to the doing of God’s will as expressed through him. Only a comparatively few thus far of earth’s millions have thirsted after God.

Jesus alludes to Isaiah 12 concerning “wells of salvation” and explains that those who now believe on him become these “wells”—that out of their bellies shall flow living waters. At this point John adds an explanatory note, saying, “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” At the time John wrote his Gospel he had received the Holy Spirit of enlightenment which came to the disciples at Pentecost, so he was able to give this Spirit-inspired explanation of what the Master meant by believers becoming fountains of living water.

And how wonderful is the thought! Simply stated in our own language it is that consecrated believers of this age receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and this constitutes them “wells” of life-giving truth for the blessing of others. The Old Testament prophecy to which Jesus refers uses the expression, “wells of salvation,” and indicates that Israel and the world will in due time draw water there-from. Again therefore, and in this beautiful manner, we are reminded that being a Christian is not merely a matter of being saved, but that in addition to this, it means partnership with Jesus in dispensing life to the world.

During the Gospel age true believers are the channels of life-giving truth. Thus it is evident that the overflowing of the truth from our lives to others is one of the essential manifestations of a Spirit-filled-life. Monastic isolation, and keeping the truth to one’s self are not indications of spirituality, but of carnality. True spirituality is demonstrated by a bubbling over of the lifegiving waters of truth now, and those who possess it will share with Jesus in giving restitution life to the world in the age to come—“wells of salvation” indeed.

“I am the light of the world,” Jesus said. The world needs light, for it is very “dark” everywhere. “Darkness shall cover the earth,” the prophet wrote, “and gross darkness the people.” (Isa. 60:2) Darkness is used in the Scriptures to symbolize alienation from God and the death condemnation which results. Of mankind in general who wished to forget God, the apostle explains that “their foolish heart was darkened.”—Rom. 1:21

There is only one way out of this darkness, and that is the way of Christ—“He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,” the light that leads them back to God and to everlasting life, available only to those who are in harmony with him. By reason of his sacrificial death as man’s Redeemer, Jesus became the way of life, and he is also the light to reveal that way.

And just as those who receive the water of life from Jesus are themselves “wells” of water for the refreshment and blessing of others, so those who are enlightened by him and become consecrated Spirit-begotten believers are light bearers to the world. To this class Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) We have no light of our own, but to the extent that we are emptied of self and are filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, that light which thus reaches us from Christ will be reflected to those with whom we are associated. Indeed, we will gladly lay down life itself bearing witness to the truth which has set us free from the chains of superstition and darkness.

QUESTIONS:

How is it possible for Christians to be like “wells of water”?

Of what is darkness a symbol, as that term is used in the Bible?

Should those who are enlightened by Jesus keep that light to themselves, hiding it under a bushel?

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