DEVOTION// Jesus the water of life

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.... Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:10-14. Tap here to read the entire section, John 4:7-26).

After considering that Jesus is the source of living water, Martin Luther penned the following reflection.

Jesus alone is the water of life

If we do want to boast, then let us boast that

• we receive from the fullness of Christ,

• we are enlightened by him,

• we attain forgiveness of sin, and

• we become children of God through him.

This is the sum and substance of it all: Whoever wishes to be safe-guarded from the devil’s might and to escape sin and death must draw from this well, Christ. From him flows all salvation and eternal bliss.

An inexhaustible fountain

This fountain is inexhaustible. It is full of grace and truth before God. It never fails no matter how much we draw from it. Even if we all dip from it without stopping, it cannot be emptied. It remains a perennial fount of all grace and truth. An unfathomable well. An eternal fountain. The more we draw from it, the more it gives.

Such water, as St. John remarks later, wells up to eternal life (John 4:14).

The sun is not dimmed and darkened by shining on so many people or by providing the entire world with its light and bright splendor.... Likewise, a learned man can educate a thousand scholars without forfeiting any of his own learning. The more he shares with others, the more he has himself.

The only source of life

Thus Christ, our Lord—to whom we must flee and of whom we must ask all—is an interminable well. He is the chief source of all grace, truth, righteousness, wisdom, and life. He provides without limit, measure, or end.

Even if the whole world were to draw from this fountain enough grace and truth to transform all people into angels, still it would not lose as much as a drop.

The well from which God's grace flows

This fountain constantly overflows with sheer grace. Whoever wishes to enjoy Christ’s grace—and no one is excluded—let him come and receive it from him.

No one will never drain this fountain of living water. It will never run dry. All draw from it much more than enough. And, yet, it will remain a perennial well.