I n the Gospel of John the gift of God is none other than the gift of eternal life. Eternal life is not life without an end. Eternal life is life which is no longer dominated by death and the darkness which comes from worshiping everything but God. The whole purpose of the Church of Christ is to lead humanity to the true worship of God. The image is of water running through a stream or water bubbling up from a fountain.
Eternal life is like a living water, like a drink of water from a brook or from a fountain.
Certainly for the early Christians living water alludes to baptism. The gift of God is given in the water of baptism. This gift is given to us who live in an age of anxiety and meaningless busywork. The congregation has called me to say the words and to pour the water and sign the cross on Danny s forehead. But we are doing this ultimately because God commanded it be done.