Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
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meaning. which was ineligible to her,
signifying springing. or spring water. as
opposed TO standing water Gen. xxvi:1ql.
This kind of water was supposed to pos
sess curative properties. and II was or
dered In certain ceremonials lev, xiv ~.
The Samaritan naturally put this con-
struction upon the Savior's remark.
thinking that He proposed to give her
water from the very depths of the well.
as they Were spring!ng clear and fresh
from the earth beneath. AT this she was
perplexed oversees IL. 12,. The patriarch
Jacob had caused this we'll TO be dug.
and she was satisfied to drink from x,
as the people had been since has time
Besides, the well was very deep, and the
sources could not be easily reached.
Jesus had nothing with which to draw.
How could he make good his offer? Was
He great that He could do what the
patriarch had not done. what none after
him did? Ii was a very strange proposal
and she did not hesitate to express her
perplexity
TEACHING.-Everyth now turn
ed on the meaning of a single word az
descriptive of the kind of water Jesus pro-
posed to give. There are several modes OF
definition-by derivation. usage. etc. Like
a good teacher. our Lord explained His
term by describing the water and dis
tinguishing IL oversees 13-14) The water
from Jacobs well was, indeed. good
there was no intended objection to it
but II relieved thirst only for the time being.
Orb must return again and again TO obtain
fresh supply. Whereas the water which
Jesus offered would entirely quench
thirst. because II would remain within and
become there a well of water John. vii:
39. springing up within the soul az
this liquid does at the bottom of Jacobs
well. Furthermore. this springing UP
would continue and produce everlasting
life. 1t will be seen that Jesus is still
employing figurative language. somewhat
as He did on another occasion John.
vi:35). He was endeavoring by means OF
familiar material things to lead His pupil
to the conception of those immense truths
that pertain to the spiritual life in both
worlds
REQUEST.-It is evident that this
teaching was not successful. The woman
did not understand. and our Savior did
not lodge in her mind the elevated
thoughts which were needful to bring her
into right relations with Him. She still
supposed that He referred to some kind
of beverage which might be obtained
without the labor of drawing. which she
might substitute for the water OF Jacobs
we'll Werse 13D She was particularly
might be relieved of all further effort.
and that she might have a perennial
fountain within. Her desires were
awakened. and she boldly asked for the
DeStOWdl OF the pTOutfcO BILL LUIS SiioWo
how eager the human mind is to obtain
temporal and physical comforts. how
slow lit is to apprehend and to seek the
souls good Matt, vi:31) This condition
is the more deplorable because the less
is included in the greater. and there IL a
promise that they who seek the spiritual
shall not lack the carnal Psa-, lxxxiv:1D.
the latter being thrown in a gratuity
Matt. vi:23.)
CONCLUSION.-It is a pity that the
lesson committee closes our study at this
point. What follows to the twenty-sixth
verse shows the outcome Of the inter-
view. and sets everything to rights. On
hearing the woman's request, Jesus di-
rected her to call her husband (verse 49,.
Her reply enabled Him to disclose her
bad life, and light began to break into
her mind (verse 49,. as she perceived that
Jesus was a prophet. She was then pre-
pared to speak on the subject Of religion.
and in the course of the conversation she
siah (verse 26). This statement, support
ed by the evidence of His superior knowl-
edge converted her into a messenger.
and. leaving her water pot she hastened
into the city to invite neighbors and
friends to Christ AS a. result many
Samaritans came and believed. The frag-
ment which has been assigned FOR our
lesson is, therefore. valuable chieuy to
show the patience and skill with which
Jesus dealt with sinful woman. lead
ing her on step by step from what she
knew to what she did not know. and
waiting until her mind was open to re-
ceive the great doctrine Of His Messiah
ship. Little by little the light breaks in.
lisa xXyiii:1O).