Bible Question:
What is the meaning of water in John 4:14?
Bible Answer:
Jesus uses water in a symbolic sense in John 4:14.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (NASB) John 4:13-14
Jesus has just offered a women at a well some water – living water (v. 10). She seems to doubt Him (v. 11-12), but Jesus responds again and promises that she will never thirst again. This is some kind of special water. This water gives one eternal life! So what kind of water is Jesus talking about? He gives us the answer later in John 7:38-39.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NASB) John 7:38-39
Jesus used “water” as a symbol for the Holy Spirit!. He gives us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, seal us and fill us. Notice that Jesus is talking about “rivers of living water.” Rivers of living water that are flowing out of believers. We need to ask ourselves, “What kind of living waters are flowing through me? Is my spiritual faucet dripping? Can I see a steady stream? Am I experiencing a flood of living water gushing out from the inside? The Holy Spirit should make a difference in one’s life. Jesus did not talk about drips of living water!
Conclusion:
Jesus’ living water is the Holy Spirit. He helps us understand God by giving us spiritual undertstanding (1 Cor. 2:11-16). He leads us to Jesus, places us in Jesus, matures us in Jesus. He lives in us (Galatians 5:25) and empowers us to live the Christian life (Eph. 5:18-21). He transforms our lives from what we used to be . . . Praise the Lord!