Living Water
Jesus promises that those who are thirsty can drink from Jesus. Those who drink/believe not only have their thirst assuaged. They become springs of refreshing, living water - John tells us the water is the Spirit (John 7:37-39).
But living water is not only refreshing water. Most of the time, “living water” is the running water needed for purification (Leviticus 14:5-6, 50-52; 15:13; Deuteronomy 21:4; the NASB translates “running water,” but the Hebrew is the rhyming hamayim-hachayyiym ).
Jesus promises that those who receive the Spirit by trusting in Him become springs of purifying water.
This is a complete reversal of the old covenant, when pollutions flowed from the “belly.” For those who are in the flesh, outflows defiled; those filled with the Spirit flow with the living Spirit to cleanse the world.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
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