the desire of ages-第29章

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aited　for　someone　to　come　to　draw。

A　woman　of　Samaria　approached；　and　seeming　unconscious　of　His　presence；　filled　her　pitcher　with　water。　As　she　turned　to　go　away；　Jesus　asked　her　for　a　drink。　Such　a　favor　no　Oriental　would　withhold。　In　the　East；　water　was　called　〃the　gift　of　God。〃　To　offer　a　drink　to　the　thirsty　traveler　was　held　to　be　a　duty　so　sacred　that　the　Arabs　of

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the　desert　would　go　out　of　their　way　in　order　to　perform　it。　The　hatred　between　Jews　and　Samaritans　prevented　the　woman　from　offering　a　kindness　to　Jesus；　but　the　Saviour　was　seeking　to　find　the　key　to　this　heart；　and　with　the　tact　born　of　divine　love；　He　asked；　not　offered；　a　favor。　The　offer　of　a　kindness　might　have　been　rejected；　but　trust　awakens　trust。　The　King　of　heaven　came　to　this　outcast　soul；　asking　a　service　at　her　hands。　He　who　made　the　ocean；　who　controls　the　waters　of　the　great　deep；　who　opened　the　springs　and　channels　of　the　earth；　rested　from　His　weariness　at　Jacob's　well；　and　was　dependent　upon　a　stranger's　kindness　for　even　the　gift　of　a　drink　of　water。

The　woman　saw　that　Jesus　was　a　Jew。　In　her　surprise　she　forgot　to　grant　His　request；　but　tried　to　learn　the　reason　for　it。　〃How　is　it；〃　she　said；　〃that　Thou；　being　a　Jew；　askest　drink　of　me；　which　am　a　woman　of　Samaria？〃

Jesus　answered；　〃If　thou　knewest　the　gift　of　God；　and　who　it　is　that　saith　to　thee；　Give　Me　to　drink；　thou　wouldest　have　asked　of　Him；　and　He　would　have　given　thee　living　water。〃　You　wonder　that　I　should　ask　of　you　even　so　small　a　favor　as　a　draught　of　water　from　the　well　at　our　feet。　Had　you　asked　of　Me；　I　would　have　given　you　to　drink　of　the　water　of　everlasting　life。

The　woman　had　not　comprehended　the　words　of　Christ；　but　she　felt　their　solemn　import。　Her　light；　bantering　manner　began　to　change。　Supposing　that　Jesus　spoke　of　the　well　before　them；　she　said；　〃Sir；　Thou　hast　nothing　to　draw　with；　and　the　well　is　deep：　from　whence　then　hast　Thou　that　living　water？　Art　Thou　greater　than　our　father　Jacob；　which　gave　us　the　well；　and　drank　thereof　himself？〃　She　saw　before　her　only　a　thirsty　traveler；　wayworn　and　dusty。　In　her　mind　she　compared　Him　with　the　honored　patriarch　Jacob。　She　cherished　the　feeling；　which　is　so　natural；　that　no　other　well　could　be　equal　to　that　provided　by　the　fathers。　She　was　looking　backward　to　the　fathers；　forward　to　the　Messiah's　coming；　while　the　Hope　of　the　fathers；　the　Messiah　Himself；　was　beside　her；　and　she　knew　Him　not。　How　many　thirsting　souls　are　today　close　by　the　living　fountain；　yet　looking　far　away　for　the　wellsprings　of　life！　〃Say　not　in　thine　heart；　Who　shall　ascend　into　heaven？　（that　is；　to　bring　Christ　down　from　above：）　or；　Who　shall　descend　into　the　deep？　（that　is；　to　bring　up　Christ　again　from　the　dead。）　。　。　。　The　word　is　nigh　thee；　even　in　thy　mouth；　and　in　thy　heart：　。　。　。　if　thou　shalt　confess　with　thy　mouth　the　Lord　Jesus；　and　shalt　believe　in　thine　heart　that　God　hath　raised　Him　from　the　dead；　thou　shalt　be　saved。〃　Rom。　10：6…9。

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Jesus　did　not　immediately　answer　the　question　in　regard　to　Himself；　but　with　solemn　earnestness　He　said；　〃Whosoever　drinketh　of　this　water　shall　thirst　again：　but　whosoever　drinketh　of　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　never　thirst；　but　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　be　in　him　a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃

He　who　seeks　to　quench　his　thirst　at　the　fountains　of　this　world　will　drink　only　to　thirst　again。　Everywhere　men　are　unsatisfied。　They　long　for　something　to　supply　the　need　of　the　soul。　Only　One　can　meet　that　want。　The　need　of　the　world；　〃The　Desire　of　all　nations；〃　is　Christ。　The　divine　grace　which　He　alone　can　impart；　is　as　living　water；　purifying；　refreshing；　and　invigorating　the　soul。

Jesus　did　not　convey　the　idea　that　merely　one　draft　of　the　water　of　life　would　suffice　the　receiver。　He　who　tastes　of　the　love　of　Christ　will　continually　long　for　more；　but　he　seeks　for　nothing　else。　The　riches；　honors；　and　pleasures　of　the　world　do　not　attract　him。　The　constant　cry　of　his　heart　is；　More　of　Thee。　And　He　who　reveals　to　the　soul　its　necessity　is　waiting　to　satisfy　its　hunger　and　thirst。　Every　human　resource　and　dependence　will　fail。　The　cisterns　will　be　emptied；　the　pools　become　dry；　but　our　Redeemer　is　an　inexhaustible　fountain。　We　may　drink；　and　drink　again；　and　ever　find　a　fresh　supply。　He　in　whom　Christ　dwells　has　within　himself　the　fountain　of　blessing；〃a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃　From　this　source　he　may　draw　strength　and　grace　sufficient　for　all　his　needs。

As　Jesus　spoke　of　the　living　water；　the　woman　looked　upon　Him　with　wondering　attention。　He　had　aroused　her　interest；　and　awakened　a　desire　for　the　gift　of　which　He　spoke。　She　perceived　that　it　was　not　the　water　of　Jacob's　well　to　which　He　referred；　for　of　this　she　used　continually；　drinking；　and　thirsting　again。　〃Sir；〃　she　said；　〃give　me　this　water；　that　I　thirst　not；　neither　come　hither　to　draw。〃

Jesus　now　abruptly　turned　the　conversation。　Before　this　soul　could　receive　the　gift　He　longed　to　bestow；　she　must　be　brought　to　recognize　her　sin　and　her　Saviour。　He　〃saith　unto　her；　Go；　call　thy　husband；　and　come　hither。〃　She　answered；　〃I　have　no　husband。〃　Thus　she　hoped　to　prevent　all　questioning　in　that　direction。　But　the　Saviour　continued；　〃Thou　hast　well　said；　I　have　no　husband：　for　thou　hast　had　five　husbands；　and　he　whom　thou　now　hast　is　not　thy　husband：　in　that　saidst　thou　truly。〃

The　listener　trembled。　A　mysterious　hand　was　turning　the　pages　of　her　life　history；　bringing　to　view　that　which　she　had　hoped　to　keep　forever

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hidden。　Who　was　He　that　could　read　the　secrets　of　her　life？　There　came　to　her　thoughts　of　eternity；　of　the　future　Judgment；　when　all　that　is　now　hidden　shall　be　revealed。　In　its　light；　conscience　was　awakened。

She　could　deny　nothing；　but　she　tried　to　evade　all　mention　of　a　subject　so　unwelcome。　With　deep　reverence；　she　said；　〃Sir；　I　perceive　that　Thou　art　a　prophet。〃　Then；　hoping　to　silence　conviction；　she　turned　to　points　of　religious　controversy。　If　this　was　a　prophet；　surely　He　could　give　her　instruction　concerning　these　matters　that　had　been　so　long　disputed。

Patiently　Jesus　permitted　her　to　lead　the　conversation　whither　she　would。　Meanwhile　He　watched　for　the　opportunity　of　again　bringing　the　truth　home　to　her　heart。　〃Our　fathers　worshiped　in　this　mountain；〃　she　said；　〃and　ye　say；　that　in　Jerusalem　is　the　place　where　men　ought　to　worship。〃　Just　in　sight　was　Mount　Gerizim。　Its　temple　was　demolished；　and　only　the　altar　remained。　The　place　of　worship　had　been　a　subject　of　contention　between　the　Jews　and　the　Samaritans。　Some　of　the　ancestors　of　the　latter　people　had　once　belonged　to　Israel；　but　because　of　their　sins；　the　Lord　suffered　them　to　be　overcome　by　an　idolatrous　nation。　For　many　generations　they　were　intermingled　with　idolaters；　whose　religion　gradually　contaminated　their　own。　It　is　true　they　held　that　their　idols　were　only　to　remind　them　of　the　living　God；　the　Ruler　of　the　universe；　nevertheless　the　people　were　led　to　reverence　their　graven　images。

When　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　was　rebuilt　in　the　days　of　Ezra；　the　Samaritans　wished　to　join　the　Jews　in　its　erection。　This　privilege　was　refused　them；　and　a　bitter　animosity　sprang　up　between　the　two　peoples。　The　Samaritans　built　a　rival　temple　on　Mount　Gerizim。　Here　they　worshiped　in　accordance　with　the　Mosaic　ritual；　though　they　did　not　wholly　renounce　idolatry。　But　disasters　attended　them；　their　temple　was　destroyed　by　their　enemies；　and　they　seemed　to　be　under　a　curse；　yet　they　still　clung　to　their　traditions　and　their　forms　of　worship。　They　would　not　acknowledge　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　as　the　house　of　God；　nor　admit　that　the　religion　of　the　Jews　was　superior　to　their　own。

In　answer　to　the　woman；　Jesus　said；　〃Believe　Me；　the　hour　cometh；　when　ye　shall　neither　in　this　mountain；　nor　yet　at　Jerusalem；　worship　the　Father。　Ye　worship　ye　know　not　what：　we　know　what　we　worship：　for　salvation　is　of　the　Jews。〃　Jesus　had　shown　that　He　was　free　from　Jewish　prejudice　against　the　Samaritans。　Now　He　sought　to　break　down

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the　prejudice　of　this　Samaritan　against　the　Jews。　While　referring　to　the　fact　that　the　faith　of　the　Samaritans　was　corrupted　with　idolatry；　He　declared　that　the　great　truths　of　redemption　had　been　committed　to　the　Jews；　and　that　from　among　them　the　Messiah　was　to　appear。　In　the　Sacred　Writings　they　had　a　clear　presentation　of　the　character　of　God　and　the　principles　of　His　government。　Jesus　classed　Himself　with　the　Jews　as　those　to　whom　God　had　given　a　knowledge　of　Himself。

He　desired　to　lift　the　thoughts　of　His　hearer　above　matters　of　form　and　ceremony；　and　questions　of　controversy。　〃The　hour　cometh；〃　He　said；　〃and　now　is；　when　the　true　worshipers　shall　worship　the　Father　in　spirit　and　in　truth：　for　the　Father　seeketh　such　to　worship　Him。　God　is　a　Spirit：　and　they　that　worship　Him　must　worship　Him　in　spirit　and　in　truth。〃

Here　is　declared　the　same　truth　that　Jesus　had　revealed　to　Nicodemus　when　He　said；　〃Except　a　man　be　born　from　above；　he　cannot　see　the　kingdom　of　God。〃　John　3：3；　margin。　Not　by　seeking　a　holy　mountain　or　a　sacred　temple　are　men　brought　into　communion　with　heaven。　Religion　is　not　to　be　confined　to　external　forms　and　ceremonies。　The　religion　that　comes　from　God　is　the　only　religion　that　will　lead　to　God。　In　order　to　serve　Him　aright；　we　must　be　born　of　the　divine　Spirit。　This　will　purify　the　heart　and　renew　the　mind；　giving　us　a　new　capacity　for　knowing　and　loving　God。　It　will　give　us　a　willing　obedience　to　all　His　requirements。　This　is　true　worship。　It　is　the　fruit　of　the　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　By　the　Spirit　every　sincere　prayer　is　indited；　and　such　prayer　is　acceptable　to　God。　Wherever　a　soul　reaches　out　after　God；　there　the　Spirit's　working　is　manifest；　and　God　will　reveal　Himself　to　that　soul。　For　such　worshipers　He　is　seeking。　He　waits　to　receive　them；　and　to　make　them　His　sons　and　daughters。

As　the　woman　talked　with　Jesus；　she　was　impressed　with　His　words。　Never　had　she　heard　such　sentiments　from　the　priests　of　her　own　people　or　from　the　Jews。　As　the　past　of　her　life　had　been　spread　out　before　her；　she　had　been　made　sensible　of　her　great　want。　She　realized　her　soul　thirst；　which　the　waters　of　the　well　of　Sychar　could　never　satisfy。　Nothing　that　had　hitherto　come　in　contact　with　her　had　so　awakened　her　to　a　higher　need。　Jesus　had　convinced　her　that　He　read　the　secrets　of　her　life；　yet　she　felt　that　He　was　her　friend；　pitying　and　loving　her。　While　the　very　purity　of　His　presence　condemned　her　sin；　He　had　spoken　no　word　of　denunciation；　but　had　told　her　of　His　grace；　that　could　renew

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the　soul。　She　began　to　have　some　conviction　of　His　character。　The　question　arose　in　her　mind；　Might　not　this　be　the　long…looked…for　Messiah？　She　said　to　Him；　〃I　know　that　Messias　cometh；　which　is　called　Christ：　when　He　is　come；　He　will　tell　us　all　things。〃　Jesus　answered；　〃I　that　speak　unto　thee　am　He。〃

As　the　woman　heard　these　words；　faith　sprang　up　in　her　heart。　She　accepted　the　wonderful　announcement　from　the　lips　of　the　divine　Teacher。

This　woman　was　in　an　appreciative　state　of　mind。