| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 12 |
Page 4 |
The writer of this Gospel explains further His words about the fountain within the heart. He says that Jesus referred to the Spirit which they that believed on Him would receive. In talking with the woman at the well, Jesus told her that the water He would give those who should drink would become a well of water in them, springing up into eternal life. The Spirit is God Himself. Hence those who receive the Spirit receive God Himself into their hearts. The new life in a believer is the divine life. It is Christ Himself. We may notice here, too, the two words that are used in the two passages, showing the growth of life in those who receive Christ. Jesus said to the woman that the water should become a well in the heart of the believer. Here He says that from within him who receive the divine Spirit shall flow rivers of living water. The word “rivers” suggests the possibilities of Christian life and influence. When the apostles first came to Christ, the beginning of life in them was very small. But when they went forth, after the day of Pentecost, full of the Holy Spirit, rivers of influence and blessing flowed from them. Our lives should increase in power as we become filled with Christ, and our reach of blessing should grow wider and wider.
A question of origin hindered the faith of some of those to whom Christ spoke that day. They thought that nothing good could come out of the despised province of Galilee. We are familiar already with this argument against the Messiahship of Jesus. Nathanael could not believe that any good thing could come out of Nazareth (see 1:46). In His case, however, a personal knowledge of Christ instantly swept away His prejudices. A like prejudice applies in many other cases. Lowly circumstances bury much that is good and hinder its recognition among men. Yet we know that the power of the Christ who slept His first sleep in a manger was the Son of God, and His power and glory have filed all earth and heaven. The unconscious testimony of the officers to the power of Jesus is very remarkable. Sent by the rulers to arrest Him, they came under the influence of His words as He spoke to the people. The spell was so strong that the officers returned without arresting Jesus, awed and unable to do anything, and when asked why they had not brought Him as a prisoner they replied, “Never man so spake.” Those who come under the influence of Jesus are always impressed by the power of His presence. It is indeed true that “never man so spake.” His words are the words of God. If we let them into our hearts they search us and find us. They are convincing words, showing us our sins and faults. They are upbuilding words, kindling and stimulating in us holy desires and aspirations, holding before us divine ideals of life and inspiring us to all heavenly attainments. They are transforming words, imprinting upon our lives the beauty of Christ and sending us to ministry of love. They are words of hope, revealing the true honor and blessedness of those who faithfully follow Christ. The most wonderful things in all this world are the words of Christ. “Never man so spake.”
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