Week 6: Living Water

Throughout the scriptures, Jesus refers to himself as "living water." At Jacob's well he teaches the Samaritan woman that there is something more to hope for than physical satiety, even something more than an eventual restoration to the position of dominance that the Samaritans felt they deserved. Jesus takes the conversation deeper, right into her own life, into her own heart, and, as she described it, "...told me all things that ever I did. Is this not the Christ?" It reaffirms the doctrine that signs and miracles testify of Christ, but real testimony comes when we open our hearts and lives to his influence. Filled in a new way, she leaves her water pot behind and hurries off to testify of Him. The symbolism of the living water reoccurs in all four standard works, culminating in 1 Nephi 11:25 where its meaning is revealed as "the love of God."

The impact of the scriptures is enhanced by the beauty of their language, and the most important principles are often couched in the most poetic language. One shining example is Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus provided the metaphor of the ox's yoke (not an easy thing to bear, but much lighter than sin's yoke.) And the KJ translators, a remarkable group of poets,  playwrights and scholars, provided a lyrical succession of "l" words that describe our progression toward Christ: labor, laden, learn, lowly, light. So beautiful you can't forget it.

John's gospel follows the story of the woman at the well with another water miracle, the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. (Carl Bloch's beautiful painting of this scene is revealing in what is not seen; the man himself is nearly hidden from our view: such a telling description of those mired in depression or despair.) For 38 years this man has waited by the pool for someone to help him into the water, yet instead of offering the aid he seeks, Jesus simply commands him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And he does it. How many times do we spend years pursuing a wrong solution to our problems and challenges, rather than looking up and asking the Lord what the right solution might be? Who in our lives needs us to put out a hand and help them up? Dieter Uchtdorf's moving message,  You Can Do It Now! reminds us how powerful that kind of encouragement can be. So our question of the week is this: What does Jesus need me to do right now? Who needs my encouragement to get up and walk?