John 4:10
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
Water is an essential ingredient of life. The physical and chemical properties of water make it an ideal agent to dissolve and transport nutrients, oxygen and minerals essential to the functions of cells, protect body organs and tissues, serve as lubricants of joints . In fact, about 60% to 70% of an adult human body is composed of water by weight. Therefore, life is possible only when water is present. The scriptures use the term living water which is high quality refreshing water to represent the power and blessings essential to sustain life, give joy and meanings to life which only God the creator Himself can give. And the scriptures do not refer to life simply as the physical life in the present body with a temporal time span but life with both spiritual and physical dimensions that lasts to eternity.
The story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at the Jacob’s well illustrates the grace of God who sent His Son to give living water to people who are literally living meaningless and withering lives. Jesus chose to reveal Himself as the Messiah and offer to give living water to a sinner and not just an ordinary sinner, but a sinner despised even among sinners. The Samaritan woman came out to draw water at noon time alone in order to avoid meeting others who usually did this chore together in the morning or evening when the sun was mild. Her isolation reveals rejection in her own community and she lived in public shame. Jesus by His omniscient capability disclosed her immorality of marrying and divorcing five times and now was living with a man (John 4:18). Despite her immorality, Jesus came to seek her and offer her living water that wells up to eternal life (John 4:14). In fact, the mission of Jesus coming to the world was to save sinners of all nations even sinners who are desperate and despised (1 Timothy 1:15). The reason our living empty, flesh pleasing, unsatisfying and withering lives is that we all have a broken relationship with God. The reason we have a broken relationship with God is sin because God is light in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). Sinners inherently belong to the domain of darkness. Light and darkness cannot mix, therefore sinners are blocked from the fountain of life namely God Himself (Psalm 36:9). Jesus graciously came to restore our relationship with God (Ephesians 5:8) such that we may drink the living water. What is life like being nourished with the living water Jesus gives? Obviously, Jesus was not referring to ordinary drinking water for drinking water can nourish our body only for a very short duration and we need to drink again. Jesus reveals that the living water that He gives will flow from within the life of the recipients in abundance that last forever. Later in the John Gospel (John 7:38-39), living water is plainly revealed as the Holy Spirit. Indeed if a life has the Holy Spirit, it is like a life with the living water flowing within, nourishing and empowering it so that it becomes fruitful glorifying God. It is a life of reconciliation because the broken, alienated relationship with God (Colossians 1:21) is restored to a Father and child relationship (Galatians 4:6). With a close relationship with God and the power of the Holy Spirit, life grows into abundant life.
John 4:18
18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
John 4:14
14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
1 Timothy 1:15
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1 John 1:5
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Psalm 36:9
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
John 7:38-39
38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
Galatians 4:6
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father."
The gracious act of Jesus is to give abundant life as a direct opposite to the evil and destructive act of a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. The word abundant is in the sense of exceeding quantity and superior quality in life. This is opposite to the natural life that we used to live in the world which is enslaved by sin and destined to perish (John 8:34, Romans 6:23a). To make it worse, this world is filled with evil forces and temptations working against our vulnerable sinful nature. For the prince of the world is Satan who is trying hard to steal and destroy lives (Ephesians 6:12, John 16:11, 1 Peter 5:8). Lives living under the power of Satan cannot display the glory of God and some even become tools of evil for Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2). Just pay some attention to the daily news and you will see and hear uncountable cases of crimes such as murders, sexual assaults, robberies, frauds, corruptions, human trafficking, drug dealings, money laundering and terrorist activities locally and around the world.
John 10:10 (King James Translation)
10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 8:34
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
John 16:11
and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 2:2
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Therefore, we need to understand that the meaning of abundant life is quite incompatible to the values and views we learned from the world. You may even find that some of the teachings of abundant life paradoxical to the so called common sense we learned. These are the attributes of the abundant life that Jesus gives.
a. Living with a Clear Conscience and True Joy
We all have committed sins in life. We should all be sorrowful for the mistakes we made. But, there is a distinction between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is temporary, beneficial and will bring healing, renewal and abundant blessings to life (2 Corinthians 7:10). But, worldly sorrow is prolonged and will only bring condemnation, shame and guilt and is destructive. The reason is that the root cause of being sorrow is not resolved. Firstly, sinners are not forgiven by God and they have to suffer and pay for the penalty of sins themselves. Secondly, sinners are too powerless to deal with the temptation of the devil and the weakness of their flesh and therefore will continually be enslaved by sins (see the next section on Power of Living). Moreover, worldly sorrow can be deceitful in the sense that it is not an outcome of true remorse but a consequence of unfulfilled desires or being caught in doing wrong. Godly sorrow is based on the redemptive work of Jesus and will bring us to confess our sins before God and repent such that our sins are forgiven, our conscience is cleansed and our relationship with God is restored because Jesus has paid in full the penalty of sins for us (Isaiah 53:5). The forgiveness is promised by God and the cleansing of our conscience is effective for Jesus has shed His blood for all our sins. The Holy Spirit bears witness within our heart.and guides us to live a new life. Let us approach God with a sincere heart of repentance and faith (Hebrews 10:22). God is faithful and He will do what He promised in His words such that sinners are justified and may walk closely with God (1 John 1:7, 9). This wonderful and gracious promise of God is the basis of our joy in our new life which will not be moved by the changes of our circumstances in the world (Philippians 4:4).
2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
1 John 1:7, 9
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
b. Blessed with the Power of Living
Humans are designed and created to live in the presence and close relationship with God. Without a close companionship with God, humans live in the domain of darkness (Ephesians 5:8). People living in darkness may not even know that they cannot see what is true and good that will last eternally. Many simply fill their lives with all kinds of activities: social relationship, works, politics, religion, acquisition of wealth, and pleasure seeking. The reason is that unbelievers are living under the influence of the devil such that they cannot see the love and salvation of God that reconcile and restore the good relationship with God (2 Corinthians 4:4). But when we accept the invitation of Jesus with faith, rivers of living water will flow within the once dry and withering life. First, the blockage to God due to sinfulness is removed because Jesus has paid for the penalty of sin so that believer is justified through faith and have peace with God (Romans 5:1). Second, the Holy Spirit will dwell in the believer’s life and make the believer a new creation such that the believer is no longer blinded and enslaved by the devil but live a spiritual fruit bearing life (Galatians 5:22-23). A contemporary example of extending the invitation of people to come to the source of living water is reported in this article authored by Rev. John Burke of Gateway Church in Texas.
Ephesians 5:8
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
2 Corinthians 4:4
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
c. Having an Eternal Perspective of Life that Transcends the Presence by Faith
if we assume the world values of preserving our own lives and maximizing comfort, materialistic achievement and pleasure in the present life, then we will lose it. Jesus teaches that we should abhor these world values and hold to His teachings then we will keep our lives to eternity. Jesus’ view on the present life is that it is only temporary and is never meant the destination we should hold on to (John 12:25). He always teaches that we should have a perpetual view of life and pursue a glorious future while the popular world view of life is limited to a lifetime on earth. The world view gives no answer or avoid discussion altogether about life beyond this lifetime. A common practice of living according to the world view is to work hard, play hard, and hoard things believing that these things bring security and satisfaction in life. But all things in this world which include money, physical goods, real estates, pleasures, popularity, and fame will not last . For according to the words of God, the whole world will someday end such that things of the world will end with the world. Moreover, our lives are limited in time duration and many will be likely leaving these worldly things behind even sooner than the end of the world. Sadly, most people hold the common world view and devote to preserve and enrich their lives in this world even knowing that a hard reality of the end of life is sure and imminent. It is considered foolish, according to the words of God, if we hold the world view in living this life (John 6:27, Luke 12:20). But, it does not mean that children of God do not need to work for daily necessities at all. Jesus means that we should have an eternal perspective of life with the Kingdom of God not the world as the final goal and destination and the heavenly Father already knows and provides for our needs while living in this world (Matthew 6:31-33).
John 12:25
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 6:27
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Luke 12:20
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
Matthew 6:31-33
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
d. Ready to serve and not to be served
By our old nature, we like to be served by others. Abundant life in God’s perspective is just the opposite. In fact, the life example of Jesus is a thorough demonstration of serving others (Mark 10:45). Although Jesus is God by nature, He took the image of a man and not just of a man but of a humble servant. On the night when Jesus was about to be arrested for torture and crucification based on false accusations, He washed the disciples’ feet and told them that they should follow his example by serving one another (John 13:14-15).
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
John 13:14-15
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
The greatest commandment of God is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. The second greatest commandment is similar to the first which is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). In other words, we are to love God and others from our inside out. The practical way to express love is to serve. During His earthly ministry, Jesus went about doing good to others as examples for all believers: healing the sick, blind, lame, dumb, and leper; feeding and helping people in need (Matthew 14:16, John 2:3); teaching people the truth of salvation and life (Matthew 5:1-2). Most of all, Jesus sacrificed His own life such that sinners who have faith in Him may have life. Jesus also taught us about the practical way to express love even to strangers with the story of a good Samaritan who helps a victim wounded by robbers (Luke 10:33).
Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 14:16
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
John 2:3
3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine."
Matthew 5:1-2
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
Luke 10:33
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
The power of service is from God who will be glorified by our service. Jesus taught us that believers would be doing the works that He Himself had been doing and even to a greater extent because His earthly ministry was limited to a few years. After His death and resurrection, He would return to heaven at the Father’s side (Luke 22:69). His earthly ministry would be carried on by the apostles and the disciples from generations to generations. We can ask God for the power to do the works that may glorify the Father (John 14:12-13). Born again believers empowered by the Holy Spirit would continue doing good works which is the will of God (Ephesians 2:10). Service could also be rendered as material and financial gifts that help the weak to strengthen and go through difficulties. This is also a tip to a life of blessing (Acts 20:35). The best service we can do to others is surely to bring the good news of salvation to others such that they may believe and receive God’s salvation and life. In fact, this is also the command and delegation by the authority of God to all disciples to make disciples of all nations. This command was given by Jesus Himself right before His ascension to heaven after His resurrection (Matthew 28:18-20).
Luke 22:69
But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
John 14:12-13
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ "
e. Imperishable
The life that God gives has the inherent quality that lasts until eternity. Nothing is really good or meaningful no matter how good we think it is if it lasts only a short while and disappears because its quality is depreciating moment by moment after a duration of growth. Any time duration is short as if it is non-existent in compare to eternity. To help us understand, consider the concept of limit in mathematics. A finite number N, no matter how big it is, divided by the infinity will be equal to zero and can be ignored in a equation. Kings, rich and famous people will try all possible means to preserve their lives. The best they could do is to build monuments, and in modern practice, create legacy buildings and benevolent funds such that their names may be remembered. Although the names and the associated histories of the persons may be remembered by later generations, the lives behind the names cannot be preserved. There are also various religious thoughts addressing the wishes of eternal life. For example, Egyptian mummies were made with the belief that the soul called the ba and the invisible twin called the ka of the dead might return to the preserved body and lived forever in the tomb. This was the reason why the Egyptian tombs of kings and nobles were made with sophistication and decorated with treasures. They are simply unproven human thoughts. One thing for sure is that many Egyptians tombs have been targets of robberies. The treasures in the tombs were stolen and the mummies were shifted and some end up in museum displays.
The life that God gives has the inherent quality that lasts until eternity. Nothing is really good or meaningful no matter how good we think it is if it lasts only a short while and disappears because its quality is depreciating moment by moment after a duration of growth. Any time duration is short as if it is non-existent in compare to eternity. To help us understand, consider the concept of limit in mathematics. A finite number N, no matter how big it is, divided by the infinity will be equal to zero and can be ignored in a equation. Kings, rich and famous people will try all possible means to preserve their lives. The best they could do is to build monuments, and in modern practice, create legacy buildings and benevolent funds such that their names may be remembered. Although the names and the associated histories of the persons may be remembered by later generations, the lives behind the names cannot be preserved. There are also various religious thoughts addressing the wishes of eternal life. For example, Egyptian mummies were made with the belief that the soul called the ba and the invisible twin called the ka of the dead might return to the preserved body and lived forever in the tomb. This was the reason why the Egyptian tombs of kings and nobles were made with sophistication and decorated with treasures. They are simply unproven human thoughts. One thing for sure is that many Egyptians tombs have been targets of robberies. The treasures in the tombs were stolen and the mummies were shifted and some end up in museum displays.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
1 Corinthians 15:17-19
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:22
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Philippians 2:6-8
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
1 Corinthians 15:20
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
f. Living with a Glorious Body
As we all experience, our present bodies are subject to a biological growth curve. A normal body starts growing from infancy, childhood, adolescence, then adulthood. From adulthood, our bodies start declining. With the loss of health, the reality of death will eventually come when the bodies succumb to illness. The Bible articulates it well that our bodies are like new grass that spring up in the morning but by the evening it is dry and withered (Psalm 90:5-6). Some futurists proposed a process call mind uploading or mind transfer by scanning and representing a human brain in digital details and transfer the data to a super computer which then may emulate the original human brain with thoughts and feelings. The process may go further by putting the computer inside a human like robot or humanoid robot which simulates the body. If the process is successful, these futurists may claim success in achieving immortality. This is an interesting and imaginative idea. But, to me it is an attempt to create a model of a human being with electronics and mechanical components. By definition, a model is an incomplete representation of the real thing and the model is limited to the emulated features of the real thing being modeled. The set of features is not only unreal but is limited by the interest and knowledge of the modeler. As we know, although the knowledge of mankind has advanced to a large extent, there are still too many unknowns. For example, computer scientists could simulate with limited success of human thinking activities using neural network algorithms but no one know completely how a human brain really works and not even the details of the biology, physiology, chemistry and physics of a single brain cell. On the other hand, God does not promise life reduced to simulated model living in a computer and robot, but an eternal life of love, glory, joy, honor with a real and imperishable body. Jesus has demonstrated that a real, physical body accompanies resurrection. In fact, the resurrected body is more superior than the old body for it is not limited but transcends physical limitations the old human body experiences. To illustrate this point, Jesus in His resurrected body could go through walls and appeared to the disciples gathering in a house and asked the doubting disciple Thomas to put his finger into His wounded hands and side. The holes in the hands of Jesus were the nailed holes in crucification and the hole on His side was resulted from the piercing of a spear by a Roman soldier (John 19:34). The wounds are preserved in Jesus’ resurrected body as an identification and the mark of love and sufferings to the redeemed. On another occasion, Jesus appeared to the disciples and they were frightened and thought that they saw a ghost. But, Jesus demonstrated to them that He had flesh and bones in His resurrected body and asked them to touch Him (Luke 24:37-39). Jesus even ate a piece of broiled fish in their presence (Luke 24:42-43). People who receive the gift of salvation by faith will also resurrect with a glorious body like Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20-21).
John 19:34
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
Luke 24:37-39
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Luke 24:42-43
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
g. Imperishable Inheritance
Ownership of treasures in the world is temporary (Matthew 6:19). Firstly, worldly treasures could drop in values and their usefulness could deteriorate as they age. Secondly, worldly treasures can be lost when the owners fall victims into theft or deceptive schemes. Lastly, even common sense will tell that ownership of worldly treasures ends when the owners disease. As a contrast, believers view worldly treasures as opportunities and tools God has given them to manage in their new and abundant life. Worldly treasures can be applied in such a way to further the preaching of the gospel such that more people may enter the Kingdom of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the eyes of the believers’ heart are enlightened to see the glorious, imperishable treasures in the Kingdom of God such that they will become faithful managers of the worldly treasures and opportunities they are given (Ephesians 1:18, Matthew 6:20).
Matthew 6:19
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
Matthew 6:20
20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.