"Living water" What did Jesus mean?

[zoidar]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

 

[AlexDTX]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

When we are born again, we drink in the Spirit and the Spirit in us is like a well of water. When you ask for and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is released through the body from the belly.

Years ago when I lived in New Orleans, I went to a crawfish boil at a friend's house in the country. I shared the baptism of the Holy Spirit with a woman who believed what I said and asked to receive it in prayer. I stood right in front of her. When asked, I felt the the Spirit burst forth from her belly like I was standing in front of a fire hydrant that had just been opened. It shocked me that I could sense the release in her just as she could sense it.

In another story I shared the Gospel to my nephew at the wedding of my cousin. We were at the dinner table and he prayed for the new birth in front of everyone there. After he prayed I felt the very same experience he felt of the burden of sin being lifted off his shoulders. In astonishment he said he felt lighter, and I answered him saying that the burden of sin was now gone and he was born again.

The Spirit is tangible if your senses are open to it.

 

[Dave-W]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Living water, Mayim Chaim in Hebrew, is/was a well understood idiom. It did not have some mystical meaning; rather, it referred to water that sustained life. It was moving.

Non-moving water gets stagnant, loses oxygen and fish die. Due to polutants it is also not good for watering crops. Moving water (from rain or a stream) brings freshness and sustains life.

By the first century, mayim chaim was required for the mikvah pools (used for ritual immersion - prelude to baptism) at the temple and synagogues in the diaspora.

So I would say it has to due with being life-giving.

 

[inquiring mind]

I believe Jesus was saying that the person who believes in Him will experience great joy inwardly, and just as flowing water brings nourishment and life in the natural world, so will this well-spring of inner happiness for having been given eternal life flow from the believer, in the spiritual sense, to those around them.

 

[HandstoWorkHeartstoGod]

In addition to the above comments, I would like to add that water always follows the lowest channels. Humility toward Christ keeps the well-spring inside of those who believe in Him vibrant and ongoing.

 

[zoidar]

When we are born again, we drink in the Spirit and the Spirit in us is like a well of water. When you ask for and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is released through the body from the belly.

Years ago when I lived in New Orleans, I went to a crawfish boil at a friend's house in the country. I shared the baptism of the Holy Spirit with a woman who believed what I said and asked to receive it in prayer. I stood right in front of her. When asked, I felt the the Spirit burst forth from her belly like I was standing in front of a fire hydrant that had just been opened. It shocked me that I could sense the release in her just as she could sense it.

In another story I shared the Gospel to my nephew at the wedding of my cousin. We were at the dinner table and he prayed for the new birth in front of everyone there. After he prayed I felt the very same experience he felt of the burden of sin being lifted off his shoulders. In astonishment he said he felt lighter, and I answered him saying that the burden of sin was now gone and he was born again.

The Spirit is tangible if your senses are open to it.

Verry interesting what you say, that the holy Spirit is released from the belly.... I have heard it before, not sure though what to make of it.

"I answered him saying that the burden of sin was now gone and he was born again."

Do you think then, that that experience of holy Spirit is necessary to be born again? I never experienced anything like that when I came to faith. First a few year later I started to feel things.

 

[zoidar]

In addition to the above comments, I would like to add that water always follows the lowest channels. Humility toward Christ keeps the well-spring inside of those who believe in Him vibrant and ongoing.

Would you like to elaborate? I was into chinese medicine before and what you say reminds me a bit about that.

 

[zoidar]

I wonder one more thing. I have been to worship meetings that is said to be full of holy Spirit. I sometimes feel bad there. It's like I'm about to go into a psychosis, and it feels like "energy" rushing upwards. I don't know what to do with this. I don't know if it's the holy Spirit or what... the holy Spirit shouldn't make me feel sick, should he? At the same time, I know that the Christians at those meetings are genuine Christians ...

 

[Shempster]

Well if you think about water, it is the softest matter there is. Also it is the only element that has the power to destroy rock. Naturally, I mean. Not counting dynamite. The soft always overcomes the hard. So the Living Water could be looked at as peace and contentment coming from God-through you-and outwardly as your state of being.
Peace and contentment create a kind and gentle spirit. This is the spirit Yeshua had.

 

[HandstoWorkHeartstoGod]

Would you like to elaborate? I was into chinese medicine before and what you say reminds me a bit about that.

A somewhat long explanation would have to unfold. There is much more. Word was given to me from Christian prophet Dale Mast, at church, some twenty years ago. God activated it with much symbolism in my spirit shortly thereafter. Perhaps it will always be held in me as a treasure and never revealed. Seek Him with All Your Heart.

 

[Ahermit]

As long as we are focused on our ego-wants, we will remain fearful and untrue. This pre-occupation closes of the Spirit, and it waits patiently for us to become humble through faith. As soon as we let go of ego-self, and its fears and wants, we make room for the Spirit to move in and take over. This moving in is the feeling of refreshed life, zeal, love, inspiration, awakening, and enlightenment. It is as if a refreshing water is moving in and around us, from the heart, as if 'alive'.

For me, it is like a bubbling fountain, of truth and love (Spirit), pouring out from my heart.

 

[Mark51]

It seems to me that Jesus was using a metaphor at John 7:38. He liken the results of what the Holy Spirit would accomplish-through his apostles and disciple at Pentecost 33 C.E.- by means of bringing “life-giving waters” (Jesus’ message) to others.

 

[tdidymas]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

It says He spoke of the Spirit, so we know what He was talking about. He was likely referring to Jer. 2:13 as Himself being the fountain of living water. Also possibly referring to Prov. 8:24 metaphorically as Himself being the wisdom that brings life. Also possibly referring to Prov. 25:25 as the administering of the gospel to people "thirsty" for it, in which the Spirit works only through (or to) believers.

Everyone has different experiences, so since Jesus said "he who believes..." is a universal truth He is speaking, it has to be something that every Christian experiences, and we must go to the scripture to extract that information. We can go to several apostolic witnesses to describe such experience for every believer:
John: anointing to know the truth: 1 Jn. 2:27; love from an assured heart: 1 Jn. 3:19
Paul: witness of being sons of God: Rom. 8:16
Peter: joy of salvation: 1 Pet. 1:8
Writer of Hebrews: "sabbath" rest: Heb. 4:9 - resulting in joy of salvation and free willingness to share the good news with others. Also hope as an anchor for the soul which has the same result: Heb. 6:19

Peter expressed this "living water" of truth causing others to believe in Acts 2 and elsewhere, and was the same for all the apostles. They believed that God was in them (as He was in Christ, reconciling the world- 2 Cor. 5:19), thus the metaphor "out of his belly..." If a man is speaking the truth boldly with confidence in God, then "out of his belly" is flowing "rivers of living water" whether he feels something about it or not. The Spirit transcends feelings, since feelings is of the flesh. I believe in experiential feelings, as I have had some myself; however, we must not get caught up in thinking that spiritual things always involves feelings, lest we be confused between what is spiritual and what is fleshly. Our faith must transcend feelings, just as the Spirit transcends the flesh. God may (or may not) grant us such experiences for the benefit of our faith, but in the long haul, we are required to believe in the promises of God regardless of what our feelings or experiences say to us.
TD

 

[Jason_apostle]

the living water is the gift of the holy spirit

 

[Bob Crowley]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

The verse preceding this passage indicates Christ was talking to the Jews at the festival.

"37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[c] 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."

The passage makes clear Christ was referring to the Holy Spirit, who came at Pentecost and has indwelt the Church and believers ever since. He was using an allegorical expression, in a dry and dusty land, where water did not flow abundantly, so to them it would have been a powerful expression of the eternal life He to which He was alluding, and offering.

 

[1watchman]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

The verse gives the answer to that:"...this he spoke of the Spirit". In the Bible the Spirit and the Word are both often references as "living water". It flows in one, as was stated above by another.

 

[Rubiks]

Water is consistently used as a metaphor for God's grace and mercy, whereas fire is used as a symbol for God's judgement.

 

[lesliedellow]

The phrase seems almost self explanatory. "Living water" is the Spirit, and it is "living" because it bestows eternal life.

John's realised eschatology may be relevant here.

 

[iwbswiaihl2]

As others said it is the reception of the Holy Spirit who fills us and guides us into the wisdom of God and also He is the guarantee of eternal salvation thus we are sealed unto the day of salvation, John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Eph 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

[W2L]

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:38-39)

What do you think Jesus was talking about? Does it have to do with a baptism of Spirit within Chrisitians or something else?

Once a pastor prayed for me and it felt like water flowing inside of me, first upward, then downward, then up again ...

Wow, this question really got me thinking. Thank you.


John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD.

Zechariah 14:8-9
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.



Revelation 21:6-8
Then He said to me, "It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Revelation 22:1-2
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.