The Woman at the Well - Flesh and Blood

 

F lesh and Blood

 

In a discourse on His flesh and blood by the Lord Jesus, the Jews thought it quite impossible to eat and drink them. They thought the idea repulsive: to them it smacked of cannibalism. 'How can he give his flesh to eat?', they reasoned. The answer can only be found when applying the spiritual aspect of this truth.

John 6:31-58 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert: as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father GIVETH you the TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then they said unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. And all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that all of which he hath given me I should loose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, is this not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the LIVING bread which came down from heaven: If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.

Even the closest to Him, the twelve apostles, had their moments of misunderstanding. They also knew what it was to confuse natural and spiritual truth.

Matthew 16:5-12 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN NO BREAD. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets took ye up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets took ye up? How is it that you do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Their original concept of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? They had forgotten to take the lunch! Nothing could be more natural than that. And these were the men the church was to be founded upon. Take heart my Christian brother and sister. All is not lost. Perhaps you can become a person that can instil spiritual principles in the lives of others in your local church.

In reference to water, it is only natural that one must drink and drink again. But here the Lord Jesus promises that drinking at the well that He shall give, the partaker should never thirst again.

Many years ago I found myself in conversation with a Seventh Day Adventist woman. She explained, "I have found the Saviour and I am still searching", to which I replied, "I have found the Saviour and my searching days are over!" 

The water the Lord Jesus gives issues from an internal well. Here is a direct reference to the rivers of living water, (the Holy Ghost), flowing from the belly, identifying the location of the human spirit.

The SOLAR PLEXUS, the nerve centre of man, is what is called in the Bible, the heart. The heart is speaking of the human spirit.

Solar comes from the Latin, solaris, which means, belonging to the sun.

Plexus is derived from the Latin, plexus, which means twisted. It is used in anatomy to describe a network of vessels or nerves.

When a person rides a roller coaster, experiences a sensation in the stomach when the car in which they are travelling drops suddenly after an unsuspecting dip in the road, feels his feet leave the floor when a high speed elevator descends swiftly from the top floor of a building, plunges several feet towards the earth when the aeroplane in which he is travelling strikes an airpocket, and asserts that he has lost his stomach, this is NOT what literally happens. What is being referred to is the area in their person that houses their spirit. When a person who is to address a large audience relates that he has "butterflies in his stomach", this is NOT what literally happens. No surgeon's knife could ever reveal butterflies in any human stomach. No! In all these instances people are making reference to the human spirit. The Lord Jesus did the same. Every one of these examples prove that the human being has a spirit. This is the part of man that experiences the miracle of the new birth when he receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.

The human spirit is also the realm of the sixth sense. Thousands of people have testified that when searching for an answer to a difficult problem, question or situation, when no longer struggling in their minds to solve the issue, and relax both physically and mentally: suddenly the answer appears, miraculously, as if from nowhere. When the mind lets go, the spirit has the opportunity of making its contribution.

This occurs in the Christian and non-Christian alike. It proves that there is such an existence as the human spirit.

1 Timothy 5:6  But she that liveth in pleasure is DEAD while she liveth. 

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;

It is quite possible to be alive physically, yet at the, same time be dead spiritually. This is the reason why the new birth is absolutely imperative if a person is to receive eternal life and become a candidate for heaven.

A truth that needs to be universally understood is that death is just as much a state of life as life is! You see, in the Bible, death is spoken of, and is easier to understand, when it is associated with SEPARATION.

The Bible speaks of THREE TYPES OF DEATH. These are natural death, spiritual death and the second death.

NATURAL DEATH occurs when a person's spirit leaves his body.

SPIRITUAL DEATH, (the nature of Satan), dominates every person born into this world. Every human being who has never been born again by the Spirit of God, is spiritually dead. They are of their father, the devil. Hence the need to be born again.

The SECOND DEATH is the type of death where a human being's spirit is eternally separated from God.

It falls the lot of all who die unsaved, to spend an eternity without Christ. This is what is commonly known as hell.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The classic example of the Lord Jesus, (it is NOT a parable), reveals that people dwelling in a Christless eternity have CONSCIOUSNESS, FEELING, THIRST, SIGHT, and above all, a concern that NO PERSON END UP where they have found themselves. These people possess unrivalled evangelistic fervour. Let them loose, and the world would be saved, by these unsaved, in no time at all! Please notice the emphasis of our Lord on the Word of God over that of the physical manifestation of the resurrection of the dead. NOTHING SUPERSEDES THE BIBLE!

Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in HELL he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, IF THEY HEAR NOT Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The well of the human spirit, flowing with the mighty Spirit of God, will satisfy any and every human thirst and appetite. In a well, there is a constant supply of water. One of the primary lessons the Christian is to learn very early on in his experience, is to rely on this hidden source of life. This eliminates the tendency of living from Sunday to Sunday, getting filled with barely enough of the river of life to just get by. The promise of the Lord Jesus is that RIVERS of living water are available. Not trickles, not squirts, not streams, but rivers!

A friend of mine says, "Jesus satisfies us with a dissatisfying satisfaction." What he is saying is that there will always remain a small vacuum that He alone can satisfy, thus causing the Christian to rely wholly upon Him. That sufficiency can not be found in any human frame. The believer is to remain totally dependent upon the Lord. Our God is a God of abundance.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Ezekiel 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

The release of the abundant waters of the Spirit of God flowing through the individual human vessel is the intended experience of God for every Christian. There are no exceptions. There is one initial baptism of the Holy Spirit, but there are many infillings.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. This experience came AFTER the initial descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The Greek language records, "Be on being filled." That is, stay continually filled with the Spirit, at all times. Therefore, there is no need to run low on the waters of the Spirit. Have you checked your dipstick lately?

The Lord Jesus received the Holy Spirit without measure. He represents those who are to realise His statement of RIVERS of living water flowing through the human spirit. The terminology is directly related to the FEAST OF TABERNACLES, the third and final appointment the church is to yet keep before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His power and glory.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

John 7:2 Now the Jews feast of tabernacles was at hand.

This interview, from its inception, is designed to touch the Samaritan woman in the depths of her spirit. It was created to satisfy every longing in her soul. From Jesus' opening statement, "Give me to drink", through "living water", to this present expression, "give me this water", the intent is designed to awaken a spiritual hunger. The probe penetrates through the realms of the human mind, to the depths of the human spirit. It culminates with the interviewee arriving at the place, "I want it!"

Now our Lord directs the discussion to the very core of her being. The woman explains, "the well is deep". She, of course, is making reference to the natural well. The Master is now to unveil to this sincere seeker, the spiritual application of the very same truth - just how deep this well is. He is not referring to a hole in the ground but the concealed DEPTHS of the human soul. He is going to plummet these depths.

"Go call thy husband".

"I have no husband".

"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".

This is getting right to the heart of the matter. The woman has said the well is deep. Jesus is showing her just HOW DEEP! 

If the seeker is to experience the abundant life of God, he must be honest. He must be honest both to himself and God. He may endeavour to deceive other people, but here are the two he can not deceive: God and himself. "To thine own self be true." The seeker must be honest. Above every other area in life he must be honest in the depths of his heart when seeking God.

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

An alternative rendering for inward parts, is "covered thing." It is that part of our lives that we try so desperately to conceal from God, our family, our intimate friends. It is that part that is shielded, protected. It is that part that we seek earnestly to cover.

Honesty is the best policy? It is the only policy.

In the parable of the sower, the Lord spoke of four types of soil. Only one of those brought forth fruit. In an another expression, only 25% of the soil was productive. That means 75%, the majority of the sowing was counterproductive. This is an unproductivity factor of three to one. Three quarters of the seed is wasted! And when it is reflected that even in the productive 25%, only one third realises its full potential. This represents astonishing 8% of the combined total. It is tragic. But, it is tragically true.

What then, is the key to good ground?

Luke 8:11-15 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should BELIEVE AND BE SAVED. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in the time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard go forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring forth no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an HONEST AND GOOD HEART, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

The woman of Samaria was one of the last category. Irrespective of the cost, she was going to pay the price. Nothing would intercept the fulfilling of her soul's desire. Oh, how that must have hurt, having the inner secrets of her heart made known. But this could not deter her. It only made her more willing to face the facts.

The wonderful thing with God is that when the soul cries out to Him, He has a place in His massive heart to MEET that cry.

Psalm 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

You see, before there ever was a cry in your life, or for that matter, any human soul, there existed in God a capacity to answer and satisfy that cry and longing.

Before there was a fish to swim in the sea, there had to first be a sea for the fish to swim in. Before there ever was a bird to fly in the sky, there had to first be a sky for the bird to fly in. Before there ever was a tiger in the jungle, there first had to be a jungle for the tiger to roam in. Yes, my precious friend, believe this with all your heart; BEFORE THERE EVER WAS A CRY IN YOUR HEART, THERE HAD TO BE A GOD SOMEWHERE TO ANSWER THAT CRY! Seek Him with all of your heart. He can and will be found of you, providing of course, that you are honest with both Him and yourself.

Oh, how DEEP that well is!

Another powerful illustration comes from the time of Noah. You see, not only did it rain forty days and forty nights to bring a flood upon the earth, but the Bible records that the FOUNTAINS OF THE GREAT DEEP were opened up.

Genesis 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Just 70 miles from where we pastored our second church in New Zealand, there is a magnificent sight. The Golden Bay Promotions Association list it the largest fresh water spring in the world. Named the Pupu Springs, it pumps a phenomenal 475,000,000 (imperial) gallons (1,798,065,000 litres) [1.8 billion] of water per day. At its mouth the water issues from the ground at such great pressure that it has defied lead-laden divers entry.

Driving beyond Motueka and ascending the Takaka Hill, the traveller is greeted near the summit with an unusual spectacle. Turning right and traversing a metal road across what is aptly named the Wilderness, one is met with a large expanse of a grassed open field appropriately named Canaan. Parking in the car park, a brisk walk through a bush track finally ends abruptly at its destination, Harwood's Hole. This is the deepest known Southern Hemisphere chasm, the twelfth deepest in the world, 370 meters. Its main entrance is surrounded by sheer 60m to 90m cliffs. Speleologists have found side passages, and a subterranean stream. 

It is my considered opinion that this hole was one of those fountains of the great deep that ejected multiplied millions of gallons of water at the time of Noah's flood, when the entire earth became completely engulfed in water. The super-smooth stones in the Wilderness certainly leaves the impression that astronomical volumes of water have left their ageless mark. This has made them a much sought after treasure of the modern landscaper.

Certainly Jesus had here probed the inner depths of a human life. In responding, the woman discovered exactly how DEEP, and what the cost was to become a drinker at the well that never runs dry.