the desire of ages-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


irst　laborer。　Attention　is　fixed　upon　the　human　instead　of　the　divine；　jealousy　comes　in；　and　the　work　of　God　is　marred。　The　one　thus　unduly　honored　is　tempted　to　cherish　self…confidence。　He　does　not　realize　his　dependence　on　God。　The　people　are　taught　to　rely　on　man　for　guidance；　and　thus　they　fall　into　error；　and　are　led　away　from　God。

The　work　of　God　is　not　to　bear　the　image　and　superscription　of　man。　From　time　to　time　the　Lord　will　bring　in　different　agencies；　through　whom　His　purpose　can　best　be　accomplished。　Happy　are　they　who　are　willing　for　self　to　be　humbled；　saying　with　John　the　Baptist；　〃He　must　increase；　but　I　must　decrease。〃




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（183）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　19

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　At　Jacob's　Well


On　the　way　to　Galilee　Jesus　passed　through　Samaria。　It　was　noon　when　He　reached　the　beautiful　Vale　of　Shechem。　At　the　opening　of　this　valley　was　Jacob's　well。　Wearied　with　His　journey；　He　sat　down　here　to　rest　while　His　disciples　went　to　buy　food。

The　Jews　and　the　Samaritans　were　bitter　enemies；　and　as　far　as　possible　avoided　all　dealing　with　each　other。　To　trade　with　the　Samaritans　in　case　of　necessity　was　indeed　counted　lawful　by　the　rabbis；　but　all　social　intercourse　with　them　was　condemned。　A　Jew　would　not　borrow　from　a　Samaritan；　nor　receive　a　kindness；　not　even　a　morsel　of　bread　or　a　cup　of　water。　The　disciples；　in　buying　food；　were　acting　in　harmony　with　the　custom　of　their　nation。　But　beyond　this　they　did　not　go。　To　ask　a　favor　of　the　Samaritans；　or　in　any　way　seek　to　benefit　them；　did　not　enter　into　the　thought　of　even　Christ's　disciples。

As　Jesus　sat　by　the　well　side；　He　was　faint　from　hunger　and　thirst。　The　journey　since　morning　had　been　long；　and　now　the　sun　of　noontide　beat　upon　Him。　His　thirst　was　increased　by　the　thought　of　the　cool；　refreshing　water　so　near；　yet　inaccessible　to　Him；　for　He　had　no　rope　nor　water　jar；　and　the　well　was　deep。　The　lot　of　humanity　was　His；　and　He　waited　for　someone　to　come　to　draw。

A　woman　of　Samaria　approached；　and　seeming　unconscious　of　His　presence；　filled　her　pitcher　with　water。　As　she　turned　to　go　away；　Jesus　asked　her　for　a　drink。　Such　a　favor　no　Oriental　would　withhold。　In　the　East；　water　was　called　〃the　gift　of　God。〃　To　offer　a　drink　to　the　thirsty　traveler　was　held　to　be　a　duty　so　sacred　that　the　Arabs　of

184

the　desert　would　go　out　of　their　way　in　order　to　perform　it。　The　hatred　between　Jews　and　Samaritans　prevented　the　woman　from　offering　a　kindness　to　Jesus；　but　the　Saviour　was　seeking　to　find　the　key　to　this　heart；　and　with　the　tact　born　of　divine　love；　He　asked；　not　offered；　a　favor。　The　offer　of　a　kindness　might　have　been　rejected；　but　trust　awakens　trust。　The　King　of　heaven　came　to　this　outcast　soul；　asking　a　service　at　her　hands。　He　who　made　the　ocean；　who　controls　the　waters　of　the　great　deep；　who　opened　the　springs　and　channels　of　the　earth；　rested　from　His　weariness　at　Jacob's　well；　and　was　dependent　upon　a　stranger's　kindness　for　even　the　gift　of　a　drink　of　water。

The　woman　saw　that　Jesus　was　a　Jew。　In　her　surprise　she　forgot　to　grant　His　request；　but　tried　to　learn　the　reason　for　it。　〃How　is　it；〃　she　said；　〃that　Thou；　being　a　Jew；　askest　drink　of　me；　which　am　a　woman　of　Samaria？〃

Jesus　answered；　〃If　thou　knewest　the　gift　of　God；　and　who　it　is　that　saith　to　thee；　Give　Me　to　drink；　thou　wouldest　have　asked　of　Him；　and　He　would　have　given　thee　living　water。〃　You　wonder　that　I　should　ask　of　you　even　so　small　a　favor　as　a　draught　of　water　from　the　well　at　our　feet。　Had　you　asked　of　Me；　I　would　have　given　you　to　drink　of　the　water　of　everlasting　life。

The　woman　had　not　comprehended　the　words　of　Christ；　but　she　felt　their　solemn　import。　Her　light；　bantering　manner　began　to　change。　Supposing　that　Jesus　spoke　of　the　well　before　them；　she　said；　〃Sir；　Thou　hast　nothing　to　draw　with；　and　the　well　is　deep：　from　whence　then　hast　Thou　that　living　water？　Art　Thou　greater　than　our　father　Jacob；　which　gave　us　the　well；　and　drank　thereof　himself？〃　She　saw　before　her　only　a　thirsty　traveler；　wayworn　and　dusty。　In　her　mind　she　compared　Him　with　the　honored　patriarch　Jacob。　She　cherished　the　feeling；　which　is　so　natural；　that　no　other　well　could　be　equal　to　that　provided　by　the　fathers。　She　was　looking　backward　to　the　fathers；　forward　to　the　Messiah's　coming；　while　the　Hope　of　the　fathers；　the　Messiah　Himself；　was　beside　her；　and　she　knew　Him　not。　How　many　thirsting　souls　are　today　close　by　the　living　fountain；　yet　looking　far　away　for　the　wellsprings　of　life！　〃Say　not　in　thine　heart；　Who　shall　ascend　into　heaven？　（that　is；　to　bring　Christ　down　from　above：）　or；　Who　shall　descend　into　the　deep？　（that　is；　to　bring　up　Christ　again　from　the　dead。）　。　。　。　The　word　is　nigh　thee；　even　in　thy　mouth；　and　in　thy　heart：　。　。　。　if　thou　shalt　confess　with　thy　mouth　the　Lord　Jesus；　and　shalt　believe　in　thine　heart　that　God　hath　raised　Him　from　the　dead；　thou　shalt　be　saved。〃　Rom。　10：6…9。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　187


Jesus　did　not　immediately　answer　the　question　in　regard　to　Himself；　but　with　solemn　earnestness　He　said；　〃Whosoever　drinketh　of　this　water　shall　thirst　again：　but　whosoever　drinketh　of　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　never　thirst；　but　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　be　in　him　a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃

He　who　seeks　to　quench　his　thirst　at　the　fountains　of　this　world　will　drink　only　to　thirst　again。　Everywhere　men　are　unsatisfied。　They　long　for　something　to　supply　the　need　of　the　soul。　Only　One　can　meet　that　want。　The　need　of　the　world；　〃The　Desire　of　all　nations；〃　is　Christ。　The　divine　grace　which　He　alone　can　impart；　is　as　living　water；　purifying；　refreshing；　and　invigorating　the　soul。

Jesus　did　not　convey　the　idea　that　merely　one　draft　of　the　water　of　life　would　suffice　the　receiver。　He　who　tastes　of　the　love　of　Christ　will　continually　long　for　more；　but　he　seeks　for　nothing　else。　The　riches；　honors；　and　pleasures　of　the　world　do　not　attract　him。　The　constant　cry　of　his　heart　is；　More　of　Thee。　And　He　who　reveals　to　the　soul　its　necessity　is　waiting　to　satisfy　its　hunger　and　thirst。　Every　human　resource　and　dependence　will　fail。　The　cisterns　will　be　emptied；　the　pools　become　dry；　but　our　Redeemer　is　an　inexhaustible　fountain。　We　may　drink；　and　drink　again；　and　ever　find　a　fresh　supply。　He　in　whom　Christ　dwells　has　within　himself　the　fountain　of　blessing；〃a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃　From　this　source　he　may　draw　strength　and　grace　sufficient　for　all　his　needs。

As　Jesus　spoke　of　the　living　water；　the　woman　looked　upon　Him　with　wondering　attention。　He　had　aroused　her　interest；　and　awakened　a　desire　for　the　gift　of　which　He　spoke。　She　perceived　that　it　was　not　the　water　of　Jacob's　well　to　which　He　referred；　for　of　this　she　used　continually；　drinking；　and　thirsting　again。　〃Sir；〃　she　said；　〃give　me　this　water；　that　I　thirst　not；　neither　come　hither　to　draw。〃

Jesus　now　abruptly　turned　the　conversation。　Before　this　soul　could　receive　the　gift　He　longed　to　bestow；　she　must　be　brought　to　recognize　her　sin　and　her　Saviour。　He　〃saith　unto　her；　Go；　call　thy　husband；　and　come　hither。〃　She　answered；　〃I　have　no　husband。〃　Thus　she　hoped　to　prevent　all　questioning　in　that　direction。　But　the　Saviour　continued；　〃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。〃

The　listener　trembled。　A　mysterious　hand　was　turning　the　pages　of　her　life　history；　bringing　to　view　that　which　she　had　hoped　to　keep　forever

188

hidden。　Who　was　He　that　could　read　the　secrets　of　her　life？　There　came　to　her　thoughts　of　eternity；　of　the　future　Judgment；　when　all　that　is　now　hidden　shall　be　revealed。　In　its　light；　conscience　was　awakened。

She　could　deny　nothing；　but　she　tried　to　evade　all　mention　of　a　subject　so　unwelcome。　With　deep　reverence；　she　said；　〃Sir；　I　perceive　that　Thou　art　a　prophet。〃　Then；　hoping　to　silence　conviction；　she　turned　to　points　of　religious　controversy。　If　this　was　a　prophet；　surely　He　could　give　her　instruction　concerning　these　matters　that　had　been　so　long　disputed。

Patiently　Jesus　permitted　her　to　lead　the　conversation　whither　she　would。　Meanwhile　He　watched　for　the　opportunity　of　again　bringing　the　truth　home　to　her　heart。　〃Our　fathers　worshiped　in　this　mountain；〃　she　said；　〃and　ye　say；　that　in　Jerusalem　is　the　place　where　men　ought　to　worship。〃　Just　in　sight　was　Mount　Gerizim。　Its　temple　was　demolished；　and　only　the　altar　remained。　The　place　of　worship　had　been　a　subject　of　contention　between　the　Jews　and　the　Samaritans。　Some　of　the　ancestors　of　the　latter　people　had　once　belonged　to　Israel；　but　because　of　their　sins；　the　Lord　suffered　them　to　be　overcome　by　an　idolatrous　nation。　For　many　generations　they　were　intermingled　with　idolaters；　whose　religion　gradually　contaminated　their　own。　It　is　true　they　held　that　their　idols　were　only　to　remind　them　of　the　living　God；　the　Ruler　of　the　universe；　nevertheless　the　people　were　led　to　reverence　their　graven　images。

When　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　was　rebuilt　in　the　days　of　Ezra；　the　Samaritans　wished