QT 06/01/2026 Tue. John 4. The Life-Giving Water & The Important Food of Life 生命之水与生命的重要食物
QT 06/01/2026 Tue. John 4. The Life-Giving Water & The Important Food of Life
READ http://www.esv.org/john4
In John 4, we encounter two powerful images Jesus uses to teach profound spiritual truths: the living water and the food that sustains. These themes not only highlight the sufficiency of Christ for our deepest needs but also challenge us to see life from a perspective that focuses on eternal satisfaction and the will of God.
(1) The Life-Giving Water (John 4:13–14)
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13–14, ESV)
Jesus, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, uses the metaphor of living water to describe the gift of salvation. Here, He contrasts the temporary satisfaction of earthly needs with the eternal satisfaction found in Him. The water from the well can quench physical thirst but only for a moment, leading the person to thirst again. Yet the water that Jesus offers is not like that—it is living, spiritual water that brings eternal life, and once a person drinks from it, they will never be thirsty again.
Spiritual Thirst: Just as the body needs physical water to survive, our souls need Jesus. The thirst we feel in life—whether for purpose, meaning, acceptance, or peace—is only satisfied by Him. Jesus is the source of fulfillment that never runs dry.
Eternal Satisfaction: Unlike worldly things, which constantly demand more of us and never fully satisfy, Jesus offers living water that wells up within us, continuously renewing us and drawing us closer to God. This eternal life isn’t just future but begins in the present, as we experience His presence and grace.
A Spring Inside Us: Jesus promises that His living water becomes a spring inside us. When we are filled with His Spirit, we become vessels of life for others. The love, peace, and joy we receive from Christ are meant to overflow to those around us. The gospel, when truly embraced, is not just about receiving but sharing the living water with others.
(2) The Important Food of Life (John 4:34–35)
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:34–35, ESV)
In this passage, Jesus speaks of food in a way that challenges our earthly perspective. He says His true food is not physical sustenance but doing the will of God. Here, we see two powerful lessons:
(a) Spiritual Sustenance: Just as food nourishes the body, doing the will of God nourishes our soul. There is no deeper satisfaction than knowing we are fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. Our spiritual “food” is found not in the things of this world but in the obedience to God’s calling.
(b) The Urgency of the Harvest: Jesus uses the imagery of a harvest to highlight the urgency of spreading the gospel. The fields are white for harvest, meaning they are ripe and ready for people to come to faith in Christ. The work of the kingdom is urgent—there is no time to wait. Just as farmers must work quickly when the harvest is ready, so too must we respond to the call to share Christ’s message. The souls of people are at stake, and God has called us to be part of His work.
Application: Living Water & Spiritual Food in Our Lives
(a) Are You Thirsty? Jesus invites us to drink deeply from the well of His grace. If you are feeling empty, weary, or unsatisfied, it’s a reminder that the world cannot quench your soul’s thirst.
(b) Find True Nourishment in God’s Will: Just as food fuels our bodies, doing the will of God fuels our spiritual lives. Jesus tells us that His food is to do the will of God. In a world where many are looking for fulfillment in temporary things, our true satisfaction is found in aligning our lives with God’s purpose. Are you pursuing His will in your life? Are you seeking to make His work your priority?
(c) The Urgency of the Harvest: The harvest is not something to delay. There are people around us—friends, family, classmates—who need to hear the message of hope and life that comes through Jesus. This is the work that Jesus is calling us to, and we should lift our eyes to see the opportunities around us. Will you be part of His harvest field today?
Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the living water that You offer us. We confess that we often search for satisfaction in the wrong places, but we know that only You can truly quench our thirst. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may never thirst again. Teach us to do the will of our Father, just as You did. Help us to be faithful in Your harvest field, sharing Your love and truth with those around us. May our lives reflect the eternal life You’ve given us, and may we always find our nourishment in doing Your work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
QT 06/01/2026 星期二. 约翰福音4章 生命之水与生命的重要食物
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/jhn/4/
在约翰福音第四章中，我们遇见了耶稣用来阐释深刻属灵真理的两个有力意象：活水与滋养生命的食物。这些主题不仅彰显基督足以满足我们最深的需要，更挑战我们以聚焦永恒满足与神旨意的视角看待生命。
(1) 赐生命的水（约翰福音4:13-14）
“13 耶稣回答：“凡喝这水的，还要再渴；14 人若喝我所赐的水，就永远不渴。我所赐的水要在他里面成为涌流的泉源，直涌到永生。”（约翰福音4:13-14）
耶稣在井边对撒玛利亚妇人说话时，用活水的比喻来描述救恩的礼物。在这里，他将世俗需求的暂时满足与在他里面找到的永恒满足进行了对比。井里的水可以解渴，但只是暂时的，使人很快又渴。但耶稣所赐的水截然不同——那是带来永生的活水，属灵的活水。人若喝了这水，就永远不渴。
属灵的渴慕：正如身体需要水才能存活，我们的灵魂需要耶稣。生命中感受到的渴求——无论是对目标、意义、接纳还是平安的渴求——唯有祂能满足。耶稣是永不枯竭的满足之源。
永恒的满足：世俗之物不断索求更多却永难满足，耶稣却赐下活水，在我们里面涌流，不断更新我们，引领我们更亲近神。这永生不仅属于未来，更始于当下——当我们经历祂的同在与恩典时。
内心的活泉：耶稣应许祂的活水将成为我们内心的活泉。当我们被圣灵充满，便成为他人生命的器皿。从基督领受的爱、平安与喜乐，本该如泉水般汩汩流向周遭。真正领受福音，不仅是接受活水，更是与人分享这生命之泉。
(2) 生命的珍贵食粮（约翰福音4:34-35）
“34耶稣说：“我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，并且完成他的工作。35 你们不是说‘还有四个月才到收获的时候’吗？我告诉你们，举目向田观看，庄稼已经熟了，可以收割了。”（约翰福音4:34-35）
在这段经文中，耶稣对食物的论述挑战了我们的世俗认知。祂说真正的食物并非肉体所需，而是遵行神的旨意。这里蕴含着两个深刻的教训：
(a) 灵命滋养：正如食物滋养身体，遵行神的旨意滋养我们的灵魂。没有什么比知道自己正在成就神对生命的旨意更能带来满足。我们的属灵 “食物” 不在于世间万物，而在于顺服神的呼召。
(b) 收割的紧迫性：耶稣用收割的意象强调传扬福音的紧迫性。庄稼熟了，可以收割了，意味着人们已然成熟，随时可归信基督。天国的事工刻不容缓——不容丝毫迟延。正如农夫在庄稼成熟时必须迅速劳作，我们也当即刻响应分享基督福音的呼召。众人的灵魂危在旦夕，神已召我们参与祂的工作。
应用：生命活水与属灵滋养
(a) 你是否渴慕？耶稣邀请我们畅饮恩典之泉。若你感到空虚、疲惫或不满足，这正提醒世俗无法解你灵魂的渴。
(b) 在神旨意中寻得真滋养：正如食物滋养身体，遵行神旨意滋养我们的灵命。耶稣说祂的饮食是遵行神的旨意。当世人追逐虚幻满足之时，唯有与神旨意对齐的生命方得真谛。你是否在生命中寻求祂的旨意？是否将祂的事工置于首位？
(c) 收割的紧迫性：收割之事不容拖延。我们身边的朋友、家人、同学都需要听到借着耶稣传来的盼望与生命的信息。这是耶稣呼召我们去完成的工作，我们应当抬起头来，看见周围的机遇。今日，你愿成为祂收割田地中的一员吗？
结束祷告：主啊，我们感谢祢赐予活水。我们承认常在错误处寻求满足，但深知唯有祢能真正解渴。求祢以圣灵充满我们，使我们永不干渴。求祢教导我们遵行天父的旨意，正如祢亲身所行。求祢使我们在祢的庄稼地里忠心，将祢的爱与真理分享给周围的人。愿我们的生命彰显祢赐予的永恒生命，愿我们常在事奉祢的工作中得着滋养。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
