"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

streams of living water will flow from within him."

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.

John 7:38-39

Earlier in John's gospel (chapter 4), we read about Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.  It is a fascinating story -- an outcast woman with a tainted reputation, who is likely the center of gossip in the community, and Jesus breaking all the laws and social boundaries by speaking to her.  Why, he should not have even been crossing through Samaria!

Not only does Jesus not condemn her, but he offers her living water so she would never thirst again.

Jesus looks past the cold, hardened eyes of one who is tired of the judgement of the so-called religious and sees a broken woman, one who has built walls around her heart to protect herself from even more hurt. She has looked for love in all the wrong places, wiping her hands clean of five husbands and currently living with a man she is not married to.

Jesus sees the deep hunger, the pain, the fear, the shame, the guilt and says to her parched soul, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and  I would give you fresh, living water." (John 4:10 , The Message)

Fresh, living water...Jesus is the Source of life.  He is the Bread of life, living water.  Jesus IS the nourishment we need!  (John 6:35-40 )

Please see Day Thirteen for a continuation of this devotional.