The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 325

wns said to this woman was really spoken by him for the benefit of all who fail to gain from him the blessings which are at his command and disposal, and are within their reach. I. WHAT MEN FAIL TO SEE AND TO HEAR. 1. The unenlightened and unspiritual do not recognize in Christ the Gift of God. 'l'hey do not look beneath the surface, and consequently do not recognize the true glory, the Divine power, which are the real attributes of the Son of man. 2. They do not discern in the tones of the S!!.viour's voice the Divine authority with which he ever speaks. In every word of his may be perceived, by the spiritually cultured, "grace and truth," the utterance of superhuman wisdom and superhuman love. But to multitudes his speech has, alas! no Divine significance, II. WHAT MEN CONSEQUENTLY FAIL TO ASK, Had the woman of Samaria known more of Jesus, she would have asked of him, and thus have received the" living water." And it is reasonable to believe that ignorance, more or less culpable, is the reason why many remain unblest when blessing is within their reach. They do not ask, either (1) because they do not feel the need of the" living water," which alone can bring life, satisfaction, and refreshment to the soul; or (2) because they do not think of the Lord Jesus as of the One Being who alone can supply the wants experienced. III. WHAT MEN, THEREFORE, FAIL TO ENJOY, It is observable that Jesus gave the woman to understand that asking would have secured the supply of her deepest needs . .As the conversation proceeded, the Saviour unfolded the nature of the blessings he came to bring, and which men withhold from themselves only by restraining faith and prayer. These blessings are within the reach of all whose hearts are athirst for the water of life, and are obtainable upon the simple condition of compliance with the terms appointed by Divine wisdom. Free as the streams which flow from mountain springs are the blessings of the gospel of God. Yet to multitudes these blessings a.re inaccessible, simply from their want of knowledge, their want of spiritual appreciation, and their want of believing prayer.-T. Ver. 11.-" From whence P1' A remark or inquiry sometimes suggests more than was intended by the speaker. Words often unconsciously imply far more than appears upon the surface. We have an instance of this in the question put to the Lord Jesus by the Samaritan woman. She only half understood what the Divine Prophet meant when he spoke of living water. And the inquiry, "From whence then hast thou that living water? " is suggestive of considerations most interesting and most serious. J. IT IS A FACT THAT THE WOIU.D OBTAINS MANY AND GREAT BLESSINGS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. The living water is the emblem of personal, social, and general benefits which have been experienced through long centuries in virtue of the advent, the ministry, and sacrifice of the Son of man. II. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO ATTBmUTE THESE BLESSINGS TO ORDINARY, EARTHLY, AND HUMAN SOURCES. An examination of their quality proves them to be different from any, superior to any, which other teachers, other religions, provide. Every attempt to refer the blessings of Christianity to human origin has failed; either by depreciatiug the value of the streams or by exaggerating the virtue of the sources. IJJ. TaE QUESTION IS THUS FORCED UFON REFLECTING MINDS, " FROM WHENCE ? " There is a general desire to know the causes of great effects. And men have o. special interest in a case which so nearly concerns themselves. There is no fear lest men should resign themselves to contented ignorance upon matters of so high moment. Agnosticism is self-condemned, IV, 'l'BE ONLY BATIBFAOTORY ANSWER TO TWB INQUIRY IS, "FROll ABOVE I " Tbe Divine origin of the sacred blessings procured by Christ for man is apparent from their nature, They are fraught with spiritual life and spiritual refreshment, such as this world cannot yield. It is apparent also from the abundance and perpetuity of these blessings. They come leaping up as from an exhaustless spring. They come falling down as in an unceasing shower. All other explanations fail. Th1:1 world yields nought but an echo to the heart's eager cry," From whence?" The true answer is th!!.t which revelation affords. The source of the spiritual blessings which Christianity confers upon mankiud is heavenly and Divine. This reply is completely and for ever sufficient,-T,  l!JO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. JOHN. [011. IV, 1-64.