Twelve billion light years away a dense cloud of molecules crumpled, exploding into a new star. The famous byproduct of this new birth?
Without water, human cells cannot function. Without water, plants cannot complete photosynthesis, vegetation’s way of drawing energy from the sun. Without water, animals can’t survive. Out of the birth of a new life comes the substance that supports all life.
For those of you journeying through the Gospel of John with me for Lent, you may have noticed the book is saturated with references to water. Each of these references can be beautifully paralleled with water’s natural function to give life:
~John the Baptist baptizes followers in the Jordan River, symbolizing their commitment to a new life of belief (John 1:26).
~Jesus’ first miracle transforms water into wine at a wedding-a symbol of celebration of the arrival of the Messiah. (John 2:6-9).
~Jesus explains to Nicodemus the importance of being born of water and spirit, suggesting the new life after this birth is spiritual (John 3:5).
~Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, inviting her to drink of the water of God (John 4).
~Jesus places a mixture of spit and dirt on a blind man’s eyes. He instructs the blind man to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Afterward, the blind man’s eyes are opened. He is healed. (John 9:1-12).
During this season of Lent, I’m praying that God will not only increase my thirst for him but that he will satisfy that thirst in ways beyond anything I’ve ever imagined.
May you experience the cleansing, the healing, and the renewing of Christ.
Looking for a great Bible study for your small group? Grab your copy of Pursuing God’s Beauty: Stories from the Gospel of John and dive deeper into John’s Gospel.
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