Living Water, Bread of Life
Did you know that today is World Water Day? The day was first designated by the United Nations in 1993 to bring attention to the importance of protecting water resources and meeting the needs of so much of the global population that doesn’t have water enough for irrigation or for safe drinking and cooking.
I don’t know if it is just a coincidence that World Water Day falls during Lent, but I like the placement. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is quoted, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jesus came to the world as living water and to share that living water. On one level that water is his sacrifice on the cross that bought for us a way to eternal life. But on another level, it speaks to how Jesus came to show us a better way to live with each other on this side of eternity – to establish God’s kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” And bringing pure, clean, life-sustaining water to impoverished people is a wonderful way to share Christ’s living water both literally and spiritually.
Likewise, we often refer to Jesus as “the bread of life,” as again in John, he said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Just as with World Water Day, that implies more than just offering a soul-lifting slice of spiritual bread on Sunday morning.
I was sitting at a fast food restaurant one day and watched as a bedraggled man walked down off the highway, asked for a cup of water at the counter, and sat at a table. He soon was joined by two young men who opened their Bibles and began talking to him. I strained to listen and heard the usual phrases of Christian witnessing. The man did not say anything but eventually got up and walked back out to the highway. I don’t know his story, but my guess is he would have benefitted more in that moment from some real bread – a burger and fries, perhaps – and not just spiritual bread.
By the way, I didn’t offer to feed the man either. My eavesdropping was of even less help than an open Bible, but it did convict me and I’ve tried ever since then to do more than just watch or preach.
Yes, Jesus saves us spiritually, but he also calls us to help save our flesh and blood brothers and sisters with real food and water – and shelter, education, medicine, and the list goes on. He asks us to share out of our abundance and not just try to pray or preach people into health and prosperity.
As we use this time of Lent to examine ourselves and what Christ has done for us, we’d be failing if we didn’t also take a hard look at what Christ wants to do for others through us.