Sixteen

The dad of one of our students, Bro. K., substituted in seminary this morning. He is a very spiritually minded, experienced, service-oriented, and knowledgeable person. His son was also in our class last year. When I asked the students to "name someone you admire who is spiritually strong" he said without hesitation, "My dad." Thank you Bro. K.!

The lesson material today is from John 4. While the disciples of Jesus go to get food, Jesus sits by Jacob's well. A woman from Samaria comes to the well. He asks her for a drink. She questions why he would want a drink from her, knowing people from Samaria are looked down on by the Jews. He tells her if she knew who he is than she would have asked him for living water. He tells her that drinking that living water would quench her thirst forever. She questions him and then he shows he knows who she is and tells her who he is. She believes he is the Son of God and paves the way for him to teach people in Samaria.

(This is a picture of the hills in the Judean desert by David Shankbone)

The lesson manual says, "Loving Christ and keeping His commandments is like drinking living water-- it refreshes and sustains us and leads us to eternal life." It also says, "Water is life, especially to people in an arid climate like Palestine's. Without water, plants, animals, and people die. Those who live in sin or who do not have the gospel are like hot, thirsty land without water. They need the living water of the gospel to restore their spiritual life."

Then Jesus performs the second miracle, which is healing a nobleman's son. He said, "Thy son liveth," and the son was healed. I know Jesus Christ can also heal us.

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I am looking forward to teaching seminary again tomorrow. Though it's difficult to get up early, the living water I receive when I teach is worth it.