“More Than Just Water”

Scripture: John 4:7-15, 27-30

Today, we consider our second sacrament – Baptism. As we discussed about a month ago during our series of messages on the Nicene Creed, there are a lot of differing thoughts on what baptism is all about. Is it a means to salvation? No. Is it a means of commitment to Christ and the church? Yes. What are the acceptable means of baptism? Immersion, pouring, and sprinkling. Is it spiritual in nature? To a great degree, yes. Is it only for adults? No (Acts16:15 – Lydia and her household; Acts 16:25-34 – the jailer and his entire family; Acts 18:8 – Crispus (official of the synagogue) and all his household; 1 Corinthians 1:16 – Stephanas and his household). Is baptism by water all that we need as Christians and United Methodists? NO!

In a United Methodist Discipleship article “By Water and the Spirit”, we read of John Wesley’s thoughts on baptism. “… although he affirmed the regenerating grace of infant baptism, he also insisted upon the necessity of adult conversion for those who have fallen from grace [which is, of course, everyone!]. A person who matures into moral accountability must respond to God’s grace in repentance and faith. Without personal decision and commitment to Christ, the baptismal gift is rendered ineffective.”

So what is baptism for each of us?

Read John 4:7-10

In Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman, he never actually addressed baptism, but he did discuss the comparative issues between the world’s water and the “living water” that he offers.

The Lord begins with a request for the water that the woman could provide for him. This was a taboo in so many ways, and even the woman understood that Jesus was going far beyond what societal and religious norms would accept. And even beyond that, He brings another concept into play – which the woman doesn’t grasp right away. He suggests that the Gift of God is standing in her presence, and if she had only asked him, she would have received a renewing beyond her greatest imagination.

But she didn’t understand. For her, “living water” was water that came from an artesian well – a well that constantly sent forth a stream of water without the need to haul it up to the surface. This living water receives its lift from an unseen pressure deep below the surface of the earth, just as the Spirit works within us by a power that we, too, have trouble understanding.
Friends of my parents, who lived their retirement years in the Adirondacks, had an artesian that provided water supply to their home. Even in that cold winter climate, the water flowed year round, with the excess running down to the river that flowed past their property.

But while this analogy is a pretty good description of the water Jesus was offering, it wouldn’t be water as we know it – it is a spiritual renewing that comes to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Read John 4:11-15

The living water that Jesus is for us is far greater than the water the world gives us, and yet, we are in immediate need of both. Without physical water, we can only live for a few, very painful days before death claims us. Without Living Water, this life will never be complete, and death will be eternal. With the water that we drink every day, thirst will always return, but with the water of Christ, His Living Water will well up in us, and will flow within us and through us, for eternity.

There’s a praise song that I have always liked called “Spring Up, O Well” – it was one of our songs at Vacation Bible School.

I’ve got a River of Life flowing out of me.
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.
Opens prison doors and sets the captives free.
I’ve got a River of Life flowing out of me.

[Chorus]
Spring up O Well, within my soul
Spring up O Well, and make me whole
Spring up, O Well, and give to me
That Life abundantly.

This is the water that Jesus was offering to the Samaritan woman, and to each and every one of us.

Read John 4:27-30

The disciples were surprised, but the woman had finally gotten it. The disciples would struggle with what was actually working within them until Pentecost, but the woman was beginning to let that Living Water flow through her that very day. And the townspeople who had been snubbing her before, now listened to her testimony about the Man who knew everything about her, and, without having to say it, had filled her with Living Water.
And the people began going to Jesus - the source of Ever Flowing, Ever Sustaining, Ever Living Water, to bath their parched souls in his refreshing and renewing Spirit-flow for themselves.


This story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman of Samaria is very similar to humanity’s understanding of baptism. We know about water, and that John baptized Jesus in the waters of Jordan, but all too often, we forget about the spiritual aspect of that baptism.

Read Matthew 3:11-17

In this passage, John the Baptizer tells us that baptism holds two components – the first was the water of Jordan. John had been baptizing many here, as a sign of repentance for sin. This is that “Outward sign of an Inward grace” that we sometimes hear about. And as important as that is, he wants us to know that there is far more to baptism. John described it as baptism with “the Holy Spirit and fire”. Not only did Jesus receive John’s baptism of repentance, which he didn’t need, he also received the baptism of Spirit and Fire which, as fully Man, he did.

And we need both, too. At our water baptism, we accept the following vows of faith:
1. Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil power of this world, and repent of your sin?
And we respond “I do”.
2. Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
And again we respond “I do”.
3. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
And once more we respond “I do”.

Baptism isn’t just through water – it must also involve our receiving the Holy Spirit – the Living Water of Jesus Christ. We receive water baptism as a sign of repentance of our sins, as well as a confession of our need of Jesus Christ. But as Wesley said, we still need to come to Christ and his way for salvation. Remember Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in John 3:5 – “..no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Remember John Wesley’s words – “Without personal decision and commitment to Christ, the baptismal gift is rendered ineffective.”

Have you rejected the power that evil has over you, do you repent of all that the world’s sin has done within you?
God has blessed us with the freedom to use his power to resist the evil and sin that comes against us. Have you claimed that gift for your life?
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, and trust in all that he tells you and offers you?

Baptism by water is truly that “outward sign” of death to the ways of earth, that we are being raised into the new life that Jesus has created for us, and that we will rejoice in the work of the Living Water - his Holy Spirit.
It can never be any other way.