Belief, Buckets, and Wells ---

John 1:29-4:54

Whether intentionally or by accident, I am finding a pattern developing with each of my days. One such pattern is in the afternoons, after I have done my work, I usually read in the New Testament. Right now, I have started the Gospel of John.

I cannot begin to count the number of times I have read this gospel. Nevertheless, like all of scripture, based on where we are in our pilgrimage, we will read it with “different eyes” then we did the last time; see different things; be touched by different words or phrases. That is the wonder of both the living word and the living WORD.

What I am taking away from today’s feeding are two things: Believing is not always believing and I would rather have a well than a bucket!

“Believing is not always Believing”

In the second chapter of John, Jesus executes his first miracle. He changes water into wine. In the scheme of things, not that spectacular, but it’s more than I can do! Anyway, it is a sign that “revealed his glory” and caused his disciples to believe in him. (2:11) Now, it is interesting to note, that neither the servants who carried the jars of water/wine and knew who did what, nor the hosts, apparently “believed”, but it was enough for his new disciples. Anyway…

After this, he later goes to Jerusalem and we have the driving out of the money- changers in the temple. Jesus makes a statement about himself and the temple, a statement that his disciples realize later actually becomes truth. Again, “his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” (2:22)

While in Jerusalem, Jesus apparently had done other “signs” – John does not say what they were – so far, he only mentions the water into wine event. Nevertheless, “many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing.” (2:23) But apparently, Jesus rejected their belief, whether the whole group’s or a few, he decided that he would not “entrust himself to them…for he himself knew what was in everyone.” (2:24-25)

This is not something you see very often, if at all any more. Turning away someone who expresses “belief” is highly unusual. However, it seems to boil down to motive not method. Something that John will flesh out in some stories that follow, such as, Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and others.

As I indicated, I suppose Jesus not willing to believe in the belief others expressed in him, does go to “motives”. So perhaps I should ask myself, what drives me in my “faith”, my “belief”? Did those people have a hidden agenda? Do I? Do you?

“I’d rather have a well than a bucket!”

A couple weeks back the Sunday School class we were attending got into a discussion about being “filled with the Spirit”. Without going into detail, the way I understood it, it centered around being initially filled, then as that is depleted (my word) or leaks out (the concept used in class) we need to be “filled” again. Well, little ol’ me rejected that concept and I still do.

In John chapter 4, Jesus said “…those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring (well) of water gushing up to eternal life”. (v.14)

That is what I want! I want the well! I do not want the bucket! I may be a conduit, but I am a conduit for the spring of water “gushing up” not a bucket that needs to be lowered down and filled.

Now I will grant you that I can “cap” that well, or “dam” that spring because of my own stupidity, sin, or rebellion. However, once I release it – once it is free to flow again, it gushes forth with life abundant! Flooding my being, cleansing my heart, refreshing my mind, and FILLING ME WITH HIS SPIRIT!!!!

Oh Glory!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Father Spirit, let your living water flood my soul and fill me to overflowing! Let me live abundantly because I can drink freely from the water you give! Amen