Water of Life

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Everything is reoriented in Ezekiel’s vision of water flowing from the Temple. The Temple rises above everything around it, and everything becomes flattened and beneath it. Jerusalem, unlike most cities throughout the world, was not built on or near a major river. There wasn’t a natural water source supplying the city’s needs. Yet, in Ezkiel’s vision a river flows from the religious center of Jerusalem. This river flowing from the Temple grows deeper the further it moves from its source, but there is no mention of any tributaries feeding into it.

A strange river indeed.

This river also has miraculous power. Whatever the waters of the river touch come alive. The banks are lined with trees. The Dead Sea is dead no more. Fish teem in its waters and fishermen gather to harvest them. The trees produce an endless supply of fruit, their leaves never wither, and they have a miraculous healing power.

What could all of this mean?

Jesus seems to allude to Ezekiel’s prophecy more than once.

In John 4:10 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Then, in John 7:37-38 He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

It seems that Ezekiel is pointing us to Christ, the True Temple of God. From Him pours forth the water of life. It is a miracle of grace. There is no natural explanation for the effects Christ has on everything His life touches. He stands above the world, and His life flows down in ever-increasing depth, expanding His kingdom, and bringing life to all who are touched by Him.

Even those, like the Dead Sea, that seem beyond hope, just a drop of Christ, the Living Water, transforms and changes everything.