(74) He said: Lord, there are many about the well, but no one in the well.
The Parable of the Well: Choosing the Living Water
In the ancient narrative of the well, a profound allegory unfolds, echoing through time and resonating with spiritual truth. It begins with a seeker, addressing the Lord, observing the multitude surrounding a well. In this picturesque scene, the well symbolizes the source of life, the repository of divine wisdom and truth.
The seeker perceives two distinct groups encircling the well: the many and the few. The many are likened to those who dwell near the well, yet remain distant from its life-giving waters. They are the multitude, called but not chosen, who skirt the periphery of truth, content with a semblance of religious devotion.
Drawing inspiration from biblical imagery, the seeker reflects upon Jesus' teachings regarding the chosen few. These are the select individuals who forsake worldly attachments to embrace the living water offered by Christ. Such commitment demands a solitary path, a single-minded dedication to the teachings and person of Jesus.
In Matthew 22:14, Jesus elucidates this principle, stating, "For many are called, but few are chosen." Here, the dichotomy between the called and chosen is starkly delineated. The called are numerous, summoned to the well of salvation, yet their response remains tepid, their allegiance divided. In contrast, the chosen, akin to solitary vessels, wholeheartedly embrace the living water, forsaking all else for the sake of Christ.
The seeker's lament echoes the sentiments of Jeremiah 2:13, which bemoans the folly of forsaking the living water for broken cisterns, unable to hold the nourishing streams of truth. The common cistern, erected by human hands and false religious leaders, proves barren and devoid of life-giving sustenance. Like waterless clouds and desolate wastelands, it offers no solace to the parched soul.
In John 4:14, Jesus proclaims Himself as the source of living water, declaring, "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Here, the imagery of the well finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who quenches the deepest longings of the human spirit with His divine presence.
The seeker's plea resonates with the Apostle Paul's exhortation in Philippians 3:8, where he counts all worldly gain as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Such radical devotion requires forsaking the allure of temporal pleasures and embracing the cruciform life, dying to self in order to live fully in Christ.
As the parable unfolds, the seeker's supplication becomes a clarion call to all who stand on the precipice of decision. Will they continue to linger on the fringes of faith, content with superficial religiosity and empty rituals? Or will they heed the invitation to drink deeply from the wellspring of grace, surrendering their lives entirely to the transformative power of Christ's love?
In Revelation 22:17, the invitation rings forth with timeless urgency: "Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." Here, the promise of salvation is extended to all who are willing to receive it, regardless of their past failures or present circumstances.
In conclusion, the parable of the well serves as a poignant reminder of the choices that confront every seeker of truth. May we, like the chosen few, embrace the living water offered by Christ, forsaking all else to dwell in the abundance of His grace and the richness of His love.
The many people here that are around the well are the many called but they are not the few chosen that are selected by Jesus. The many are those who flirt with the truth having a form of religious devotion, but none of whom are willing to take the water of life from the well. That is they have not committed themselves to Jesus to dedicate ones self to Jesus means leaving behind all other world ties in your life and becoming ‘solitary’ or ’single one.
74) He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough [hearing/seeing the scriptures, the water of Life], but there is nothing in the [common] cistern [these are still trying to drink from the common (false) cistern set up by religious leaders and there is no way to draw out any water from it for they are like "waterless clouds" and a wilderness (desert) or "dry places"]."
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