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约翰福音生命读经 · 第11篇

不道德人的需要－生命的满足（一）

The Need of the Immoral— Life’s Satisfying (1
1在本篇信息中，我们来看约翰四章里撒玛利亚妇人的事例。这是九个事例中的第二个。这个事例与三章里尼哥底母的事例有很大的对比。尼哥底母是有道德、上流的男人；而撒玛利亚妇人是不道德、下流的女人。头一个事例给我们看见一个有高超造诣的男人，第二个事例给我们看见一个行为可耻的女人。那个男人是犹太人，这个女人是撒玛利亚人。犹太的宗教是非常健全、正当、真实并真正的，但撒玛利亚的宗教是虚假又衰落的。还有一件有趣的事，就是主与那男人谈话是在夜里，但与这妇人谈话是在午后六时。在夜间是这男人来见主，在白天是主去找这妇人。主与那男人谈话的地方是在房子里，而祂与那妇人说话是在户外。在尼哥底母的事例里，题到人类的头一个需要。按照属灵的经历，人类的头一个需要是重生。在神的经纶里，人的头一个需要是重生。神的经纶乃是要人有祂神圣的生命，并且在生命与性情上与祂是一，好成就并完成祂永远的定旨。神永远的定旨乃是要得著一班人，由祂神圣的生命所重生，并在生命与性情上与祂一样，好叫他们能成为祂团体的彰显，直到永远。这就是神永远的定旨，这也就是神的经纶。为著成就这定旨，我们必须重生，好叫我们有祂神圣的生命。神的国只能藉著出生而进入，绝不能藉著行为。例如，鸟只有藉著出生才能进入鸟的国；鱼无法凭藉任何工作进入鸟的国。你能进入某一国，惟一的路就是藉著某一种出生。因此，主成为我们的生命，头一面就是藉著神圣的出生，给我们神圣的生命；这是分享神国之事惟一的路。人的第二个需要是甚么?在重生之后他需要甚么?第二个需要就是满足。在三章里，难处是人缺了神圣的生命。不管你多好，多高超，就神永远的定旨而论，你算不得甚么。只要你没有重生，你就缺了神圣的生命。你只有人的生命。人的生命不过是器皿，要盛装神的生命。你若没有神圣的生命，你就是空缺的，你不过是空的器皿。虽然你属人的生命也许不错，你却没有神圣的生命。神圣的生命就是神自己。你需要这神圣的生命充满你，作你的内容。你属人的生命乃是容器，盛装这神圣的生命。这神圣的生命在你里面，就成了你的内容；既成了你的内容，也要成为你的满足。我们得救以前，都有过空虚的经历。不管我们有多少成就，或达到某种造诣，在我们里面总有一种不止息的虚空感，一种不满足的感觉。不论我们是好是坏，我们还是空的。虽然我们有容器，有器皿，却没有内容，我们是空的。少年老年，富足贫穷，高贵低下，统统是空的。有一天我们接受了主耶稣，我们不只得到了神的救恩，我们也领受了神圣的生命，这生命立刻成了我们的内容。现在我们有了满足。因此，在表明需要重生的事例之后，有一个事例表明真正的满足。除了基督自己，没有甚么能满足人。只要基督不是我们属人生命的满足，就没有甚么能满足我们了。离了基督，就没有满足。我们是人，我们总觉得干渴；只有基督能解我们的干渴。
1In this message we come to the case of the Samaritan woman in John 4. This case is the second of the nine cases. There is a great contrast between this case and that of Nicodemus in chapter three. Nicodemus was a moral, high-class man; the Samaritan woman was an immoral, low-class woman. The first case sets forth a man with superior attainments while the second sets forth a woman with dishonorable behavior. The man was a Jew whereas the woman was a Samaritan. The Jewish religion was very sound, proper, real, and genuine, but the Samaritan’s religion was false and very decadent. It is also interesting to note that the Lord talked with the man at night, but that He talked with the woman at midday. In the nighttime the man came to the Lord; in the daytime the Lord came to the woman. The place where the Lord talked with the man was in a house or a building, but He talked with the woman in the open air. In the case of Nicodemus the first need of mankind is covered. According to spiritual experience, mankind’s first need is regeneration. In God’secon o my man’s first need is regeneration. God’secon o my is that man have His divine life and be one with Him in life and nature for the fulfillment and accomplishment of His eternal purpose. God’s eternal purpose is to have a group of people who have been regenerated by His divine life and who are the same as He is in both life and nature, that they might become His corporate expression for eternity. This is God’s eternal purpose and this is God’secon o my. In order to fulfill this purpose, we must be regenerated that we may have His divine life. The kingdom of God is entered only by birth, never by works. For example, a bird is in the bird kingdom only by birth; a fish can never enter the bird kingdom by any kind of work. The only possible way for you to enter any kind of kingdom is by having a particular kind of birth. Therefore, the first aspect of the Lord becoming our life is that He gives us divine life by means of a divine birth, which is the only way to share the things of the kingdom of God. What is man’s second need? What is his need following regeneration? The second need is satisfaction. In chapter three the problem is that man is void of the divine life. Regardless of how good or superior you may be, it means nothing as far as God’s eternal purpose is concerned. As long as you have not been regenerated, you are void of the divine life. You only have human life. The human life is simply a vessel to contain the divine life. If you do not have the divine life, you are void. You are just an empty vessel. Although your human life may be wonderful, you do not have the divine life. The divine life is God Himself. You need this divine life to fill you up as your content. Your human life is a container to contain this divine life. When this divine life is within you, it becomes your content. As your content, it will also be your satisfaction. Before we were saved, we all had the experience of being empty. Regardless of our success or attainments, there was a continual emptiness within, the sensation of having no satisfaction. Whether we were good or bad, we were empty. Although we had the container, the vessel, we did not have the content. We were empty. Young and old, rich and poor, high and low—all are empty. One day we received the Lord Jesus. We not only obtained God’ss alvation, but we also received the divine life, which immediately became our content. Now we have satisfaction. Therefore, following the case showing the need of regeneration, we have a case showing genuine satisfaction. Nothing can satisfy man except Christ Himself. As long as Christ is not the satisfaction of our human life, nothing can satisfy us. There is no satisfaction apart from Christ. As human beings, we always feel thirsty; only Christ can quench our thirst.
壹 干渴的救主
I. A THIRSTY SAVIOR AND A THIRSTY SINNER
与干渴的罪人
2撒玛利亚妇人的事例启示出基督是真正的满足。尼哥底母是纯犹太血统的人，撒玛利亚妇人的血统却是混杂的。与她有关的每件事都是败坏的；没有一件事是纯洁或良善的。撒玛利亚人自称是雅各的后裔，其实他们至多是雅各混血的后裔。尼哥底母是有名有姓的，可是没有人知道撒玛利亚妇人的名字。因为她是很卑鄙下流的人，圣经没有泄漏她的名字。她完全是混杂的。撒玛利亚妇人的事例中有好些表号。这事例本身就是表号，但在这表号里，还有好些表号。这事例本身表明基督是我们的满足，但是在这事例里有一个表号，就是这妇人。按照圣经里的豫表和豫像，女人表征甚么?首先，女人表征人需要倚靠神。人永远不能单独站住，他必须倚靠神；神是造人的，也是人的丈夫。（赛五四5。）弟兄们，让我问你们这问题：你在神面前的地位是男人还是女人?你若问我，我会告诉你，虽然我是过了六十岁的男人，我的确领悟我在神面前的地位是女人。我在神面前的地位不是男人，乃是女人，因为我永远不能单独站立，我需要倚靠神。女人表征不能单独站立的人。这是你的地位，也是我的地位。就形体说，我们不是男人，就是女人；但就实际说，我们都是女的。我们没有一个人可以单独站立。人永不能独立。今天人宣告独立，但是我必须告诉你，你永不能独立。你受造就是要倚靠神。无论何时人想要独立，他就不得满足，因为神造人生来就有依赖性。
2The case of the Samaritan woman reveals that Christ is real satisfaction. While Nicodemus was a pure-blooded Jew, the Samaritan woman was of mixed blood. Everything related to her was a ruin; nothing was pure or good. The Samaritans claimed to be the descendants of Jacob. At most, they were his descendants by mixed blood. While the name of Nicodemus is given, no one knows the name of the Samaritan woman. Because she was mean and low, the Bible does not divulge her name. She was altogether a mixture. She was an extraordinary case among all of the cases. If you read the Bible carefully, you will find that everything about her was extraordinary. Even her coming out to the well to draw water was extraordinary. According to the custom in the Middle East, the women come to draw water in the late afternoon, not at noontime. When the sun is going down, the women come to draw water in companies. However, this Samaritan woman came to draw water at noontime by herself. Why did she do this? Because she had a bad name, and no one would keep company with her. She was afraid of being talked about, of being criticized, and she did not dare come in the late afternoon when so many other people would be there. She came at noon when the sun was blazing and when no one else would come out of the house. This woman was poor and immoral. She had had five husbands and was living with one that was not her husband. No one cared for her. She knew this and came to draw water at such a lonely time, expecting that no one would see her. In the case of the Samaritan woman there are many signs. The case itself is a sign, but within this sign, there are many signs. The case itself signifies that Christ is our satisfaction, but one of the signs within the case is the woman. According to the types and figures in the Scriptures, what does a woman signify? Firstly, a woman signifies that humanity needs to rely upon God. Man can never stand alone; he must rely upon God, who is both his Maker and Husband (Isa. 54:5). Brothers, allow me to ask you this question: Is your standing before God that of a male or a female? If you were to ask me, I would tell you that although I am a man of over sixty years of age, I do realize that my standing before God is that of a female. My position before God is not that of a man, but of a woman, because I can never stand alone. I need God to rely upon. A woman signifies a person who cannot stand alone. This is both your position and mine. In figure, we are either males or females, but in reality we are all females. None of us can stand by himself. Man can never be independent. Nowadays people proclaim independence, but I must tell you that you can never be independent. You were created to be dependent upon God. Whenever anyone tries to be independent, he will be dissatisfied, because God created man inherently dependent.
3女人也表征软弱。（彼前三7。）我们人必须领悟，我们是软弱的。我们都软弱，因为我们都是人。不要以为你的妻子是软弱的器皿，你是刚强的器皿。虽然按形体说也许是，但事实上男人与女人都是软弱的。就属灵的事而论，在有些情形中，弟兄比姊妹还软弱。当主耶稣将要被出卖被治死时，新约里的姊妹比弟兄刚强。在主受死、复活、升天之时，姊妹们强得多。甚至在爱主上，马利亚也是最刚强的。因此，弟兄们不要骄傲的认为你是最强的。我们都是人，我们被造都是软弱而有依赖性的，因此我们必须倚靠主。
3A woman also signifies weakness (1 Pet. 3:7). We human beings must realize that we are weak. We are all weak because we are all human. Do not think that your wife is a weak vessel and that you are a strong one. Although this may be true figuratively, in fact both men and women are weak. In some cases, as far as spiritual things are concerned, the brothers are weaker than the sisters. When the Lord Jesus was about to be betrayed and put to death, the sisters in the New Testament were stronger than the brothers. The sisters were much stronger at the time of the Lord’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Even in loving the Lord, Mary was the strongest. So, brothers, do not proudly think that you are the strongest. We are all human and we were all made weak and dependent so that we would have to rely upon the Lord.
4女人的意义也包括一种内在的渴望；这是神所造的。男人当然也需要妻子作帮助，但是女人更需要丈夫。女人总是有一个渴望，愿望，要得到满足。在人的性情里，无论男女总是渴望得到满足。主创造了那个干渴，好叫我们寻求祂。你总是觉得干渴，总是觉得里面有所不足。这些都表征你是女人。你对别人依赖的需要，和你依赖、软弱和渴望满足的感觉，在在都指明你是女人。
4The significance of a woman also includes an inner longing and thirst, which were created by God. Of course, a man has the need for a wife as a helpmate, but a woman needs a husband much more. A woman always has the longing and desire to have satisfaction. In the human nature of both man and woman, there is always the inner thirst for satisfaction. The Lord created that thirst so that we might seek Him. You always feel thirsty and you always feel an inner lack. These are the signs that you are a woman. Your need to rely on others and your sense of dependence, weakness, and thirst for satisfaction all indicate that you are a woman
一 救主『必须经过』罪人的地方
A. The Savior “Had to Pass through” the Sinner’sP lace
5我们需要非常注意四章四节。祂『必须经过撒玛利亚。』这节的钥辞是『必须。』无疑的，这个撒玛利亚妇人，在已过的永远里已被父神豫先知道，并豫先定下。（罗八。）她必是父所赐给主耶稣的。（约六39。）这样一个低下、卑鄙、不道德的撒玛利亚妇人，是父所赐给主的。因此，主有负担往撒玛利亚去，好实行父的旨意。以后祂告诉门徒说，『我的食物就是实行差我来者的旨意，作成祂的工。』（约四34。）主往撒玛利亚去实行神的旨意，就是去寻找那不道德的撒玛利亚妇人。祂寻找她，好叫她成为敬拜父的人。那个灵魂值得主专程去到那里。按照历史，没有犹太人肯经过撒玛利亚。撒玛利亚是北国以色列的主要地区，也是首都所在地。（王上十六24，29。）约在主前七百年，亚述人占领此地，并从巴比伦和其他异教国家，把人迁到境内诸城。（王下十七6，24。）从那时起，此地的人就成为犹太人与异教徒的混血种。历史告诉我们，他们有摩西五经，并按这部分旧约敬拜神，但犹太人从不承认他们为犹太民族。
5We need to pay close attention to 4:4. “And He had to pass through Samaria.” The key word in this verse is “had.” Undoubtedly, this Samaritan woman had been foreknown and predestinated by God the Father in eternity past (Rom. 8:29). Certainly she had been given by the Father to the Lord Jesus (6:39). Such 29 a low, mean, and immoral Samaritan woman was given to the Lord by the Father. Therefore, the Lord was burdened and went to Samaria to do the will of the Father. Later, He told His disciples, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (4:34). The Lord went to Samaria to do the will of God, which was to find that immoral Samaritan woman. He was seeking her that she might become a worshipper of the Father. That one soul was worth the Lord’s going there purposely. According to history, no Jew would ever pass through Samaria. Samaria was the leading region of the northern kingdom of Israel and the place where its capital was (1 Kings 16:24, 29). Before 700 B.C., the Assyrians captured Samaria and brought people from Babylon and other heathen countries to the cities of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6, 24). From that time, the Samaritans became a people of mixed blood, heathen mixed with Jew. History tells us that they had the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses) and worshipped God according to that part of the Old Testament, but they were never recognized by the Jews as being a part of the Jewish people.
6虽然犹太人绝不愿经过撒玛利亚，主耶稣却觉得有负担到那里去。祂必须到那里去，不是因著地理上的必需，乃是因著父的旨意。因著父的旨意，祂必须经过那地区。主知道，在午后六时有一个不道德的妇人会在井边。
6Although the Jews would never pass through Samaria, the Lord Jesus felt burdened to do so. He had to go there, not because it was necessary geographically, but because of the will of the Father. Because of the Father’s will, He had to go through that region. The Lord knew that at noontime an immoral woman would be at the well.
二 救主来到罪人传统宗教的遗产－雅各井
B. The Savior Came to the Sinner’s Traditional Religious Inheritance—Jacob’sWell
7我们读五、六节：『于是到了撒玛利亚的一座城，名叫叙加，靠近雅各给他儿子约瑟的那块地，在那里有雅各井。耶稣因行路疲累，就这样坐在井旁，那时约是午后六时。』请问，是谁先来到雅各井边，是罪人还是救主?何等美妙，乃是救主先来，我早年读这一章的时候，在好些点上感到极为兴奋。以后我在传福音的时候，讲过关于撒玛利亚妇人的长篇信息，包括一切细节。那时我看见，主耶稣必须比那个堕落、不道德的撒玛利亚妇人先到井边。祂去井边等候她。主是主宰一切的，也是智慧的。在那妇人来到之先，祂找到很好的理由，把所有的门徒都打发走了。如果有一个门徒在场，事情就不会这么好，主就不方便跟那不道德的妇人讲到她丈夫的事。因此主在祂主宰的安排和智慧里，把门徒都打发到城里买食物去了。也许主在想说，『我要独自留在这里，等待那不道德的妇人，因为她太不道德，她不愿意见任何人，也不愿和任何人交谈。但是我要来摸她的良心，和她所有丈夫的历史。你们门徒必须离去。』若没有去买食物的理由，主怎能把门徒打发走?当门徒去买食物的时候，那妇人来了。当我还是一个年轻人时，我见到这幅图画，就敬拜主。假定主半夜在一间屋子里，而这女人夜间来与祂谈话，门徒看见了，也许会说，『耶稣，你在这里干甚么?你是一个才过三十岁的男人，而她是这样一个女人，你们在这里作甚么?』在祂主宰的安排和智慧里，主等候这妇人，在午后六时，也在户外来到。虽然在户外，却没有人在场听到这些谈话。当主与撒玛利亚妇人谈完了话，门徒回来了，见到他们，但是他们没有可说的。这次谈话不是发生在密室里；乃在户外。主耶稣是何等的智慧！
7Let us read verses 5 and 6. “So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’swell was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied from the journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.” Tell me, who was the first to come to Jacob’swell, the sinner or the Savior? How marvelous it is that the Savior came there first! When I read this chapter in the early years, I became very excited with many of the points. Later, in my gospel preaching, I gave a long message about the Samaritan woman, including all the details. At that time I saw that the Lord Jesus had to go to the well ahead of that fallen, immoral Samaritan woman. He went to the well and waited for her. The Lord was sovereign and wise. Before the woman came, He found a good excuse to send all of His disciples away. If any of the disciples had been there, it would not have been so good. It would not have been as convenient for the Lord to talk to that immoral woman about her husbands. So the Lord, in His sovereignty and wisdom, sent His disciples away to the city to buy food. Perhaps the Lord was thinking, “Please leave Me alone. I’m waiting for that immoral woman. Because she is so immoral, she doesn’t want to see anyone or talk to anyone. But I am going to touch her conscience with the history of all her husbands. You disciples must leave.” Without the excuse of buying food, how could the Lord have sent the disciples away? While the disciples went away to purchase the food, the woman came. When I saw the picture as a young man, I worshipped the Lord. Suppose the Lord was in a house at midnight and this woman came to speak to Him during the night, and the disciples saw it. They probably would have said, “What are You doing here, Jesus? You are a man a little over thirty years of age and she is such a woman. What is going on here?” In His sovereignty and wisdom, the Lord waited for the woman to come under the bright sunshine and in the open air. Even under the open air, there was no one present to listen to the conversation. When the Lord and the Samaritan woman had finished their talk, the disciples returned and saw them, but they had nothing to say. That conversation did not transpire in a private room; it was in the open air. How wise was the Lord Jesus
8我的点是在这里：救主知道罪人在那里，祂知道罪人的真实情况。主耶稣去井旁，把门徒统统打发走，就坐在井旁，一直等到那妇人来到。你若回顾你的得救，就看见至少在某种程度上，同样的原则也在运作。不是你到天上，乃是主来就你。祂来到你所在之处。我生在中国，但主耶稣去到那里。有一天祂在某处等待我，我就被祂抓住。你如何?你并未去见救主，是救主来就你。有些人是因车祸得救。可是他们必须知晓，在发生车祸以先，主耶稣已经在那里等候，要遇见他们了。我们都是这样得救的。太好了！当主耶稣在等候罪人来到时，祂是干渴的。因此在这第二个事例里，我们看见干渴的救主与干渴的罪人。也许你以为你是干渴的，但你的干渴乃是表征救主是干渴的。救主渴望我们，因为对祂而言，我们是解渴的水。你知道你对救主是解渴的水么?救主似乎在说，『除你以外，没有甚么能满足我；我有千万天使在天上，但是没有一个能满足我。我到地上来找解渴的水，你就是那水。』也许你会十分谦卑的说，『不，祂才是我的活水。我怎能成为祂解渴的水?』可是主需要你，因为没有你，祂永远得不到满足。起先，救主和罪人都渴，并且救主还饿。罪人渴，跑来打水好满足她的干渴。救主既饿旦渴。祂打发门徒去买食物，使祂有吃的，并且祂要求罪人给祂水喝。至终救主与罪人甚么也没吃，也没喝，可是他们两个都满足了。这真是奇妙！罪人饮于救主，救主饮于罪人，他们两个都满足了。门徒感到惊讶。当他们带著食物回来的时候，他们催祂吃，但祂说，『我有食物吃，是你们不知道的。』（约四32。）罪人因救主的活水得到满足，而救主因照神的旨意满足了罪人而得著满足。实行神的旨意，满足罪人，就是救主的食物。哦，作救主的这位主渴望得著你我！有一天祂得著了我们，祂就满足了。
8The point here is this: the Savior knows where the sinner is. He knows the sinner’st rue situation. The Lord Jesus went to the well, sent all of His disciples away, and sat by the well, waiting until the woman came. If you look back into your salvation, you will realize that, to some extent at least, the same principle was operating. You did not go to heaven—the Lord came to you. He came down to the very place where you were. I was born in China, but the Lord Jesus went there. One day He was waiting for me at a certain place, and I was caught by Him. What about you? You did not go to meet the Savior, did you? The Savior came to you. Some have been saved as a result of an automobile accident. Nevertheless, they must realize that before the accident occurred, the Lord Jesus was already waiting to meet them. We all were saved in this way. This is marvelous. While the Lord Jesus was waiting for the sinner to come, He was thirsty. Thus, in this second of the cases, we see a thirsty Savior and a thirsty sinner. You may think that you are thirsty, but your thirst is a sign that the Savior is thirsty. The Savior is thirsty for us, for, to Him, we are the thirst - quenching water. Do you realize that you are the thirst-quenching water to the Savior? It seems that the Savior is saying, “Nothing can satisfy Me except you. I have millions of angels in the heavens, but none of them can satisfy Me. I have come to the earth to seek the thirst-quenching water. You are the water.” You may be quite humble and say, “No, He is my living water. How can I be His thirst- quenching water?” Nevertheless, the Lord needs you, for without you He can never be satisfied. At first, both the Savior and the sinner were thirsty, and the Savior was hungry. The sinner was thirsty and came to draw water in order to satisfy her thirst. The Savior was hungry and thirsty. He sent the disciples away to buy food that He might eat and He asked the sinner for a drink of water. Eventually, neither the Savior nor the sinner drank or ate anything, yet both were satisfied. This is wonderful! The sinner drank of the Savior, the Savior drank of the sinner, and both of them were satisfied. The disciples were surprised. When they returned with the food, they urged Him to eat, but He said, “I have food to eat of which you have no knowledge” (4:32). The sinner was satisfied with the Savior’s living water, and the Savior was satisfied with God’s will in satisfying the sinner. To do the will of God to satisfy the sinner is the Savior’s food. Oh, the Lord as the Savior was thirsty for you and me! One day He got us and was satisfied.
三 罪人来到她宗教的遗产跟前
C. The Sinner Came to Her Religious Inheritance
9罪人来到她宗教的遗产跟前打水，为著满足自己。当她来打水的时候，救主要求她给祂水喝来得满足。每逢主向你有所要求，那就指明说祂需要这个，你也需要这个。你渴的时候，主也渴。当主向你有所要求，你也正需要那个东西。这是非常有意思的。当你无家可归，祂也无家可归；当祂无家可归，你也无家可归。
9The sinner came to her religious inheritance to draw water for her satisfaction. While she was going to draw water, the Savior asked her to give Him water for His satisfaction. Whenever the Lord asks you for something, that is an indication that He needs it and that you need it also. When you are thirsty, the Lord also is thirsty. When the Lord asks you for something, you also are in need of that very thing. This is very meaningful. When you are homeless, He is homeless, and when He is homeless, you are homeless
贰 宗教传统的虚空，
II. THE EMPTINESS OF RELIGION’S TRADITION
与生命活水的丰满
AND THE FULLNESS OF LIFE’S LIVING WATER
10在九至十四节，我们看见宗教传统的虚空，与生命活水的丰满成对比。撒玛利亚妇人问主耶稣说，『我们的祖宗雅各，将这井给了我们，他自己和他的子孙并牲畜，也都喝这井里的水，难道你比他还大么？』（约四12。）由这问题我们看见，人认为宗教的祖宗是最大的。撒玛利亚人以为雅各是最大的。他们接受雅各作他们的祖宗，认为他是最大的。撒玛利亚妇人也认为雅各井是最好的。这表明宗教的遗产总被认为是最好的。撒玛利亚妇人对主说，『先生，你没有打水的器具，…从那里得活水?』（约四11。）这表明宗教的路总被认为是最有效的。虽然宗教认为牠的路最有效，可是宗教的『水』永远不能解热心宗教之人的干渴。这由十三节主的回答得到证实：『凡喝这水的，还要再渴。』
10In verses 9 through 14 we see the contrast between the emptiness of religion’s tradition and the fullness of life’s living water. The Samaritan woman asked the Lord Jesus, “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” (4:12). We see by this question that religion’s father is considered to be the greatest. The Samaritans thought of Jacob as the greatest. They took him as their grandfather, thinking him to be the greatest. The Samaritan woman also considered that Jacob’swell was the best. This signifies that religion’s inheritance is always considered as the best. The Samaritan woman said to the Lord, “You have no bucket...where then do you get the living water?” (v. 11). This signifies that religion’sway is considered as the most prevailing. Although religion considers its way to be the most prevailing, yet religion’s “water” never quenches the thirst of religious people. This is proved by the Lord’s reply in verse 13. “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again
11基督大过宗教的祖宗。『耶稣回答说，你若知道神的恩赐，和对你说请给我水喝的是谁，你必早求祂，祂也必早给了你活水。』（约四10。）你若在中国传福音，人会跟你谈起孔夫子。每个民族和种族都宣称自己有些伟人，但是没有一人大过基督。基督比雅各、孔夫子、柏拉图、以及每一种『祖宗』都大。
11Christ is greater than religion’s father. “Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (4:10). If you preach the gospel in China, people will talk to you about Confucius. Every race and tribe claims to have someone great, but none is greater than Christ. Christ is greater than Jacob, Confucius, Plato, and every other kind of grandfather
12再者，神的恩赐也大过宗教的遗产。你要雅各井，还是要神的恩赐?甚么是神的恩赐?如果你说神的恩赐就是基督，这个答案并不完全准确。神圣的生命才是神的恩赐，因为罗马六章二十三节说，神白白的恩赐乃是永远的生命。这神圣的生命要在我们里面成为泉源，直涌入永远的生命。（约四14。）这神圣的生命比雅各井好得多。今天你若去巴勒斯坦参观雅各井，你会看到那口井是在亚美尼亚僧人的控制之下。我去那里参观的时候，每位要从那井得一杯水的人，都得付两块美金。然而，那一切都是传统，毫无意义。那口井里的水，与别处的水并无两样。
12Furthermore, God’s gift is greater than religion’s inheritance. Would you like to have Jacob’s well or God’s gift? What is God’s gift? If you say that God’s gift is Christ, that answer is not totally accurate. The divine life is God’s gift, for Romans 6:23 says that the free gift of God is eternal life. This divine life shall become in us a spring of water welling up into eternal life (v. 14). This divine life is much better than Jacob’swell. If you visit Jacob’s well in Palestine today, you will find it under the control of an Armenian monk. When I visited there, everyone who wanted a cup of water from Jacob’swell had to pay two dollars. However, all of that is tradition and means nothing. The water in that well is the same as any other.
13『求』比宗教的路更有效。神的活水解我们的干渴，并要成为泉源直涌入永远的生命。死亡的干渴被生命所解除。原则上，这也是变死亡为生命。主耶稣对撒玛利亚妇人说，『凡喝这水的，还要再渴。』（约四。）这话很简单，但是含意很深。这里的『水』象征物质享受和属世娱乐的消遣。这些都不能解除人深处的干渴，人无论喝了多少物质和属世的『水，』还会再渴。这些『水』喝得越多，干渴越加增。比方说，在受教育的事上，人喜欢得更高的学位。在拿到学士学位之后，就想要硕士；拿到了硕士，又想要博士。另有人也许要积儹一万元，但是有了一万就想要十万；有了十万又想要一百万。你越喝这地上的水，你就越干渴。永远不要想用任何一种属世的水来解你的干渴。撒玛利亚妇人虽然有了五个丈夫，并且那时还与一个不是她丈夫的人同居，她仍不满足。没有甚么能解除她的干渴。有些姊妹喜欢衣著装扮，但是没有一个女人能满足于任何样式的衣著。你买了一件之后，会想要第二件，第三件。你若有十双鞋子，你还想要十五双。有些女人有超过十五双鞋子，却仍不满意。这种『水』永远不会叫人满足。只有一种『水』能永远满足人，就是耶稣基督。今日，明日，直到永远，基督都能满足你。祂是常新，永远新鲜的，祂总能满足人。因此主能告诉撒玛利亚妇人说，人喝祂所赐的水，就永远不渴；那水要在他里面成为泉源，直涌入永远的生命。
13To “ask” is more prevailing than religion’sway. The living water of God quenches our thirst and becomes a spring of water welling up into eternal life. Death’s thirst is quenched by life. In principle, this also is to change death into life. The Lord Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again” (4:13). This statement is simple but its meaning is 13 profound. The “water” here signifies the enjoyment of material things and the amusement of worldly entertainment. None of these can quench the thirst deep within man. However much he drinks of this material and worldly “water,” he shall thirst again. The more he drinks of these “waters,” the more his thirst is increased. For example, in education people like to have higher and higher degrees. After receiving a bachelor’s degree, they want a master’s, and after that, a doctorate. Others may desire to accumulate ten thousand dollars in a savings account, but after that, they want to have a hundred thousand, and after a hundred thousand, a million. The more you drink of the water of this earth, the more thirsty you become. Never try to quench your thirst with any kind of worldly water. Although the Samaritan woman had had five husbands and was living with a man who was not her husband, she still was not satisfied. Nothing could quench her thirst. Some sisters love clothing. However, no woman can be satisfied with any type of garment. After you purchase one, you will want a second and a third. If you have ten pairs of shoes, you will want to have fifteen pairs. Some women who have more than fifteen pairs of shoes still are not satisfied. This kind of “water” will never satisfy people. There is only one “water” that satisfies people for eternity— Jesus Christ. Christ satisfies today, tomorrow, and for eternity. He is ever new, ever fresh. He always satisfies. So, the Lord could tell the Samaritan woman that whoever drinks of the water that He gives will not thirst, for that water will become in him a spring welling up into eternal life.