Albert Barnes Commentary John 4:14

"but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." — John 4:14 (ASV)

The water that I shall give him. Jesus here refers, without doubt, to his own teaching, his grace, his Spirit, and to the benefits that come into the soul that embraces his gospel. It is a striking image, especially in Eastern countries, where there are vast deserts and often a great lack of water. The soul by nature is like such a desert, or like a traveler wandering through such a desert. It is thirsting for happiness, seeking it everywhere, and does not find it. It looks in all directions and tries all objects, but in vain. Nothing meets its desires. Though a sinner seeks for joy in wealth and pleasures, he is not satisfied. He still thirsts for more and still seeks for happiness in some new enjoyment. To such a weary and unsatisfied sinner, the grace of Christ is as cold waters to a thirsty soul.

Shall never thirst. He will be satisfied with this and will not have a sense of lack, a distressing feeling that it is not adapted to him. He who drinks this will not wish to seek for happiness in other objects. Satisfied with the grace of Christ, he will not desire the pleasures and amusements of this world. And this will be forever—in this world and the world to come. Whosoever drinketh of this—all who partake of the gospel—will be forever satisfied with its pure and rich joys.

Shall be in him. The grace of Christ will be in his heart; or the principles of religion will abide with him.

A well of water. There will be a constant supply, an unfailing fountain; or religion will live constantly with him.

Springing up. This is a beautiful image. It will bubble or spring up like a fountain. It is not like a stagnant pool—not like a deep well, but like an ever-living fountain that flows at all seasons of the year, in heat and cold, and in all external circumstances of weather, whether foul or fair, wet or dry. So religion always lives; and, amid all changes of external circumstances—in heat and cold, hunger and thirst, prosperity and adversity, life, persecution, contempt, or death—it still lives on and refreshes and cheers the soul.

Into everlasting life. It is not temporary, like the supply of our natural needs; it is not changing in its nature; it is not like a natural fountain or spring of water, to play a while and then die away, as all natural springs will at the end of the world. It is eternal in its nature and supply and will continue to live on forever. We may learn here—

1. That the Christian has a never-failing source of consolation adapted to all times and circumstances.
2. That religion has its seat in the heart, and that it should constantly live there.
3. That it sheds its blessings on a world of sin and is manifest by a continual life of piety, like a constant flowing spring.
4. That its end is everlasting life. It will continue forever; and whosoever drinks of this shall never thirst, but his piety will be in his heart a pure fountain springing up to eternal joy.

In him a well (John 7:38).