Lesson 4 for the 24 th of April, 2010

The living water: Jesus The waters of baptism The purifying waters Preventive remedy Curative remedy General benefits SPIRITUALPHYSICAL

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John, 7: 38) “But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John, 4: 14) “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah, 2: 13) “He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life"” (Revelation, 21: 6) Jesus is compared with the living water. He invites us to drink from Him in order to quench our thirst.

Jesus, the living water, offers the joy of salvation which cools us down. It encourages us to share it with our neighbours. Isaiah, 21: 14

Baptism symbolizes inner cleanliness and a new spiritual birth. “Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit"” (John, 3: 5)

Water appeared on the laws given by God to Moses. It was an element that purifies from the contact with sin. For example, every contact with death –symbol of sin– demanded a wash. Priests must leave any relationship with sin before entering the Holy Place. They did it in a symbolic way when they washed their hands and feet at the bronze basin.

Laws related with water in Leviticus had two intentions. They had a symbolic part and they prevented infections. During the Dark Age, Jewish people were saved from several plagues that devastated Europe. They were saved because the correct use of water as a preventive remedy as they followed God’s instructions. “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you” (Exodus, 15: 26)

Hydrotherapy –in his many and varied applications– is a valuable tool for treating many pathological manifestations, such us traumatisms, rheumatisms or digestive, respiratory and neurological disorders. Hydrotherapy can relieve or even cure, depending on the disease and its seriousness. “Water can be used in many ways to relieve suffering” E.G.W. (Counsels on Diet and Food, cp. 24, 728)

SPECIAL APPLICATIONS DOUCHES COLD BATHS HOT AND STEAM BATHS WASHESCOMPRESSES WRAPS

Man is mainly made of water. The appropriate amount of water intake depends upon multiple factors, such as temperature, body size, and kidney function, but it should be sufficient to result in pale or clear urine in normal circumstances. People should drink a minimum of 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Water can give us power and energy. Water may limit headaches, thus decreasing the need for headache medicine. Water helps to regulate body temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen to the cells, removes waste, prevents constipation, moistens tissues, cushions joints, and keeps blood flowing throughout the body.

“In health and in sickness, pure water is one of Heaven's choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system, and assists nature to resist disease” E.G.W. (Counsels on Diet and Food, cp. 24, 726)

“I beseech you to keep reaching out after God, to keep drinking of the fountain of living water. You may be as a tree planted by the rivers of waters, whose leaf does not wither. You may be full of moisture, and may be able to refresh others, and to give them grace and comfort. I love Jesus now, and I want to know more and more of Him. I have only begun to know Him, but there is an eternity before us in which there will be revealings of His glory, and we shall become better and better acquainted with our divine Lord” E.G.W. (That I may know Him, December 30)