A Victory With Water Series

After the Russo-Japanese War in which Japan gained a great

victory on the sea, the commander of the Japanese fleet visited the

United States. William Jennings Bryan was the secretary of state,

and it was his duty to toast the visiting commander. Bryan was a

staunch prohibitionist however, and never touched champagne, and

so he had a problem. He rose from his table at the formal dinner

and held up a glass of water, and he said, "Admiral Togo has won a

great victory on water, therefore I will toast him in water. When

Admiral Togo wins a victory on champagne, I will toast him in

champagne." Whether the Admiral was impressed or not, Bryan

was able to gain a personal victory in that situation with water as

his weapon.

Kagawa, the great Japanese Christian leader, tells of another

victory with water. A man was brought to the hospital with a rare

Oriental disease that was rapidly taking his life. The only remedy

available was a chemical solution to relieve the suffering. His body

had to be completely submerged, and so with even his arms pinned

beneath the water he had to spend seven solid years in a bathtub.

He had heard the Gospel, but had not responded. He requested a

New Testament, and by means of string it was hung on a level with

his eyes. He began to submerge his inner being in the water of life.

He found Christ in a bathtub, and that pathetic tomb became a

temple. Many came to hear the testimony of this man whose life

was spared by water until he could drink of that water that gives

life which never ends.

I suppose there are numerous stories of victory that have been

won by water. God certainly gained the victory over the Egyptians

when the water of the red sea closed in on them. It was by means of

water that he cleanse the polluted world in the days of Noah. Jesus

saved a couple of great embarrassment at their wedding by turning

water into wine. Water has been the primary weapon by which fire

fighters have gained their victories over the destructive flames.

Scientists tell us that if it was not for water valor in the air all

around us we would be burned up by solar rays. The victory of life

over death is going on all the time, and water is the weapon of

victory.

Doubtless, numerous volumes could be filled with the victories

gained with water. We are examining one that is the Niagara of

them all. The paradox is that the great victory that Jesus wins with

water is done so quietly that we tend to miss it, like a quiet little

stream which runs so noiselessly we fail to detect it. This text seems

so quiet for several reasons. First of all it is quiet because Jesus has

finished His public ministry. He will never preach to the multitudes

again. He will no more walk among the crowds teaching and

healing. Jesus had only one more night to live, and He knows it. He

is eating His last supper with His disciples, and He knows they have

so much to learn before He leaves, and so He has taken them apart.

This leads to the second reason why it seems so quiet. The

disciples are somewhat stunned by what Jesus is doing and saying.

The disciples ate many meals with Jesus, but never on like this.

They did not know it was the last supper, but Jesus did, and He

speaks to them in these last chapters of John like He never spoke

before. There is depth and mystery here as no where else in

Scripture. A. W. Pink says, "We are now to enter upon what

believers in each age have regarded as the most precious portion of

this Gospel." John R. W. Stott writes, "If Scripture may be liken to

the temple, then these chapters are the enter sanctuary of the

temple."

We are on holy ground when we enter chapter 13, but we must

recognize it is a battle ground. The very flames of hell are burning

fiercely, but only Jesus is conscious of the danger, and the presence

of powerful enemy forces. Verse 2 tells us that Satan already had

put it into the heart of Judas to betray him. He was working hard

on Peter also at this very point, and Luke tells us in 22:31-32 that

Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan demanded to have you,

that he might sift like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your

faith may not fail."

In there blind innocence, none of the disciples could see that

there Lord was soon going to face the forces of hell and darkness in