A Cup of Water: Christ's Humble Request for His Own

The description of Christ's disciples in Scripture is exceedingly interesting and instructive. They "belong" to Christ—they are peculiarly and emphatically His. Speaking of them, He calls them "My sheep," "My people," "My disciples." Addressing His heavenly Father respecting them, He says, "All Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them."

Christians belong to Christ primarily by the gift of His Father. "Thine they were," Christ declares, "and Thou gavest them Me. My Father which gave them to Me, is greater than all." Yet they are also His through their own voluntary dedication, as the result of His electing and redeeming mercy.

Remarkably, the gift which Yahweh asks on behalf of His disciples is merely a cup of water. When we consider believers as belonging so peculiarly to Christ, we might suppose He would solicit the most costly donations the wealthy could bestow. Yet He never sought great things for Himself, nor led His disciples to expect worldly abundance from others. An impostor or mere enthusiast would demand thousands of gold and silver, worldly dignity, purple garments, and sumptuous feasts. But His language was: "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink."

Let not such a gift, small as it is, be despised. A man may be brought into circumstances where even a cup of water becomes the most valuable present he could receive. When Samson had slain a thousand Philistine foes single-handed, he cried unto Yahweh, "I die for thirst." When water was procured, "his spirit came again, and he revived."