In one of the battles of the civil war, a Union officer lay wounded. The fire was so fierce that his comrades could not remove him, and there he lay between the two armies. The poison in his wound and loss of blood created such a burning thirst that he kept crying out, “Water, water, won’t somebody bring me some water?”
Finally a tenant named Littlejohn, in the Confederate army, turned to his men and said, “Boys, I have a mind to go down and take that man a drink of water.”
“Don’t do it,” they said. “You wouldn’t live a moment.”
However, at the cries of the wounded man, Littlejohn’s eyes filled with tears and he said, “I can’t stand that. I’m going to carry that poor fellow some water if I die in the attempt.” Then filling his canteen, he strapped it to his side. Climbing over a wall, where the bullets were flying like hail, he went down to the wounded man, and holding the canteen to his mouth he gave him all the cool water he could drink. Then bracing him up with a knapsack under his shoulder, he put the canteen against his breast, so that he could help himself as often as he wished.
When they saw what a noble thing the young lieutenant was doing, both sides cheered as he clambered back over the wall and returned safely.
Truly it was a noble deed, and done for an enemy. How forcibly it brings to mind another deed which the world can never forget. Long ago the Lord Jesus looked down from heaven and saw men lying wounded and stricken on the battle field of life in this sin-cursed world. Sin creates a feverish thirst and unrest, and men look everywhere for peace, but in vain. “For there is no peace, saith my God to the wicked.” Then, not at the risk of His life, but at the cost of it, the Son of God came down to quench and satisfy that burning thirst.
“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink,” He said.
And how did the world treat Him who came to bring salvation? They rejected Him, they despised Him, they sent Him back to heaven with the words, “Not wanted!” plainly written on His pierced hands, His bleeding brow, and wounded side. But the Lord Jesus laid down His life so that in resurrection perishing sinners like us might drink the living stream of life and never thirst again.
ML-01/08/1978