IN THE morning of the third day came a messenger into the city where the Lord Jesus Christ lay crucified.

There was in that day a well of living water in that city, unto which came all the women of the place to draw, and they stood beside the well and spoke of Him who had been crucified, and some said there would come a great plague upon the city because of this thing that had been done.

And as they lowered their jars into the water, behold, the water was no longer pure and colorless but thick and dark, and the little children who had come thither put their hands in it and it smelt of evil things.

Then were the women sore afraid and they went to the chief magistrate and told him what had happened to their well of living water, and the little children followed, crying because they were athirst.

The magistrate knew no way to quiet them, for the women began to wail and beat their breasts and cry that the plague was already upon them, and the little children feared when they heard their mothers cry.

Then out of the crowd came a man in white garments like one who has but risen from a feast, and he had a branch of bay in his hand and on his brow was a jewel that shone as the sun.

And he said, “Seek ye living water? Follow me.”

He spoke as one who knows, and he led the women with their jars back to the well, and he put off the garment that was like unto the garment of one who feasts, and he took the branch of bay in his right hand and touched the muddied waters, and they became clear and sweet in that instant.

Then he spake and said, “Seek ye living water? Follow me.”

But those who now saw the water of the well run pure again, answered, “This water lives. Why seek we further?”

Then once again he spoke, “Seek ye living water? Follow me.”