Blog Nine, October 3, 2025
Water and Salt
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (John 4:13-14 ESV)
“You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth” (Psalm 65:9-10 ESV)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet” (Matthew 5:13 ESV).
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:49-50 ESV)
Hydrogen, an explosive gas, is the most abundant element in the universe, the substance of the stars; oxygen, likewise an incendiary gas, abounds at home, by far Earth’s most copious element. Heaven and Earth, in the form of two hydrogens and one oxygen, combine chemically to form water, ironically a stable liquid at ambient temperatures; it is the principal component of Earth’s surface, serving well its zone of life.
Sodium is a soft, shiny metal in appearance, but that is not its most notable feature. Its pure metallic form (Element 11) is seldom seen without careful protection from the atmosphere; sodium is violently reactive, degrading rapidly and aggressively when combined with water or oxygen. A bit of sodium metal dropped into water puts on quite a pyrotechnics display, forming sodium hydroxide with accompanying sparks and smoke.
Chlorine gas, its name meaning “greenish yellow,” has appearance described by its name; but once again, its color is not the story. Element 17 is a profound respiratory hazard and tissue irritant; it was used in World War 1 for chemical warfare. Chlorine, like sodium, oxygen, and hydrogen, is extremely reactive, one of few substances which spontaneously adds to hydrocarbons via free radical halogenation.
Yet, sodium and chlorine, like their fellow agents hydrogen and oxygen, react to form an ionic compound, sodium chloride, which we know as table salt. Jesus referred to it as simply salt, notable for its taste. A little salt energizes most recipes, and our taste buds crave some degree of saltiness. Sodium chloride is a staple in every kitchen. It changes the chemical and physical behavior of water such that much scientific investigation still searches for understanding of salt water.
Chemistry is a fascinating field, with commonplace substances like water and salt Exhibits A and B. Each is made from elements which profoundly affect animal life; in product form these are essential to living things. Water makes up 65-70% of a young adult (slightly less to older adults). Sodium and chloride levels in body fluids are about 100-140 milliequivalents / liter; any deviation higher or lower causes profound health problems, including fluid imbalance or impairment of muscle and nerve function.
These two compounds are chemically essential for life and prominently mentioned in the teachings of Jesus. Both of their functions in biochemistry extend to spiritual significance. Water is the wellspring of life; liquid water in abundance is the prime requirement for viability on a planet, and Earth is the only place known having water in all three forms (ice, liquid, water vapor) at prominent levels. Salt dissolved in water forms our interstitial fluid which regulates body function.
The spiritual analogy extends easily to the Church: Members, the salt of the earth, are held together by the living water of the Spirit. Our saltiness flavors the Body much as salt flavors our food.
D. E.