Jesus delayed his coming to the feast of Tabernacle because his hour was not yet. Although his brothers attempted to push him forth, Jesus understood his assignment. Jesus arrived and stayed in the background till the fitting moment, and then he came boldly forward to deliver one of the freest and fullest gospel discourses on record. For six days, the priest had carried water from the pool of Siloam, but on the Sabbath, a day when no work might be done, and no water could be drawn, Jesus freely proclaimed his message of salvation. His grace is free, it is effectual in its operation, and its results are abiding, elevating, purifying, and saving power. By Faith we receive the grace of God, and our soul lives. Without money and without price the benefit of eternal life is bestowed. We can thank God that the Blessed Redeemer still cries aloud, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." Rest assured; God can satisfy every thirsty soul. What a major promise!
God Can Satisfy Our Thirsty Soul – Personally, totally and wholly (Anyone means anyone)
The last day, the great day of the feast, the Sabbath, there was a holy convocation, a memorial celebration of the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan. Jesus offered a bold invitation to anyone who was thirsty. Not only would who he quench their thirst, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. Jesus, in teaching on the last day of the feast, adapted his theme to the character of the ceremonies familiar to the people. On each of the seven days water was publicly brought and poured from a golden pitcher during the morning sacrifice. In John 7:37,38 Jesus therefore compares himself to the living water, spiritually interpreted. It is the same teaching that was given to the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar (Joh 4:5-26).
The pandemic has ushered in an uncommon era of separation for the church. Apart from quarantine, should Christians live social distant or isolated lives? How then would we love others? How would we be the light of the world? Jesus taught us that out of our hearts will flow rivers of living waters and that water is for others. Let’s examine John 7:37-39.
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37 NKJV) In the natural, the benefits of water far outweigh other drinks. At the same time, the benefits of true living water far outweigh all counterfeits of this world. According to medical science [1] water keeps the body slimmer, boosts energy and lowers stress due to dehydration, builds muscle tone and prevents cramps, reduces wrinkles from inside, aids regularity and reduces kidney stones. Water truly satisfies the physical body. In a parched land, thirst is well-known. God promised Israel living water (Proverbs 18:4; Isaiah 58:11), living water for a thirsty land (Isaiah 44:3), water without price (Isaiah 55:1). Water is a powerful symbol of life. As water truly satisfies physically, belief in Jesus as the scriptures have said, satisfies us spiritually.
On the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles. Jesus announced, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” This Jewish Feast (Leviticus 23:33-36) commemorated the Exodus when the Jews were in transition. Spending a week in leafy booths reminded them of how far God had carried them. During this feast, the High Priest went from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam [2] and filled a container with water. The priest then re-entered the Temple through the Water Gate. With a wine offering, he poured the water from the Pool of Siloam onto the base of the altar. The water symbolized the Holy Spirit poured out upon people as it flowed down the Temple steps into the outer courts. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38 NKJV)
God’s Spirit Flows Through Those Who Believe to Satisfy the Thirsty World. A rule of desert survival is not to drink stagnant water, but to look for a source of running water, otherwise called “living water.” To drink from the living water that Jesus gives, requires living faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit flows from God to us and we are satisfied. His presence in us is a well of living water spring up unto everlasting life. The river of life must flow through us to a lost world.
True Christianity is not a selfish religion practiced in isolation from others. Being detached from others disobeys many of Jesus’ commands, we are call to be salt and light, to love our neighbor and serve those in need. What we have received from God should flow out of us like living water, rather than staying still and becoming stagnant. “Rivers of living water” is an Old Testament expression. Psalm 1 teaches us that those who delight in God’s law are like trees planted by rivers of water. Ezekiel 47:1-12 describes water flowing from the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem and making the desert an oasis.
The Apostles often reinterpreted Old Testament history symbolically. Those parables helps us understand the Holy Spirit flowing from heavenly Jerusalem into and out of Christians as a blessing to the unbelieving world. Does the Holy Spirit flow freely from us to others? Do we love our neighbors and thereby quench their spiritual thirst? “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39 NKJV)
Modern Israel understood the fulfillment such prophesies physically. They saw it as God making the deserts bloom with agriculture and fruitfulness. Yet, Jesus using these same prophesies, “spoke concerning the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit flows like rivers of living water from within. The Holy Spirit gives many gifts to believers that enables them to quench the thirst of a broken world. Proverbs 18:4 speaks of the mouth as “The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.” It is in wisdom that the Gospel must be preached, and in wisdom that we gently lead our non-Christian neighbors to salvation in the Lord.
God wants Us who belive to keep the river of life flowing freely and without contamination. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to drink. He comes into our hearts like rivers of living water and must flow out to others. We cannot allow the river to stagnate. It must flow out. God gave us a gift that must flow like streams in a spiritual desert and bring life to others. Whose thirst do you need to quench today?
“If someone’s thirsty,” Jesus cried, “Just come to me and I’ll provide what you need. Believe in Me, say the Scriptures, and out of your heart will be rivers of living waters. Let Rivers of living water flow, the Holy Spirit I will bestow, those who believe on Jesus as the Scriptures have said, will bless mankind and glorify God.
