READ: John 7:37–53: … If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water … No man ever spoke like this Man!
The last day, the greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles has come. For the seventh time, a golden pitcher of water from one of the pools in Jerusalem is poured into two silver basins next to the altar in the temple.
During this procession to the temple, the crowd waves palm branches and sings Ps. 118:25: “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.”
During the temple ceremony, Is. 12:3 is read: “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” The LORD God dwells among His people; He provides everything necessary for the land’s fruitfulness and growth.
It is in connection with this festive event that the Lord Jesus cries out to the gathered people: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (vv. 37–38).
Faith in Jesus not only brings salvation to the believer but also leads him to speak and testify about it to others.
With this statement, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit, who had not yet been given. The reference to “the Scripture” points to several Old Testament passages: Is. 44:3; 55:1–3; 58:11. Jesus Himself is the source of life, but whoever drinks from this Source becomes, through the Holy Spirit, a source of living water themselves. This becomes clear at Pentecost.
The reaction of the people to these profound words, which make a strong impression, is once again mixed. There is division among the crowd. Verse 45 follows from verse 32: the officers who were sent to arrest Jesus now do not dare to do so. They tell the Pharisees upon returning: “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
Do you understand the connection between water and the Holy Spirit?
Sing: Ps. 42:1,5