“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” John 7:37–38.

Imagine, for seven days the High Priest leading a parade from the Temple Mount down through the streets of the city of David to the pool of Siloam; dips a golden pitcher in the water and then returns to the Temple Mount. Suddenly a man stands up on the last day of the festival and makes this declaration,““If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”  Who can make such a claim on this Holy Day? Is he someone who is a lunatic, a revolutionary or the Messiah? But what does He mean? 

 

John gives the explanation in vs. 39, “He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.” Flowing water is seen as God’s provision to sustain life in the wilderness journey. The water flowed from the rock that  Moses struck and is also seen as giving life in heaven as it flows from the throne of God. (Rev.22:1-2). Then what does He mean, “out of his innermost being?” The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised post resurrection to all those who receive new life in Jesus. He is given to believers for the empowering of new life and ministry (Acts 2:1-13). Just as water sprung forth from the rock in the wilderness to give life to a thirsty people, the Holy Spirit would spring from within the one who is Born Again (John 3:6-7). 

 

There are many thirsty people in our world today living in dry places. Just as in Jesus’ day people find that religion and other things can’t satisfy spiritual thirst, so Jesus is still standing up and offering to anyone and everyone the refreshing fulfilment of new life and the Holy Spirit. Are you thirsty for more? Come to Jesus and be filled and fulfilled.