All Who Are Thirsty

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. ³⁸He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ 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.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary:

The Jews, at a later time, introduced two additions to the original festival, viz., (1) that of drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, and pouring it upon the altar (Jhn 7:2,37), as a memorial of the water from the rock in Horeb; and (2) of lighting the lamps at night, a memorial of the pillar of fire by night during their wanderings.

Shemini Atzeret/The Last Great Day is when Jesus made His invitation.  The priest would go to the pool of Siloam and bring water then pour it out on the altar.  This was to symbolize the water pouring out from the rock at Horeb that God used to provide for His people in the wilderness.

God brought the people out of Egypt through the wilderness area surrounding Mt. Sinai.  Moses was told to first, strike the rock, so that water would come out.  When Moses did this, he showed us that the Messiah would be struck.  I Cor. 10:4 says “And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."

Moses then was to speak to—but struck—the rock on another day.  God was not angry at the people, but Moses was, and berated them, then struck the rock again.  For this misrepresentation of God, Moses lost his chance to go into the promised Land.  

Jesus cried out: “if anyone thirsts.”  Does anyone thirst?  Everyone thirsts.  Jesus is offering water that will eternally quench our thirst.  I have found that I crave Him even more now that I have come to Him! 

Chuck Missler says there are several things that happen when we “come” to Jesus.

1.  Jesus says come: when we do, we abandon ourselves and turn our backs on the world.  You can't serve God and serve the world at the same time.

2.  Jesus says come: not to a process or a procedure, not to baptism or communion, but to Him.  It’s not about religion!  We can't make it about a physical act.  

3.  Jesus says come: to Him, and drink.  What does this mean?  Make Him your own.  Keep seeking until you have a personal relationship with Him.

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation.    

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 3.)  I have found great joy in serving and knowing God.  Jesus is right!  I have a continuous flow of life from myself, so much so that I don’t understand where it comes from sometimes.  I do know that Jesus will always offer, and if I accept, my thirst is quenched.

Isaiah 44:10 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.  

In Isaiah 55:1, another offer:

Ho!  Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters: you who have no money, come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, or your wages on what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. 

You can't buy the kind of satisfaction Jesus offers.  My beloved friends, do you thirst?  Nothing else can quench but Jesus.  He invites—will you accept?