LIVING WATER

John 7: 33 – 39


33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.
34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."

That was a confusing statement to most people alive back then. Most wondered if it meant that Jesus was giving up on preaching to the Jews and going out to the Greeks and gentiles. The disciples didn't understand, so why should others?
This was the celebration of the feast of Tabernacles, one of the most important celebrations of the Jewish calendar.
It was during this feat that celebrated the water given to the Israelites while roaming in the desert.
Moses prayed, water flowed from the rock. Water for those who thirsted. Apparently it was quite a sight to see the Levites pour large vessels of water down the steps of the Temple as a representation of this miracle. Everybody knew this story of Moses and the rock and they understood the celebration.

37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

Huh?
What was Jesus talking about?
As I said the people at that time understood what the festival celebrated.
How could they drink Jesus?
Just what was it that He was offering?

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

This was not the first time that Jesus used the metaphor about drinking water and its relationship to the spirit of God. He had stated that anyone who drank the water that he gave, would never thirst again.
He became the reason for the festival of Tabernacles.
He was showing the people that He was the rock from which the water of life flowed.
Drink of it!
Today we must make the decision to follow Him and except that quenched thirst, or to wander searching for that stream of refreshment, as many do, refusing to see the truth before their eyes.
Drink!
Know the truth, pray for the Holy Spirit to enter your life like a cooling drink of water.
Make Jesus the rock, or foundation if you prefer, of your life and accept the gifts that He gives.