02-04-2018 – Thirsty? Come to Jesus and Drink

Bible Text: John 7:37-39 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John |

02-04-2018

Thirsty? Come to Jesus and Drink

John 7:37-39

Last week in John 7:25-36, we read how there was confusion among those in

the crowd, where Jesus was openly speaking at the temple. Some thought Him to possibly the Messiah, because of the miracles He had already done and was, evidently, known for.

He turned the water into wine…
He healed an invalid of 38 years, so he could walk…
Jesus walks on water, across the lake…
Jesus commands the storm to cease, it obeyed…
Jesus transports the boat He and the disciples were in, from the middle of the

lake, to Capernaum, several miles away, instantaneously…
Read John 7:37-39… Last week our text dealt with the middle of the Feast week, today we look at the last day of the Feast, the Great Day of the Feast, most likely referring to the seventh day of the Feast of Booths.

The Feast of Booths [Tabernacles, Tents, Shelters], which we studied about in the opening verses of chapter 7, was one the three major feasts of Israel. According to Josephus (1st Century historian), it was the most popular among the people.

The celebration was massive, those who lived in Jerusalem would build their booth or shelter on their roof, or in the street; whereas visitors from outside the city would construct their booths in the open areas around Jerusalem.

The Israelites would eat their meals in the booths for the week, and those who came from outside the city, some even from outside of Israel, would most likely sleep in their booths also.

There were daily activities commemorating God’s provision for the Israelites after leaving Egypt and entering the desert. Each day during the Feast, a water ritual was performed, and although these rituals were not set forth in the Old Testament, they had become tradition in the centuries before the time of Jesus.

These rituals commemorated God’s miraculous provision of water for Israel during their time in the wilderness (cf. Numbers 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 105:41; Isaiah 48:21).

During the Millennial Kingdom, the Feast of Booths will again be celebrated to honor the Messiah’s dwelling with His people, when all the nations will be gathered into His earthly kingdom (cf. Zechariah 14:16-19).

In John 7:37-38 Jesus cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

Everyday during the Feast, the High Priest would go out to the pool of Siloam and fill a golden container with water; he would then carry it back to the temple, with a procession of priests and levites. When they reached the Water Gate (south side of the inner court) a shofar (a trumpet made from a ram’s horn) would sound

three blasts to signify the occasion; and the people would recite Isaiah 12:3, and although I’m sure it sounds better in Hebrew, in English it says, “With joy you will draw water from the well of salvation.”

On the seventh day of the Feast, the High Priest would march around the altar in the temple seven times, while the temple choir sang the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), after which the water was poured out as an offering to God.

So, the priest is getting water from the Pool of Siloam, plains it in a gold container, and then carrying it into the temple while the people are loudly proclaiming, “With joy you will draw water from the well of salvation,” and all this is going on when Jesus stands up and loudly cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”

Notice in John 7:37, there are three very important words that describe the Lord’s invitation for a person to be saved: thirsty, come, drink.

If a person isn’t aware of their thirst, they will not seek a drink; just as a sinner, who doesn’t acknowledge his sin, won’t seek forgiveness for his sins. A person who is aware of their need for water, must do more than recognize they are thirsty; they must find water. And once they have come to a source of water, they must now drink from that, in order to satisfy their need.

Do you see analogy here? A person must realize they are a sinner [spiritually thirsty] and that they are going to die in their sins [die of thirst], unless they come to the only source of hydration [forgiveness], Jesus Christ, from whom they must drink [believe in and receive Him].

Notice again in John 7:38, “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” To genuinely believe in Jesus Christ is synonymous with being refreshed and rehydrated [but instead of later going into stomach] what Jesus is offering, forgiveness and eternal life, goes into heart.

There are examples in Scripture of those who come to Jesus aware of their need, but they don’t accept or partake of what Jesus offers them, instead, they go away thirsty and still in need (see Mark 10:17-22).

John 7:39a makes it clear that the “streams of living water” (v. 38c) that will flow from within a person who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is speaking of the Holy Spirit, through whom salvation is made effectual and ”those who believed in [Jesus] were later to receive.”

Anyone who heard Jesus, and was spiritually thirsty, would have received salvation that day, at the very moment they believed in Him [came to Him and drank]; for although the personal receiving of the Holy Spirit was future, the Spirit had been active, as God’s agent of repentance and power for regeneration, throughout the Old Testament and up to that time (cf. Genesis 6:3; Psalm 51:11; 143:10; Isaiah 30:1; Ezekiel 11:15).

See John 7:39b again. Those who believed in Jesus, although they have received forgiveness for sins, they would not receive the Spirit until after Jesus was glorified. When did that happen? Not until Jesus had accomplished all He had come to do, after which He would return to the Father and to the glory He had before coming to earth to save us.
John 17:4-5, “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”

Forgiveness was made effectual at the cross, when Jesus said, “It is finished!”

But the indwelling of God’s Spirit would not happen until Jesus ascended back into heaven. In John 14, Jesus’ last night with His disciples, He tells them He is going away, but He is going to ask the Father to send to them the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells them they know God’s Spirit for He has been with them, but He will soon be in them.

The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, the day the Church of God, the Body of Christ was birthed. Fifty days after Jesus rose from the grave, God’s Spirit came and indwelled all those who genuinely believed in Him (see Acts 1:1-8; 2:1-4, 38-39).

Ever since the Day of Pentecost, anyone who calls on Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, believing in Him as Lord, trusting Him as Savior, immediately receives the Holy Spirit, confirming that they have eternal life.

Perhaps you are here today and you find yourself to be unsure concerning what will happen when you die, where will you spend eternity? Are you right with God? The Message of Jesus Christ is called the Gospel, meaning “Good News.” And it is good news (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13), “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If your heart is troubled, if you are in need of forgiveness, come to the Savior, He turns no one away.

Admit you are a sinner, we all are…

Believe that Jesus can save you, He is the only means of salvation, the only Way…

Confess your sins to Him and He will forgive all your sins: past, present, future…

Demonstrate the new life you have received in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17)… How do you demonstrate new life in Christ?

Read the Bible daily and seek to obey what you understand.

Pray – talk to God throughout your day, asking Him to guide and strengthen you, to give you opportunities to serve Him…

Fellowship and serve in a local God-honoring church where the Bible is taught, obeyed and lived out…

Pastor Mike <‘(((><