John 7:37-39
37On 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. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By 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.
INTRODUCTION
On each day of the feast, the people came with palm branches and marched around the great altar. A priest took a golden pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam, carried it to the temple, and poured it on the altar as an offering to God. This dramatic ceremony was a memorial of the water that flowed from the rock when the Israelites traveled through the wilderness. Jesus used this ritual ceremony to speak to the crowd how their thirst can be satisfied.
EVERYONE HAS A THIRST
37On 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. John 7:37
In verse 37, Jesus used the analogy of the priest pouring water on the altar to share about a thirst that only He can satisfy. It is not the physical thirst for water, but a thirst of another kind.
The Greek word for thirst is dipsao, which means eagerly long for those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened. Jesus was talking about the nourishment of the soul through having a relationship with God.
Religious ritual performed by the priest cannot satisfy the souls. They need to come to Him and drink. The Greek word for drink is pino, which means to receive into the soul what serves to refresh, strengthen and nourish it unto life eternal. Jesus shared with the Jews about receiving eternal life through the Holy Spirit.
Most religious people think they can get closer to God through performing ritual, we need to share to these people the need of personal relationship with God.
ONLY JESUS CAN QUENCH THE THIRST
38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By 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. John 7:38-39
The Greek word ‘believe’ is ‘pisteuo’ which means “to place confidence in and to trust,” The Jews need to place their trust in Jesus in order to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be the One who satisfy their needs and not the religious ritual.
We need to encourage people to believe in Christ so they can enjoy an intimate relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
Religious rituals cannot satisfy human’s thirst, but only by the personal relationship with God. Let us go out and share with people about Jesus, who alone can satisfy their need of forgiveness, love, destiny and eternal life.
How did Jesus quench your spiritual thirst?
Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit?
