Think back to a time when you were really, really thirsty. Perhaps you had gone for an afternoon hike and forgotten to take along a water bottle or canteen. Maybe you were working outside, doing chores in your yard on a warm summer day. All you could think about is a glass of refreshing lemonade or ice water. That is physical thirst. How about spiritual thirst? How do you know if you are spiritually thirsty? We know what to do for physical thirst, but what do you do for spiritual thirst? Our Scripture today gives us the answer.
As we open our brief Scripture passage from the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus was in Jerusalem at a certain religious festival (vs. 37). The festival that John is referring to is the Feast of Tabernacles. This religious festival was to celebrate and give thanks to God for the ingathering of the fall harvest, particularly grapes and olives, both very important crops for the Jewish people at this time. This festival usually falls in September or October.
There was one tradition that the religious leaders would practice during the Feast of Tabernacles. In this tradition a golden container of water from the pool of Siloam was carried by the High Priest into the Temple, and was then offered on the altar in thanksgiving for the rainfall the Lord gave, producing the harvest. This ceremony was an important part of the festival, and the people would line up to see this procession of the High Priest carrying the water into the Temple.
As every farmer and gardener knows, plenty of rain and water is essential for a good crop. This is particularly a concern in a desert-like climate, such as the Middle East. One thing that particularly worried the Israelites during their 40 year wandering was having sufficient water. A person can go a few weeks without food, but only about three days without water. Again, this is physical food and water. What about food and water for spiritual hunger and thirst?
On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood up before some of the people and gave an answer to that question. He told the people that if they thirst, that is, a spiritual thirst, they need to turn to Him and be spiritually refreshed (vs. 37). If anyone believes in Him, they will have rivers of living water flowing out of their heart (vs. 38). If someone accepts Jesus as their Savior, they will receive the Holy Spirit, who is that living water (vs. 39).
In a physical sense, living water is water that is moving, that is good and healthy to drink, like a crisp, clear high mountain brook that is flowing over stones and rocks, on its way downhill. That is generally fine to drink from. However a pond where there is no movement of the water, that water soon becomes quite stagnant, especially on a warm day. It is certainly not safe to drink. We want living water, both physically and spiritually.
Jesus said that those who came to Him would receive living water, something that is good, and brings spiritual health and life. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman at a well, and said He would give living water, referring to salvation and eternal life (John 4:10). Here He is referring to the Holy Spirit. They go together. When one accepts Jesus as Savior, they receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life.
Jesus used this event, the bringing of the water into the Temple during the festival as an object lesson to make a public invitation, the greatest invitation ever given to man, for the people to accept Him and receive eternal life. The Messiah has life-giving blessings, and promised the Holy Spirit to all who believe The imparting of the Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual and eternal life. His presence and power poured out on us are like these rivers of living water.
“Thirst”, “Come”, “Drink” - three words summarizing the Gospel invitation. First we have to recognize our need for the Living Water by acknowledging our lost condition, our spiritual thirst. Once we realize we are spiritually lost, spiritually thirsty, then we need to approach the source of provision. We need to come to the Savior. Once we come, then we receive what is needed. We can drink of the life-giving water, receive salvation and the Holy Spirit.
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