Have you ever come to a pond that is filled with nasty, slimy water, and with rotted or dying plant life? You’re not likely to want to dip your hand in and take a drink! Sometimes a fish tank can get rather nasty, too. If there is no movement on the surface of the water in your fish tank, there will be no oxygen, the water will become nasty and the fish will die soon. That is why we put those air-bubblers in there. Swiftly moving water, or “living” water from a mountain spring can taste good and be refreshing, but no one wants warm, stagnant water. Moving water brings life. Water that has sat for a long period of time will taste nasty, grow bacteria, and could make one sick. In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus speaks of a different type of “living water”, one that also brings life. Let’s take a quick look at what He was talking about.
John Chapter 7 takes place in Jerusalem, and the Jewish festival of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, was finishing. This feast is held in the autumn, and commemorates Israel’s wilderness wanderings. Each day there was a water-drawing ceremony, where the priests poured water at the altar in the Temple. This would symbolize God’s provision and the hope of future spiritual renewal. It was during this festival, with all of these ceremonies being performed in the sight of the people, that Jesus stood and proclaimed our Scripture verses, that He is the true source of the water they were symbolically celebrating.
Jesus knew that these people were spiritually thirsty. Most everyone at one time or another has a spiritual thirst. They want something more in their life, their soul desires God, but they don’t know how or where to quench that spiritual thirst. All too often they end up drinking from the spiritual equivalent of the foul and fetid pond.
The Savior told us that whoever is thirsty should come to Him and drink (vs. 37). First, we must know that we are thirsty, to be aware of our spiritual needs. Jesus says if anyone is thirsty - His offer of salvation is universal. He didn’t call just those of a certain race, or who looked like this or that. Jesus said “anyone”. Those who are spiritually thirsty are to come to Him. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Lastly, they are to drink, that is, personally appropriate the salvation He offers by faith. Salvation does not come by religious rituals or works, but is Christ-centered, grace-based, and faith-activated.
Jesus then tied His promise directly to belief - the one who believes in Him will have rivers of living water flow from their heart (vs. 38). Salvation is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). This promise is not for the world generally, but instead it is for the believer specifically. Also, belief is not just intellectual assent, but is instead trusting in Christ’s Person and His saving work on the Cross.
As Jesus stood among the crowds, He stated that to those who believe, out of their hearts will flow rivers of living water (vs. 38). The living water symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s life-giving ministry. The Spirit not only indwells the believer, but also overflows from the believer to bless others, producing fruit, power, witness, and spiritual vitality. This doesn’t just come out like a trickle. Jesus said it pours forth like a river.
The Apostle John, as he wrote his Gospel, clarified that Jesus was indeed speaking of the Holy Spirit, which was yet to come (vs. 39). The Spirit would be given to believers, not to the world or to those just superficially religious, but to those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit would come later, after Jesus’ death on the Cross, His resurrection, and ascension. Only after this redemptive work could the Holy Spirit come to indwell believers permanently.
As we see in this brief passage of Scripture, salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. He, alone, offers the living water. Today, since we all live post-Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells every believer from the moment they accept Jesus as their personal Savior (Romans 8:9). Jesus said “if anyone thirsts”, the Gospel invitation is universal. No one is excluded, but one must come to Him.
Are you thirsty? If so, come to Jesus Christ for salvation. If you have already accepted Him, but feel spiritually dry and empty today, renew your fellowship with Him. Is the Holy Spirit flowing through you to others? His presence should produce love, joy, and peace. It should move us to bring the Gospel message to others, and bring holiness in our lives. If the “rivers” feel more like “drops”, the issue is not with God’s supply but the level of our surrender to Him.
Jesus did not promise a cup-full or a trickle. He promised rivers - abundant, overflowing, and unstoppable. The Christian life is not meant to be dry and stagnant. It is meant to be Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, and overflowing with His life in us. Each day let us yield ourselves to Him fully and completely. And if you have not yet accepted Him as your Savior, come to Jesus and drink of the living water He offers.
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