Rivers of Living Water
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)
This describes what Jesus did on the last day of the 8-day feast of Tabernacles. All through the first seven days water from the Pool of Siloam was carried in a golden pitcher and poured out at the temple altar to remind everyone of the water God miraculously provided for thirsty Israel in the wilderness. It seems that on the eighth day there was no pouring of water – only prayers for water – to remind them that they came into the Promised Land.
John remembered the scene when Jesus stood and cried out, saying If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles emphasized how God provided water to Israel in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. Jesus boldly called people to Himself to drink and satisfy their deepest thirst, their spiritual thirst.
The invitation was broad because Jesus said, if anyone. Intelligence, race, class, nationality, or political party don’t limit this offer. At the same time, the invitation was narrow because it said, if anyone thirsts. One must see their need. Thirst is not anything in itself; it is a lack of something. It is an emptiness, a crying need.
There is dispute among commentators as to if Jesus said this as water was being poured out, or if He did it on the day when no water was poured out. It is perhaps impossible to be certain, but John’s emphasis on the last day probably indicates that Jesus meant to show a contrast. “There’s no more water at the temple and in the rituals we love. I have the water you’re looking for.”
He who believes in Me explains what Jesus meant by the metaphor of drinking. To come to Jesus and to drink was essentially to put one’s faith in Him; to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus for both time and eternity.
For the one who does believe in Him, Jesus offered a perpetual river of living water out of His innermost being. Tabernacles also looked forward to the prophecies of water flowing from the throne and from Jerusalem where Messiah would be enthroned. Essentially Jesus said, “Put your loving trust in Me, enthrone Me in your heart, and life and abundance will flow out.”
Jesus did not only speak of something coming into a person, but something flowing out of them as well. It was not only a blessing received, but also becoming a source of blessing to others. In the following verse, John connected these rivers of living water with the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Receive this flow of living water, the work of God’s Spirit. It’s God’s gift to all who believe.
Click here for David’s commentary on John 7