“On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, “From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)” —John 7:37–39
Grabbing the attention of His hearers on the most important day of the Feast, Jesus loudly proclaims a wide and full and free invitation to all humankind—establishing with certainty the gospel as being eminently wonderful news. I am reminded of the prophet Isaiah’s words:
“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!” —Isaiah 55:1–2
Apart from Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, each one of us remains spiritually thirsty, anxious of soul, in need of pardon before a Holy God, and longing for a lasting peace. God’s perfect law convicts us of our sin. We are in a hopeless state. No one possesses the ability to be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law, for apart from Jesus, we all remain helpless. We will always be found wanting. Paul tells us:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
The Jews were all too familiar with their lack of ability. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament served as a constant reminder. God had warned His people through the prophet Jeremiah that they had forsaken Him, the Spring of Living Water and had dug their own pathetic broken cisterns. They had replaced the one true God with false idols which could never satisfy nor meet their needs:
“Do so because my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cistern for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.” —Jeremiah 2:13
When we come to the realization of our sinful state, it is then that we desire the help and relief that comes through forgiveness. This is the idea behind Jesus’ choice of the word “thirsty.” Who has not been thirsty? Who has not been parched and desirous of having their thirst quenched? What we perhaps know all too well in the physical realm, Jesus is communicating a spiritual truth. Unfortunately, we often seek to quench our spiritual thirst with almost everything but the Living Water! From money to pleasure to honor to prestige to self-indulgence—there is no limit to our chase for satisfaction or the careless handling of our own souls. We seem to go to great lengths not to pursue what ultimately satisfies. Jesus tells us:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” —Matthew 5:6
Become More
Isaiah prophesized:
“The Lord will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.” —Isaiah 58:11
Peace is only to be truly experienced in Christ Jesus who serves as our mediator and substitute. To come to Christ is to believe in Him and to be filled with Him.
Further Reflections
“Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby! The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.” —Isaiah 55:6–7
“To feel the sinfulness of sin and to thirst, and really to come to Christ and believe, are the two steps which lead to heaven. But they are mighty steps. Thousands are too proud and careless to take them. Few, alas, think; and still fewer believe!” —J. C. Ryle