Water of Life

John 7:37–39 NKJV

37 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. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The feast of the tabernacle was called the holiest feast by Josephus . This feast is when devout Jews lived outdoors in tents. As a reminder of Gods provision for them in the wilderness period.

They stayed outside for seven days in booths to remember that God is with His people .

This was the climatic experience of the feast. This is where great joy and celebration would happen.

Lightfoot “ Whoever had not witnessed it had never seen rejoicing at all.”

Deut 7 It was a time of rejoicing, and celebration. You would gather your Male servant, female servant, the stranger, and the widow would celebrate with you.

One was a solemn procession each day from the temple to the Gihon Spring. A priest filled a gold pitcher with water while the choir sang Isaiah 12:3. Then they returned to the altar and poured out the water. This ritual reminded them of the water from the rock during the wilderness wanderings

Numbers 20:8-11

What came out for the congregation and animals.

Also this feast spoke prophetically the coming days of the Messiah. Zech. 14:8

In the middle of this great celebration Jesus stood and cried out.

Jesus stood maybe in an elevated position. The Jewish culture they would stay seated and teach. But Jesus stood revealing his authority.

He cried out making proclamation.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”

Jesus is making an offer of salvation.

John 4:14 “14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.””

John 6:53–56 NKJV

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Jesus is always given invitation to Himself.

When the disciples ask where Jesus lived He said come and see.

He invited all the weary and heavy laden to come under his wing and he will give them rest.

He invited Zacchaues down from the tree and He wanted to live with him.

He invited every character in the Bible who was thirsty to come to Him.

Isaiah 55:1 “1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.”

Isaiah 55:2 “2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.”

What are the big misconceptions about coming to Christ.

1. I will never sin again. Sometimes we think because we come to Christ some how in the day to day I won’t sin. And how we weigh our relationship with God is based on how much I don’t sin.

Almost everyday my relationship with Christ was in the balance because of my sin.

1 John 1:8 “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

2. That I will become wealthy.

As a Pastor I can reassure you this is the reality.

You could be theres no guarantee that this will be your reality.

I seen some marriages where the marriage became a business relationship. No more mystery. and now the marriage led to an open marriage to divorce.

3. That God will leave us.