Streams of Living Water

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me,ak and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

THE PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED OVER JESUS

40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This truly is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David lived?” 43 So the crowd was divided because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him.

DEBATE OVER JESUS’S CLAIMS

45 Then the servants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

46 The servants answered, “No man ever spoke like this!”,ba

47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus—the one who came to him previously and who was one of them—said to them, 51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?”

52 “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

THE PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED OVER JESUS

39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This truly is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David lived?” 43 So the crowd was divided because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him.

Introduction:

41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David lived?”

DEBATE OVER JESUS’S CLAIMS

As we have seen already in the gospel of John, there is a definite movement and order to the events that are transpiring. These events are occuring at festival times as well. Important cultural events in the life of the Jewish people. Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath during an important festival feast. Then, as the Passover festival neared, Jesus miraculously feeds the multitude with five loaves and two fish. It is also during this time that we see Jesus “draining the swamp” if you will as many in the crowd balk at his teaching and turn away from following him. Jesus travels to Galilee, because hostility in the Judean region was so elevated toward him and his time had not yet come to be crucified.

43 So the crowd was divided because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him. 45 Then the servants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

45 Then the servants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”

The hostility toward Jesus is growing as the feast of booths nears. This would have been approximately 7 months after the Passover festival. The Feast of booths or tabernacles was a very popular festival for the Jewish people that was very celebratory. This was a harvest feast that took place after the crops were gathered in. It was one of three festivals that every Jew male who lived within a certain distance was required to attend. Think of the big farm event in Moultrie! During this time of celebration the Jewish people would construct temporary shelters, even on rooftops of houses and other unlikely places. These shelters followed a certain structure made of branches with thin walls and see through roofs to remind the people of the providence and care of God as the nation wandered in the wilderness for forty years. This festival lasted seven days beginning on the 15th day of the seventh month. On the eight day, an offering of fire was made to the Lord.

46 The servants answered, “No man ever spoke like this!”,ba 47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him?

During this festival, a daily ritual was performed. Every morning, huge crowds would gather at the Temple. In their left hand was a piece of fruit, to symbolize the blessings of the promised land God had brought them into. In their right hand were branches from 3 different trees, a palm tree, a willow tree and a myrtle tree. These symbolized different periods of time during the journeys of the people in the wilderness. The priest would be there as well, and he would hold up a golden pitcher.

49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus—the one who came to him previously and who was one of them—said to them,

The priest would then lead the crowd to the pool of Siloam. On the way as they neared the gate, the shofar ( a type of trumpet) would be blown and the people would sing . When they reached the pool of Siloam the priest would dip the golden pitcher in the water while the people recited , “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” After this, the priest would circle the altar, walk up to the platform, and pour the water out of the pitcher. This happened every day for seven days.

47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed.”

50 Nicodemus—the one who came to him previously and who was one of them—said to them, 51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?”

This backdrop gives us great insight into the words Jesus spoke in . Pay attention also to the timing here. Jesus is not working on any man’s timetable. The word that is used for time in verse 6 is kairos, which carries the idea of opportunity. In response to his brothers self-serving motive for Jesus to make a splash at the festival, Jesus makes clear that the moment of opportunity had not arrived. Later, he does go to the festival, but mixed in with the crowd so as to arrive secretly. (v.10)

51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it?” 52 “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Pay attention also to the timing here. Jesus is not working on any man’s timetable. The word that is used for time in verse 6 is kairos, which carries the idea of opportunity. In response to his brothers self-serving motive for Jesus to make a splash at the festival, Jesus makes clear that the moment of opportunity had not arrived. Later, he does go to the festival, but mixed in with the crowd so as to arrive secretly. (v.10)

52 “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Pay attention also to the timing here. Jesus is not working on any man’s timetable. The word that is used for time in verse 6 is kairos, which carries the idea of opportunity.

The chapter reveals for us that the Jews (or the enemies of Jesus) were looking for him (v.11) and many people were murmuring or complaining about Jesus. The crowds were debating him, as they do today. Some said he was a good man, others said he was deceiver. Many were afraid of the Jews (Pharisees/Sadducees) so they refused to speak about him.

Jesus then goes into the temple and begins to teach. The crowds there debate about him. They discuss his identity and Jesus continues to teach. They try to seize him (v.30), yet once again we see that his hour, again kairos, or time of opportunity had not come. The tension is building. The Pharisees are hearing the murmuring about Jesus (v.32) and they desire to arrest him.

The scene is set. The final day of the feast arrives. The people once again gather, follow the priest, singing Psalms and waving their branches. They come in thru the water gate, the shofar is blown. On the last day, the priest was to circle the altar seven times and then pour the water out of the golden pitcher. If you can imagine the frenzy and the excitement in the crowd, the priest holds the pitcher up high for the people to see. Silence may have begun to gather as the priest prepares to pour the water out and in this moment Jesus cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Jesus was in total control. He picked the exact moment, the right moment and spoke words of authority and truth. It is a beautiful example of contextualizing the message. Here are people, trapped in a ritual. A ritual which offered only fleeting emotion and no deep satisfaction. Empty, they were refusing to recognize the signs and believe in Jesus.

Let’s look at Jesus’ words in verse 37-38 and consider “Streams of Living Water”. Notice first:

I. The Symbolism of Thirst

We all understand what it is like to be thirsty. These words used by Jesus concerning thirst are powerful and speak directly to the human condition. He is connecting the imagery of water to salvation.

The imagery of water is significant. The months prior to the feast of booths would have been the dry months and water would have been in the forefront of people’s minds.

We all understand what it is like to be thirsty. These words used by Jesus concerning thirst are powerful and speak directly to the human condition.

Likewise, the human condition reveals a deep need, a thirst. This I believe is a thirst for what only God can provide in terms of forgiveness and true fulfillment. People are still thirsty today, even when there is adequate supplies of natural water. The real need is spiritual. The tragedy is that far too many are trying to satisfy this thirst by following the evil desires of the human heart.

Broken Cisterns

, the bible describes the result of this twisted desire. We seek to satisfy thirst by suppressing the truth about who God is and who we are and turn instead to idols for relief. Idolatry is essentially the worship of self. Certainly our culture and unfortunately our churches are filled with self-worshippers.

, “For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.”

II. The Invitation of Jesus

The good news is that anyone can drink of the water of life that Jesus provides.

Hear the words again of Jesus in , “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

An open invitation, but not without a surrender to the one who gives this water of life. You see, you do not come to Jesus on your terms, but on his.

Come to Jesus in Repentance - Surrender

Recognize and realize the true reason for your thirst.

The questions we must answer are: Who am I? Who is God? What does God require? In order to receive the water of life, streams of living water, we must recognize our sin and our need of forgiveness from God.

We must realize and recognize that we are rebels against God who have sought satisfaction in the wrong people, places and things. Many in this crowd at this festival were trapped in the systems of religious ritual, empty and void of true peace or purpose. Many today can find themselves in the same trap. Fulfilling all kinds of religious rituals and yet still empty inside. Pride often keeps these people from true faith in Christ.

We must embrace Jesus for who he is. God in the flesh, the divine son of God who alone atoned for our sins on the cross. That he is Lord. We must see him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and embrace him as Savior and Lord.

Come to Jesus in Faith - Believe

We must embrace Jesus for who he is. God in the flesh, the divine son of God who alone atoned for our sins on the cross. That he is Lord. We must see him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and embrace him as Savior and Lord.

III. The Results of Faith

The water that the priest collected from the pool of Siloam was to symbolize the waters that God had provided for the people during their time of wandering in the wilderness () It was a foreshadowing of the streams of living water that God would provide in the Holy Spirit to all who believe by faith in Jesus.

Full & Complete Satisfaction

The streams of living water are distinct from stagnant or limited sources of water. What God gives, satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart.

To the lost man, woman boy or girl here this morning. Your need is to be saved, to be rescued from the penalty and judgment against your sin by trusting in Jesus Christ, the only one who can save you. When you do, you will discover that he provides true satisfaction beyond anything this world can provide.

To the believer, remember that Jesus is the only one who could have saved you, and that he is the only one who can satisfy you. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness daily. Surrender to him and live for him. Run from idols, refuse to allow the rituals of religion or good works to be the source of your satisfaction - love Jesus and love him supremely.

Overflowing Satisfaction that Blesses Others

The plural is used by Jesus. He doesn’t say stream but streams or rivers of living water. This living water produces a fruitfulness in our lives for the benefit and blessing of others.

, “The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry.”

11 The Lord will always lead you,

Jesus says that this living water flows from “deep within” The Greek for “within him” (7:38) is literally “out of his belly [koilia].” The belly, the deep cavity in a human being, was regarded by the ancient Hebrews as the seat of the emotions. So this is an internal work within us that will then flow out of us. Overflowing in fruitfulness as God blesses others thru our lives.

satisfy you in a parched land,

We are saved to serve. To serve God and in so doing we will become a channel of love and blessing to others.

and strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden

and like a spring whose water never runs dry.

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The Greek for “within him” (7:38) is literally “out of his belly [koilia].” The belly, the deep cavity in a human being, was regarded by the ancient Hebrews as the seat of the emotions. It can carry a negative sense with the meaning of “stomach” (cf. ; ), or it can also mean “womb” ().

13 For my people have committed a double evil:

John Bunyan wrote, “There was a man, the world did think him mad, the more he gave away, the more he had.” Stagnation is a result of selfishness. Just as the Dead Sea is such because it has no outlets, we can become stagnant when we fail to serve others. When we are satisfied in Christ alone we will be a blessing. When we turn to seeking satisfaction in other sources, we will become frustrated and stagnant.

They have abandoned me,

Conclusion:

the fountain of living water,

During this festival, the Jews were reenacting a tradition that could never satisfy. Do you know Jesus? Have you come to him in repentance and faith and received living water?

and dug cisterns for themselves—

cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.