JESUS AND LIVING WATER!
Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsThe examination of the different beliefs about Jesus and God's proclaimation of Jesus through the Feast of Booths. Application: What do we base our beliefs on and are we drinking from the rivers of water of the Holy Spirit within us.
Notes
Transcript
OPENER:
We all have opinions and viewpoints. Being human we are often sharing them with others. That truth has never likely been magnified more than in our age of technology.
People have always had opinions and viewpoints but now everyone who wants it has a platform in which to present it in the form of a post, podcast, or video.
(All you have to do is scroll through a social media feed long enough to find something controversial or debatable (whether serious or completely pointless and you will be able to witness a numbers of people sharing there opinions on the matter as if each one is equally valid based on the fact that they said it or someone else said it that they like). So much so that the truth based on evidence (or even the need for it to establish a fact gets lost.) (Instead good sounding statements, myths, what a popular commentator or teacher said, or a person affiliations are what people believe).
This sounds like a problem that we see in our culture now but many of these same things could be said about what happened concerning what people thought of Jesus’ during the feast of tabernacles in John 7.
There are so many reason I love this chapter, but one of them is that the Holy Spirit gives us a picture of the many differing things that the people thought and believed about Jesus at that time.
The first ones whose viewpoint about whether Jesus was the Messiah is His own brothers before He goes to the feast.
I have two brothers and growing up sometimes they were great encouragers and at other times my greatest critics. Jesus brothers here at first seem to be encouraging Him but the explanatory statement in verse 5 shows not!
Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.
It is very interesting that His brothers at this point did not believe in Him. (Although they would later). It makes you wonder why? Possibly because of their familiarity in growing up with Him. Just as Jesus was not accepted in His own home town because the people could only see Him a the carpenter and Mary’s son. (SO AS WE CONTINUE TO STUDY WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT OF JESUS IN THIS CHAPTER AND AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW...
APPL: Hopefully the familiarity we already have with Christ (to whatever degree) does not hinder us from viewing HIM AS HIS IS RATHER THAN any other influence, and HOPE WE FEEL THAT WE CAN COME TO KNOW HIM MORE!
THERE IS MUCH TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HERE (AS IN THE GOSPEL AS A WHOLE.)
Before we examine the differing views about Jesus that are recorded in this chapter it is so important that we PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE CONTEXT AND EVENT WHICH IT TAKES PLACE IN; THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. (or booths).
Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand.
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES occured about six months after the passover celebration and like the passover celebration was DESIGNED AND COMMANDED BY GOD in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy 16:13.
The feast of Tabernacles or Booths or Ingathering. It had a more than one name and more than one purpose: It was called (ingathering) because (1) It was a celebration of God’s provision of harvest. (2) It was called the feast of Tabernacles because it commemorated the Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness when they lived in tents (or tabernacles) and GOD’S PROVIDING FOR THEM then as well, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE MANNA AND WATER.
This feast, also called the Feast of Ingathering, was a time of thanksgiving for harvest. It was a happy time; devout Jews lived outdoors in booths made of tree branches for seven days as a reminder of God’s provision in the desert during their forefather’s wanderings. The feast also signified that God dwells with His people.
Jesus did not immediately go to the feast because some of the Jews we seeking to kill Him (V1) but waited and then went is private.
While the feast was for the reasons stated JESUS WAS THE MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION among many of the people.
But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.”
THIS PASSAGE IS A PERFECT DEMONSTRATION OF THE DIVIDED VIEWS OF JESUS THAT WERE THERE AT THE FEAST. (AND BELIEFS ABOUT THE MESSIAH) Let’s look at all of the differing views of Christ during the feast:
JESUS IS A GOOD MAN OR HE IS LEADING THE PEOPLE ASTRAY (as above)
JESUS IS NOT THE CHRIST BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE HE IS FROM; NO ONE WILL KNOW WHERE THE MESSIAH COMES FROM. (Jewish tradition/myth)
But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.”
This belief was a Jewish tradition that came from a myth that the Christ would just appear out of nowhere without known origin.
JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, HIS MIRACLES PROVE IT
Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
There belief came from a logical truth that if you honestly examined it would be undeniable. This is what Nicodemus said, “No one can do the works that you do unless He is from God.”
JESUS IS “THE PROPHET” AND “THE CHRIST” (AFTER HIS OFFER OF LIVING WATER)
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
Not just a prophet but THE PROPHET, (this is a reference to Moses prophecy concerning the Messiah as “the Prophet like Him whom God would raise up.”)
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?
Jesus could not offer what what He was offering unless He was the Messiah because only the Christ could offer such a thing. (But then directly after this others get tripped up because…)
JESUS IS NOT THE CHRIST BECAUSE HE IS FROM GALILEE?
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
If they would have done a little digging (like maybe ask Jesus Himself) they would have found that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, even though He was not currently “from” there.)
The religious leaders also used this to try to show that Jesus was not the Messiah in verse 52.
They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
They were of course wrong for three reasons, (1) Jesus was of course originally from Bethlehem, (2) Jonah and Elijah came from that region, (3) mainly scripture did speak of the Messiah as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (in Isaiah 9:6) as a “great light” for Galilee.
THE PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED OVER WHO CHRIST IS: (with all of this the perfect verse that sums all this up is verse 43;
So there was a division among the people over him.
The same is true today and always has been; people are divided about Christ. Depending on who you listen to you may or may not view Him correctly.
They are not just divided about whether He is God but about many other things concerning who He was and His teachings.
Again, think about all the different beliefs, opinions, misconceptions and truths that people believed...
THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE BELIEVE WHAT CHRIST SAYS ABOUT HIMSELF.
Because our relationship with Christ is affected by what we believe about Him even beyond just Him being the Messiah!
NOW THINK ABOUT HOW THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEFS OF THE PEOPLE IMPACTED THEIR INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIP (OR LACK THEREOF) TO CHRIST.
For those who believed that He was just a good man or a great teacher they might not oppose Him but they would not seek after Him and receive.
For those who believed that He was “leading the people astray,” they would be lead away from Him except to perhaps to persecute Him.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVED HE WAS THE MESSIAH THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIM AND COULD RECEIVE THE SALVATION AND LIVING WATER THAT HE OFFERED.
During the feast there were a lot of people saying a lot things about Christ BUT THE ONE THAT EVERYONE NEEDED TO LISTEN TO WAS JESUS. (likewise, today…
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR YOU TODAY: THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND INFLUENCES THAT SEEK TO SPEAK INTO OUR LIVES BUT THE ONE WE NEED TO HEAR IS JESUS.
But the most important thing for you is not what they believed (or your friends, or family) about Jesus but what you belief about HIM and what you are doing about it. (Are you seeking to know what to believe from Jesus Himself?)
DON’T EVER LET WHAT OTHERS SAY CAUSE YOU TO MISS OUT ON WHAT GOD IS SEEKING TO DO IN YOUR LIFE THROUGH CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
There were many who say Christ in the flesh during this feast who missed out on everything that God had to offer though HIM.
ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS IN JOHN 7 IS WHAT GOD what GOD DID TO TESTIFY TO CHRIST.
THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES AND WHAT GOD INTENDED FOR IT...
AGAIN, THE FEAST WAS TO CELEBRATE GOD’S CURRENT PROVISION BUT MORE THAN; LOOK BACK TO AND REMEMBER GOD’S PROVIDING FOR ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS SPECIFICALLY THROUGH GIVING THEM MANNA AND WATER!
It is MIND-BLOWING HOW GOD SETS UP FOR JESUS TO BE PRESENTING AS THE MESSIAH? DO YOU SEE WHAT I AM GETTING AT?
The Feast and it’s looking back to celebrate God’s providing physical bread and water was something God was using to point forward to GOD’S PROVIDING CHRIST THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN JESUS PROVIDING LIVING WATER (THE HOLY SPIRIT) AFTER HE CARRIED OUT THE GOSPEL.
Just like the Passover feast and the lamb prefigured or pointed toward Jesus’ sacrifice as our passover lamb.
GOD SET UP THE PERFECT EVENT AND TIME FOR JESUS’ STATEMENT:
This is the incredible thing: “on the first day of the feast, a priest would read
Zechariah 14:8 , “On that day, living water will flow out of Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 14:8 , “On that day, living water will flow out of Jerusalem.”
(SLIDE) (pic of priest pouring pitcher…) “every day of the feast, except for the last day, a priest stood in front of the temple with a golden pitcher of water and poured it on a rock. This commemorated the water flowing out of the rock that gave the Israelites water to drink. While the water flowed out, the people standing by chanted, (SLIDE) (pic of water from a rock)
“With Joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3”
“With Joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3”
SO NOW…AS OUR TEXT SAYS, “on the last and greatest day of the feast…when this was not done, CHRIST OFFERS THEM THE SPIRITUAL BLESSING THAT IS SO MUCH GREATER... AND Jesus stands up as the fulfillment of those passages…
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
GOD PROVIDED WATER FROM A ROCK IN THE WILDERNESS; CHRIST WOULD PROVIDE LIVING WATER FROM INSIDE THE PEOPLE.
THAT IS SO AWESOME ISN’T IT. AGAIN GOD SET UP A PERFECT TIME WHEN JESUS COULD OFFER LIVING WATER TO THOSE WHO COME TO HIM!
SO, Jesus was offering salvation but HE WAS ALSO ALLUDING TO ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE WITH SALVATION.
MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS TEXT IS WHAT THE NEXT VERSE SAYS… ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE PARENTHETICAL VERSES IN SCRIPTURE…(or Explanatory)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
THINK ABOUT WHAT JESUS IS SAYING; THE LIVING WATER IS THE SPIRIT WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN GIVEN BECAUSE JESUS HAD NOT BEEN GLORIFIED.
The Spirit had been given in the Old Testament but only to come upon them for periods of time. But the Spirit would be given.
Jesus being glorified through the gospel and ascending to the Father after which the New Covenant would be put in place and the salvation preached the gift of the Spirit would be given at baptism as we find in Acts 2:38.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As our text says, “the Spirit had not yet been given” to dwell in man permanently until after Christ sacrifice and resurrection. Now we who have been baptized into Christ have received the gift of God and the “living water” that “dwells in us” or “dwells in and flows out of our heart” so that everything we do is “in step with the Spirit.”
SO FAR BEYOND WHAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE THOUGHT (THEN AND TODAY) CHRIST WAS OFFERING SALVATION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD WOULD DWELL IN HIS DISCIPLES TO HELP THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
This is why Jesus would tell His disciples that it was to their advantage that Jesus leave in John 16:7
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Jesus had already told them earlier that he would ask the Father to give them another helper…who would be with them forever…
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
He was with them but “will be in you.” For us the Holy Spirit, the “living water” dwells is within us always giving us what we need Spiritually from the inside.
Now the Spirit dwells within us and is the one who helps us and quenches our Spiritual thirst and helps us live for Christ.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
THE LIVING WATER THAT JESUS OFFERS AND GIVES THOSE WHO COME TO HIM AND ARE BAPTIZED IS A GIFT THAT IS INCOMPARABLE.
IT IS THE VERY SPIRIT OF CHRIST LIVING IN US! IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THIS.
BECAUSE JUST AS WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT CHRIST DICTATES OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT DETERMINES WHAT GOD DOES IN US AND THROUGH US BY HIM.
JUST LIKE there have been many differing beliefs about Jesus, I have heard many different things in my life about the HOLY SPIRIT. Because of what I was taught growing up and what I was not taught I knew little about the HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER IN THE LIFE OF A CHRIST FOLLOWER.
AT TIMES I WAS TAUGHT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT ONLY DWELT IN YOU “REPRESENTATIVELY THROUGH THE WORD.” THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE MY WALK WITH CHRIST HARDER AND OFTEN THIRSTIER WAS THE FACT THAT I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, OR LOOK FOR, OR LISTEN FOR, OR RELY ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MY LIFE!
IN EFFECT I ALLOWED HOW OTHERS VIEWED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CAUSE ME TO MISS OUT ON WHAT GOD WANTED TO DO IN ME AND THROUGH ME BY HIS SPIRIT.
WHILE THAT WAS ME IT MAY CURRENTLY BE YOU! MAYBE YOU NEED TO OPEN YOUR EYES TO “LIVING WATER” THAT IS LIVING INSIDE OF YOU.
BECAUSE can we submit to, or rely on the leading of One who we rarely talk about, or think about as working in our lives, and dwelling within us. Maybe that is one reason why are we often too reliant on our own power to get us through or establish joy and peace. Maybe we are still thirsty because we quench the Holy Spirit through our willfulness, sin, self reliance or even ignoring the fact that He is at work in our lives!
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO BRINGS “THE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER FROM WITHIN OUR HEART” BUT ARE WE ALLOWING HIM TO FILL US.
Just as we can be filled with the Spirit we can quench the Spirit.
Do not quench the Spirit.
BECAUSE while the Holy Spirit indwells in us it seems that we through our giving in to, or submission to, reliance on and willingness, can me more or less controlled by the Spirit. Notice what Ephesians 5:18 and Galatians 5:16, 24, 25
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
So if we need to be filled with the Spirit, we can also not be full of the Holy Spirit. (If we are not filled it may be that we are too full of other things that we do not have any room. We are constantly focused on the temporary…that our minds do not even have time to hear...)
If we are commanded to walk by the Spirit that implies that we may not be walking by the Spirit but instead the flesh.
If we are commanded to “keep in step with the Spirit” that implies what? That we can be out of step with the Spirit!
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
IF WE ARE TOLD TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT DOES THAT NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOLLOWING AND SUBMIT TO HIM?
IN OUR ACTIONS AND DECISIONS AS HE BRINGS GOD’S WORD TO MIND AND CONVICTS US AND NUDGES US TO CARRY OUT GOD’S WILL, THEN EMPOWERS US TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
AS MUCH AS WE ARE TOLD DO BE AND DO IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE SPIRIT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE PRETTY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE BUT LIVE BY, listen for and submit to THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WHAT HE PROVIDES FOR US!
IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE RIVER OF LIVING WATER FLOWING FROM OUR HEART AS HE DWELLS IN US LET’S JUMP IN AND LET THE RIVER OVERTAKE US AND DRINK CONSTANTLY FROM WHAT HE PROVIDES!
IN OTHER WORDS HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK IN YOUR LIFE?
PERSONAL: Scripture says that the Holy Spirit is involved in our sanctification and so I realize that any good in me and any growth over the years is because of the Holy Spirit in me!
ANYTIME I TEACH OR PREACH OR STUDY WITH SOMEONE and they hear what God wanted them to and they are convicted…I see the work of the Holy Spirit when I try to counsel someone…and am amazed at how the Spirit works…
When I pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my words and heart I pray better than at any other time and in ways I had not thought of. (Has anyone else ever experienced that? Eph 6:18 calls that praying in the Holy Spirit.)
When I am tempted and just the right passage comes to mind. How many of you have ever experienced that? (That happened to Jesus as well and He over came. Coincidence? I better not think so!)
When I am battling mentally and the right truths come to my mind and my heart to keep me in the right place. (Allowing me to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” I know that the Holy Spirit dwells in me and work in my life because He fights my battles for me so often! I could go on but we do not have much time...
THINK ABOUT ALL THE HOLY SPIRIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IN OUR LIVES:
HE EMPOWERS OUR PRAYERS AND PRAYS FOR US! Every time we pray He is connecting our spirits and heart with God and interceding for us. Romans 8.
OUR HELPER WHO LEAD US TO TRUTH AND CONVICTS US OF SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. (John 15, 16)
HE GIVES US THE GIFTS WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH TO SERVE (1 COR. 12) AND EMPOWER ALL THE ACTIVITIES FROM THEM.
He strengthens our souls and gives us hope according to Ephesians 3 and helps us understand God’s love.
Overcome temptation…as we already said 1 Corinthians 10:12
Help us understand God’s word and make judgments about life - 1 Cor. 2:13-15
The Holy Spirit is involved in our daily transformation and helps us to have the “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
LET US EACH SEEK TO SEE JESUS FOR WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND TO TAKE IN AND BE FILLED WITH THE “LIVING WATER,” THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE FILL!
THERE WERE MANY AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WHO HEARD JESUS’ INVITATION AND BELIEVED. ITS MY PRAYER THAT EACH OF US BELIEVES AS WELL.