Rivers of Living Water

In today’s passage Jesus stands up on the last day of the feast of booths and again offers living water to his listeners, if you remember he offered it to the Samaritans in Chapter 4 where we met the woman at the well, now he offers it to the Jews. We know from Chapter 4 that the phrase living water refers to eternal life and salvation but John adds here in verse 39 that it is also in reference to the receiving of the Holy Spirit. But what is the purpose of the living water, is living water really about saving our souls and God filling us with His presence or is there something more, some greater plan he has for giving us this water? Look with me at John 7:37-39 as we consider the living water Jesus provides.

John 7:37–39 ESV

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.’ ” 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.

Anyone who Thirsts

John 7:37–38 ESV

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.’ ”

First I want you to notice John stresses the timing

on the last day

the great day

why does john stress this day

First we need to understand the feast of booths was a reminder for the Israelites of God’s provision and care throughout the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land

Second by Jesus day there was an established ritual that on the last day of the feast they would draw water from the pool of Siloam and take it up to the temple and pour it on the altar of Sacrifice. This ritual refers to Isaiah 12:2-3

Isaiah 12:2–3 ESV

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

It is on this day then that Jesus says If anyone thirsts...

Thus Jesus is saying I am the well of salvation It is in me you find your salvation. I am the God who provided for your ancestors and I am here to provide complete fulfillment and satisfy your sin debt that you may experience true Joy.

Second, this statement refers to Isaiah 55:1-3

Isaiah 55:1–3 ESV

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Notice the requirement for both passages is the same - ANYONE WHO THIRSTS

It doesnt matter who you are what you have done whether rich or poor, good or bad, respectable or the black sheep you are welcome to take a drink.

Isaiah even emphasises you who have no money come and buy without price.

There is no cost to us because Jesus paid for it with his sacrifice on the Cross. The bill has been paid. The only requirement is that we desire him like a thirsty person wants a drink. Remember Jesus is in a desert climate where water is scarce and is a constant need. Thus we need to want Jesus to want God like a man in the desert wants for water.

Do you really want him like a thirsty person wants water or is it more like a child wants

Jesus Completely Satisfies

John 7:37 ESV

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.

The implication here is that when one drinks they are satisfied and are thirsty no more. This is supported by Isaiah 55:2

Isaiah 55:2 ESV

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Here the food and drink provided by God are contrasted with the worlds provision.

why do you labor for that which does not satisfy. I look around at our society and I see a people who are laboring in vain seeking to satisfy their thirst, their hunger for God with lesser things. Vainly buying bigger and better homes, trucks, toys and whatnots. All the while gaining marginal satisfaction until something else glitters to their eye. Nothing is ever enough It doesnt satisfy. Instead they are left just as empty just as hungry and thirsty as they were before. Cursed to always seeking out the next big thing in the hope it will be enough, all the while knowing in their hearts it wont satisfy. Ultimately God is the only one who satisfies. It is God alone in whom we can find true joy, peace, truth and love. He not only satisfies us but he is more than enough to fill us to overflowing. Which brings me to our next point that we should be flowing in to others

Flowing into Others

John 7:38 ESV

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

Whoever believes in me - again speaks of a saving faith a trust in Jesus not only to provide for salvation but also for all our needs. That we make Jesus Lord and master of our lives

Thus whoever believes in Jesus out of his heart will flow rivers of living water

Rivers are constantly in motion

They are constantly moving water from one place to another. Notice the metaphor here. We are to moving the living water from our hearts to somewhere else. Where then should it go.

The answer is found in Jesus last words to us on earth in Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The living water the waters of salvation eternal life and the Spirit of God Himself these are not to be hoarded as a precious resource as though its going to run out. Rather we must understand the well of salvation from Isaiah 12:2-3 from which flows our rivers of living water this well will never run dry. It is everlasting without beginning or end because it is eternal for it is God himself. Therefore this water though it is precious, should not be hoarded but freely given because all need it, desire it, and it is limitless thus all can have it.

To hoard it would deny the very purpose of its existence. Jesus came that we might know God and live forever with him.

Invitation

For the Christian then we become the hands and feet of Jesus we are neither the source nor the power behind salvation rather we are simply the method in which he chooses to share it. Our telling the gospel is how people hear and receive the living water of Christ. As we draw from the inexhaustable well of Christ we pour it out to a world that is desperately thirsty for him and yet are unaware that it him they desire and need above all else.

For those of you who have never tasted the waters of Christ I beg you to come and have a drink come and be satisfied as you have never been before. Come experience the Joy, the peace, and the love of God in your own life that comes only from the one true God. Will you choose today to place your trust in Jesus Christ to cleanse you of your sins, to teach you how to live rightly before a holy God and to restore you to a right relationship with Him who made you and loves you. Let us pray