Discovering the Living Water

How is Jesus foreshadowed in the Old Testament?

What are characteristics of the ungodly?

The Source of Living Water

What is Going On?

We learn right off the bat that this passage is taking place at the end of the Feast of Booths. Which something relevant to today's passage that occured during this passage is they had a water pouring ceremony during everyday of the festival. They would get water from a special well and then take it to the temple and would pour it on the alter. A lot of fanfare happened around it. So keep this in mind as we discuss Jesus being the living water. So after we figure out the setting Jesus makes a powerful statement. (Read Statements) Jesus also refers to Proverbs 18:4

Proverbs 18:4 ESV

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

then these verses wrap up talking about how believers will receive the Holy Spirit. It also talks about why at this point why believers had not yet received the Holy Spirit. During the OT the Holy Spirit did not dwell in people permanently like He does now. he filled people in moments and worked in different situations. After Christ was resurrected and ascended the Holy Spirit began His NT work after Pentecost. Holy Spirit indwells and transforms now.

Biblical Points

The Feast of Booths ceremonies pointed forward to Jesus. The water poured out in this ceremony pointed to Jesus. the water would be referred to as Yeshua in the ceremony. Yeshua means salvation. Yeshua = Jesus.

The water in the ceremony foreshadowed the coming Messiah’s cleansing and salvation power.

Jesus is the fountain of life and salvation that is more than enough. Jesus provides for us in abundance.

When we come to Jesus, He pours into us; this results in a changed heart that pours into others.

People who have accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord will be filled with the Holy Spirit

Application

Works are not enough. You must surrender to Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

We can pour water on an alter our whole life, but if we don’t know the one we are pouring for all the work was done in vain. You can pour out good deed after good deed, but if you do not know the great Shepherd you do every good deed in vain.

As you grow in your faith the more of a godly impact you will have in your community.

Grow more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, by removing the bad out of your life.

What are some bad things that make us less sensitive to the Spirit:

Sin- any act, attitude, or disposition that fails to completely fulfill or measure up to the standards of God’s righteousness (Erickson)

Wrong motives

Acts 8:21 ESV

You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

This was the response to a man trying to do some godly things, but he had wrong intentions tainted by money

Relationships. You may idolize someone. You may spend way too much time with someone. Or lets look at Matthew 5:24

Matthew 5:24 ESV

leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Tension with someone may be keeping you from doing what you need to do for God.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Doubt

James 1:6–7 ESV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Opposers of the Living Water (Truth)

What is Going On?

So just like we saw last week we see people opposing Jesus for speaking the truth. They do not give any real strong argument agaisnt him. they don’t want to discuss the facts because if they do it will prove them wrong. They did not want to give Jesus a fair trial. A fair trial did not fit their motives. Like last week they still try to discredit Him by location. They bring up Jesus was to be from Bethlehem, not Galilee. If we look at the evidence where was Jesus born? Bethlehem. Again a failed argument on their part. We see the Pharisees scolding the soldiers for not arresting Jesus. The soldiers realized Jesus was special. Then the Pharisees belittle those in the crowd who do not agree with them. Then we come to verse 50 where we see Nicodemus mentioned. Where do we know him from? John 3. He came to Jesus in the night asking questions. Here in this passage we see him suggest a fair trial for Jesus. But the rest were against this idea. They pretty much ask him “You from the backwoods too? Nothing is good from out in them parts.”

So this whole session is pretty much the division that has arisen as Jesus has spoke.

Biblical Points

Those outside of Jesus rather distort and ignore Biblical truths, rather than to apply and listen to Biblical truth.

The statements they were throwing at Jesus they could have very easily realized were faulty if they took time to listen to the facts and research. But they did not want to listen to the facts. They did not want to know the truth, they just wanted to push their agenda.

Haughtiness is characteristic to those opposed to Jesus (v. 49).

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The pharisees were very prideful people, and this is one of several spots where we see the wrongness of their haughty spirit.

When i say pride i mean the pride that carries the meaning of: conceit, arrogance, and superiority

Why is haughtiness/pride a ungodly characteristics? Pride is very self centered. Pride blinds. Pride isolates.

Application

Compare teachings and your beliefs to the Bible to see how they hold up against the Bible.

As you examine teachings, be aware if when you need to correct someone, but also be willing to change what you believe. Be ready to make changes in your life. Do not just be looking around at everyone else pointing out their errors. Start with yourself and be willing to admit your errors.

Examine your life for pride and choose to walk in humility.

Humility is definitely a choice. You can choose to not be prideful. Does everybody have to know what you did? No. Do you always have to be front and center? No.

Practice gratitude. Choose to serve, don’t always do something expecting something in return. Learn to laugh at yourself.

“A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”-Henry Ward Beecher