Jesus The Living Water

Last week we focused in on Jesus statement found in John 7:17

John 7:17 CSB

17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.

We mentioned how submission of the will or wanting to do God’s will give an individual the ability to hear, understand, and recognize weather a teaching comes from the Lord. For this reason Jesus often spoke in parables. Relaying truth to those who would desire to understand this. He did this because it was not yet his time to reveal himself to both believers and unbelievers alike putting into play the plan to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world. We see this phrase repeated through John 7 “that is was not yet his time.”

In Today’s passage Jesus makes another claim calling the “thirsty” to come.

Again we see this proclamation to those who want to do the will of the father.

I. An Unsettled Debate.

John 7:25–27 CSB

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Yet, look, he’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to him. Can it be true that the authorities know he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where he is from.”

It’s obvious the plans of the pharisees had escaped into the ears of the general public. They knew the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus.

Yet there was confusion because here Jesus was in Jerusalem sitting in the temple teaching publicly, yet the leaders appeared to do nothing.

This lead to speculation. If he is indeed a deceiver, why wouldn’t the authorities just rush in and put a stop to it. Maybe there is something they are not telling us. Is it possible they know he is whom he claims to be?

Again through out this passage we see that God is ultimately in control.

We see once again “His hour had not yet come”

I submit to you this morning that those who are doing His will have nothing to fear.

What enemy can stand against the will of God?

Now think about how upsurd this is. They wanted to seize Jesus. Their was no army surrounding him preventing it. There was no fort protecting Jesus. Yet they couldn't lay a hand on Him. The only reason given is simply, it wasn’t yet his time.

How often do we filter the will of God through the screen of safety? If it’s not comfortable or safe then it must not be from the will of God.

However, For those living within God’s will there is nothing that can happen outside of God’s will.

For those who are living in obedience to God’s plan there is a peace and sense of security that comes from understanding nothing can happen to me that will not further His mission or purpose.

This peace and security does not come from our circumstances but from understanding that I am living my life for God and His Kingdom.

So that if anything bad should happen to me, I can rest in knowing that it is not in vain.

Romans 8:28–38 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Romans 8:39 CSB

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So in other words, all things work together for good for those who love God and do his will.

Those who do His will are more than conquerors.

If something hard should befall us and we are persecuted and even killed. We have this guarantee that it will not be in vain an that we cannot be separated from the Love of God.

In what other way of living do you have such a beautiful guarantee that your life will either continue with purpose and meaning or in death you will be victorious?

In living in God’s plan and will, nothing can happen that will not bring good.

In living in your own plan what guarantee do you have that your life will be any better, safer, or full of eternal purpose?

Application: So then why are we often so afraid to surrender our will to the will of the Lord.

II. Many believed.

John 7:31 CSB

31 However, many from the crowd believed in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, he won’t perform more signs than this man has done, will he?”

Even though there was a very public debate trying to discredit Jesus and his followers many still believed.

You know sometimes I think we believe the lie because there are so many vocal opponents to Jesus no one will come if we proclaim him.

It’s almost as if we believe the lies of the enemy and his people are more powerful than the truth of God’s word and the holy spirits power to illuminate the soul.

But we see in this passage that despite the very vocal and physical opposition to Jesus many believed.

Trans: Why is this?

III. There is a thirst that only Jesus can quench.

John 7:37–39 CSB

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.” 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.

Notice again that Jesus was not hiding from his enemies nor was he silent during the uproar instead he appealed to those who recognized a need they could not satisfy.

On the seventh day of the festival the priest would march around the alter seven times chanting

Psalm 118:25 CSB

25 Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success!

Then they would take water they ceremonial drew from a local spring at pour it over the alter to cleanse it.

Then on the 8th day, the final day, this would take place.

Show Video

With this with the backdrop Jesus with a loud voice proclaimed.

I am the living water. Come to me you who are thirsty.

The priest were literally chanting Lord, save us! Yet the living water was standing in the courtyard of the temple proclaiming how man might be saved. Yet the religious rejected, but many believed.

IV. Two types of people in the audience today, believing and unbelieving.

To the believer: Maybe you are here today and you have been withholding yourself from the absolute surrender to the will of God out of fear.

What other guarantee do you have that your life will have meaning, purpose and fulness outside of the will of God?

Your withholding yourself gives you no guarantee of a longer or better life.

But in Christ you have fulness, purpose, and a guarantee of victory.

So what are you waiting for? Surrender your will to His and experience the life you were designed to live!

To the unbeliever:

Maybe you are here today and you know deep down inside there is a thirst for something more.

Maybe in vain you have tired to fill it with other things, a career, relationships, sex, hobbies, experiences or possessions, and those things have left you feeling empty and dry.

There is a water that can satisfy your thirsty soul. Jesus is that living water. He promises that all who will come to him will be satisfied.

Will you come to Jesus today? Will you repent of your way of life and sin. Will you allow his sacrifice on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin? Will you put your faith and trust in Him as the only one that can save you?