Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Psalms 50-54
     New Testament Reading: John 7

“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.” 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 (John 7:37b-39).

In chapter seven, John further examines the response of the people to His ‘Bread of Life’ sermon in the previous chapter. At the close of chapter six, many of Jesus’ disciples turned away and no longer followed Him. Now here in chapter seven are four responses by different groups of people.

 ~ First was ridicule in verses 1-7. Jesus’ own half-brothers were quite sarcastic towards Him.
 ~ Next John describes the fear of the people in verses 10-13. They seemed to be more afraid of the religious leaders than they were of God himself.
 ~ Then in verses 14-24, is the opposition of the Jewish officials who could not stand the fact that Jesus spoke with such authority and knowledge. They resorted to name-calling and labeled Him as demon-possessed.
 ~ Then finally, in verses 25-49, we see the cowardice of those leaders who wanted to silence Jesus but did not dare to do so themselves. The guards they sent could not bring themselves to arrest Him either.

Throughout the days of the festival, the people were divided over who Jesus was. Jesus continued to proclaim His Deity, and the people were amazed at His teaching. Some people thought He was a Prophet, others wanted to believe He was the Messiah, but others continued to have doubts.

Then on the last day of the festival, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, 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 (v37-38).

Here, in two short sentences, Jesus gave one of the most important promises for all who believe in Him. Not wanting anyone to miss the importance, John gives this explanation. 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 (v39).

Water is one symbol used in scripture to describe the Holy Spirit. Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, so the Spirit of God satisfies the inner person and enables us to bear fruit. Believers would not only drink the living water (eternal life), but through the filling of the Holy Spirit, they would become channels of living water to bless a thirsty world!