Monday, December29: John 7- Essential for Life.

Jesus, who went to the feast quietly, waited until the high point of the festival to announce Himself in a dramatic way.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” I wonder what people understood Jesus saying with these words.

When He used similar words with the woman at the well, she thought Jesus was talking about actual water.

In every culture water is life… a source of water is essential for life. It seems reasonable that Jesus was saying He was essential for life (probably spiritual life, since it was spoken at a Jewish Feast of Tabernacles).

Additionally, Jesus suggested that Scripture spoke of Him, since the rivers of living water in Scripture were granted through belief in Him. People began to put their faith in Him as messiah.

A smile came to my spirit at this point; I, too, believe He is the Messiah! My faith is in Him.

John now adds a bit of commentary and wisdom. By this, John wrote, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (37-39).

The gift of the Spirit in every Christ follower’s life is a river of living water… pristine, clean, refreshing and never ending.

Thank You, Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit to live in, guide and direct all of us who believe in You! What a precious gift, to have the Person of the Spirit living in us. Halleluiah. Amen.