There's Water and Then There's Living Water

John 7:37-53
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this 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.

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "He is the Christ." Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" 46 "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.  47 "You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted. 48 "Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law-there is a curse on them."

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" 52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." 53 [The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11.] Then each went to his own home.

If you remember Christ Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. There in sprite the Jews wanting to kill Him, Christ Jesus boldly proclaimed the Word of God.

It was on the “last,” “great” day of celebration that Christ Jesus issued a dramatic invitation. Every morning during the feast there has been a procession to the fountain of Gihon (ghee-khone') which supplied the water for the pool of Siloam (sil-o-am'). There the priest had filled his golden pitcher with water as the choir sang, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Is. 12:3).

Then the crowd made its way to the temple carrying branches and twigs in the right hand, reminding them of the huts they constructed in the wilderness, and a lemon or citron in the left hand, a sign of harvest. They proceeded to the altar waving the branches singing, “Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity” (Ps. 118:25). Then the priest went up to the altar at the time of the sacrifice and poured the water into a silver funnel through which it flowed to the ground.

On the seventh day, the crowd walked around the altar seven times to celebrate God’s gift of water when Moses struck the rock in the wilderness at Meribah (mer-ee-baw'). It was at this moment in the midst of the celebration that Christ Jesus stood and cried, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (v. 37). The symbolism of this dramatic invitation ran deeper than the outpoured water at this festival. It was rooted in that moment and place when Moses faced that vast thirsty crowd at Sinai crying out for water, and almost in desperation, he struck the rock “and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank” (Num. 20:11).

On the eighth day they did not get water from the fountain, thus making Christ Jesus' offer of the water of eternal life from Himself even more startling.

1. The Invitation (vs. 37-38)

“If anyone is thirsty,” - Notice who this invitation is given too. Not just to those who have prayed and fasted long enough. Not just those who have prayed through … or loud enough. Not just those who have repeated phrases of praises enough. Not just those who have recently taken the sacraments or performed some other “Christian” act or deed.

The invitation was for anyone who is thirsty. (The deepest craving of the human spirit is expressed here by "thirst," and by "drinking.") Christ Jesus said almost the same thing, to the woman of Samaria and in the same terms (John 4:13-14).

How wonderful to express it this way. You might not know how to get religious enough. You might not be able to reform enough. You might not understand theology enough.

But you know what? Everyone knows how it feels to be thirsty.

1.  Do you thirst to know that your guilt is gone?

2.  Do you thirst to know that your record is clean?

3.  Do you thirst for fellowship with God?

4.  Why not quench that thirst this today? Call on the name of Christ Jesus and be filled.

"Are you not thirsty?" said the lion. "I’m dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the lion. "May I- could I- would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The lion answered this only by a look and very low growl. As Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to-do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no such promise," said the lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer the lion. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up, consumed girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. "I daren’t come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." The lion said, "There is no other stream."

This old world is full of those who are thirsty. Yes, if we go to the stream we will be devoured, consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, but I would rather be on fire now, consumed now, than forever on fire and never burned out. - Cs. Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia"

2. The Instructions (vs. 37-38)

“Let him come to Me and drink.” - To receive this living water, come to Christ Jesus and drink. Consider the call by Isaiah: 
 Isa 55:1 
"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;

And you who have no money come, buy and eat.

Come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without cost.

Consider the last invitation in the Bible: (Rev 22:17) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. 

What does it mean by “come to Me and drink”?  
To come to Christ Jesus is to believe on Him. To come to Christ Jesus is to trust Him. To come to Christ Jesus is to receive Him as Lord and Saviour.  Come and drink long from the water of life this morning. 

If you know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour already, the Holy Spirit is the streams or rivers of living water that flows from your innermost being. Is He flowing forth freely or are you hindering the flow? 

3. The Inner Fountain (vs. 38-39) 

You are not suppose to be a cistern, just collecting water. You are not suppose to be like the Dead Sea … but a great river. You are not suppose to be like a stagnate swamp … but a refreshing stream. 

What will flow in these rivers and streams? The fruit of the Spirit will flow in these rivers. The compassion of Christ Jesus will flow in these rivers. The power to witness will flow in these rivers. Faith will flow in these rivers

 

Jerry Johnson is, a husky, tall state highway patrolman. In the days of his old life it must have been a terror to be arrested by him. He was so full of conflict and confusion that the air would become heavy with his “purple language,” particularly if the victim were black, because, as Jerry has said, “I used to hate blacks.”

Then he heard Jesus’ strong invitation and came and drank of that “living water.” And a quiet, but noticeable, change began to come over his life. Some heard him say shortly after his baptism, “I can’t explain it, but when I had to stop a black man for speeding the other day I actually had a great love for him.”

That living water, which he had drunk, was now flowing out of his heart. Now he and his gracious wife, Becky, have literally turned their home into a place of hospitality and healing for needy children and young people. Their congregation is constantly amazed at who the Johnsons have living with them.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit's descent upon servants of God was temporary, but soon all believers would receive Him. While John and the other early believers had to wait until the Day of Pentecost, you do not have to wait. You to will have the Holy Spirit dwell in you the moment you ask Christ Jesus to become your Lord and Saviour.

4. Inevitable Division (vs. 40-53) 

Christ Jesus' invitation was divisive to unbelievers. Some believed that He was the Messiah. Some hesitated and did nothing. Some scoffed, lost in religious arguments. Some wanted to kill the messenger.

Agree with us or else, was the Pharisees' response. The officers - “Never did a man speak the way this man speaks. The response - “Only stupidity would lead anyone to believe in Jesus.” 

Nicodemus - “Our law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him …” The response - “ You are not also from Galilee, are you.” What about you this morning? Will you let others tell you what to believe or will you look at the evidence for yourself?

Conclusion: The crowd Christ Jesus faced—those curious, wondering seekers as well as those angry ecclesiastics—had far deeper, more urgent needs than their ancestors in the wilderness. Their thirsts were spiritual and eternal. You cannot help but be aware of the restless, parched multitudes all around you. They desperately seek to quench their thirst in a constant round of parties or in one sexual escapade after another or in feverishly struggling to keep up with the crowd, and at the end, always being left more hopeless and disillusioned. This may even be you.

Christ Jesus’ offer of living water is strong and clear. Here are two imperatives that are really one—“come” and “drink.” Christ Jesus is the Rock from which eternal water flows giving life to all who will step forward and ask for it.