Wednesday 11th October
Read John 7:37-39
“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. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ 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.” (NIVUK)
Much conjecture has ensued as to which ‘Scripture’ Jesus is referring to (v38) that promises rivers of living water flowing from within the Lord’s people and originating with God Himself. Many point to Isaiah 55:1.
“‘Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1a) (NIVUK)
Although it doesn’t quite link water and Spirit in the way Jesus intended. Others point, rightly, to the more complicated argument in Zechariah 12-14 for those keen on tracing the theme fully.
Carson however suggests, persuasively I think, that Jesus is reflecting on the prayer Nehemiah offered when the people celebrated a month-long Festival of Tabernacles after they recovered and relearnt the Law together. Recounting their history he prayed to Yahweh reflecting on their time in the wilderness… “‘You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock;…‘Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst…” (Nehemiah 9:13-15a;19-20) (NIVUK).
In that prayer at the feast Nehemiah linked water and Spirit as the abiding means by which God sustains and guides His people. Jesus stood and announced that He is the source of that living water and the eventual giver of the Spirit. Everyone should come to Him for life, sustenance and wisdom.
