What We Need, He’s Got
John 7:31-39 (NIV)
31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 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.
Background: Jesus is still at the Feast of Tabernacles. It is interesting to note that during this feast, the Israelites ceremoniously remembered the provision of the Lord in the wilderness (Exodus) by pouring water and wine into silver bowls and then by pouring them out before the Lord. They celebrated the fact that God provided water in the desert and that in the last days He would pour out His Holy Spirit. They looked back at what He had done and looked forward to what He would do in the future.
Our key verses focus on this context.
Let’s look at 3 key verses in this text:
V 37: Jesus stood and He spoke loudly! Teachers usually sat so Jesus was intentionally getting the crowd’s attention. He had an important message and promise to share with them! “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” He is the Source. He alone possesses what we need to access God and unlock our intended potential in the Kingdom of God. There is nothing and no one better to bring completion to our lives than Christ.
V 38: Jesus’ promise was that His followers would not be thirsty again! How is this possible?
John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” This is the promise that Jesus offered to the woman at the well and He enthusiastically offers it to us today. In Christ, we have EVERYTHING we need.
V 39: This promise involved the Holy Spirit and this followed their initial belief.
Acts 2 – 1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Jesus prepared them for the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I can hardly keep from shouting words of praise as I type these words! We have the privilege of receiving this promise! All we have to do is believe and receive! The book of Acts says they waited in prayer and the Holy Spirit came upon them. That was the day they received the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Church was born!
We know the Church moved forward boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and endured under severe trials and tests. They were given power and authority that was unprecedented! They did not have to be appointed as priests or leaders to receive this gift – they simply had to believe in Christ and be open to receive the gift of His Holy Spirit.
Questions for Reflection:
· Is there anything that holds us back from going to Christ to receive everything we need?
· Is there something in my past that keeps me from fully accepting the Living water Christ is offering me?
· Have you received the promise of the Holy Spirit? If so describe your experience. If not, is there an obstacle standing in your way…perhaps fear or not knowing the blessing that follows this experience?
Lesson written by Kelly Preston, 2011.
Sources consulted:
NIV Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1995.
The Message Bible Remix/Eugene Peterson, NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO, 2003.
M.H. Commentary, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992.
D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, 1991.
N.T. Wright, John for Everyone, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
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