2/24/14- Living Waters

37On 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. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39By 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.

40On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

41Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him. (John 7:37-44)

Thoughts: This is similar to Jesus claim to the woman at the well that he offered "Living Water" (4:10,13).  The Living water was the Spirit.  Living water, is bubbling, fresh, clean, and refreshing- so is the Spirit.  The Spirit quenches our thirst.  Jesus was offering peace and satisfaction.  Because He offered what others have not offered, the people of Judea revered Him as the Prophet spoken of Deut. 18:15 (the people of Galilee called him this after the feeding of the 5,000- 6:14).  Others thought he was the Messiah, and others thought he needed to be arrested.
     There is an interesting dialogue about the credentials of the Messiah going on in John 7.  It was about  where Jesus was from.  This is John's nod to the birth narratives of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.  John began his story with the theological explanation rather than the shepherds and angels.  But it is a hint that Jesus was born in the town of David as Matthew and Luke recorded.  

Prayer: Lord, your home is in the heavens.  You are Lord over all.  You are worthy of our worship and time.  Help us to believe that your Spirit, the Living Water may flow in and through me.  

(Whitewater Falls, SC)