Day 246.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 ESV)
John 7 is a chapter filled with debate, “is Jesus the Christ or isn’t he?” Jesus teaches with authority and heals people but doesn’t seem to fit the expectations the Pharisees have for the Christ. The people want to believe and the Pharisees don’t, which is no different from today. Some believe in Jesus and some don’t. Some embrace Jesus and some ridicule those that do. What separates the two? Thirst. Jesus says, if anyone is thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” He does not mean physical thirst, but a thirst for life. This may mean a thirst for righteousness, approval, forgiveness, fulfillment, etc. All of these things Jesus satisfies with the sending of the Spirit. But first, the thirsty must have their guilt and shame washed away. If they are to share in the Spirit they must be clean. And for that to happen, they must have the debt for their sin paid. Jesus pays this debt upon the cross by his own blood.
Do you thirst for life? Pray to the Lord and confess this thirst so that he might fill you.
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: 1 Sa 27, 1 Co 8, Ez 6, Jn 7
