John 7:38-40 (NIV) : “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 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. On hearing his words, some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others asked, ‘How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?’ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.”
This passage takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths), a major Jewish festival commemorating God’s provision for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness. The festival celebrated God’s faithfulness and involved a water-drawing ceremony. The priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out as an offering, symbolizing God’s provision of water in the desert.
During this feast, Jesus stands up and makes a bold declaration about living water, tying His message to the symbolism of the festival. He offers not just physical water but the gift of spiritual life through the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him.
If we believe in Jesus, as Scripture has said, the promise of rivers of living water will flow from within you
Isaiah 55:1 – “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
John 4:14 – “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Application: As followers of Christ, we are not left powerless. The Holy Spirit is present in our lives to teach, comfort, convict, and empower us to live out the Gospel and fulfill God’s will.
- Living Water: Jesus offers living water through the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him as the scripture says. This means that the Holy Spirit is the source of our spiritual nourishment, empowering us to live out God’s will and bear fruit for His kingdom.
- The Holy Spirit’s Role: The Holy Spirit, as living water, is not just for individual experience but for flowing out of believers, reaching others with God’s grace and truth.
Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, thank You for offering the living water through the Holy Spirit. We confess that we are in constant need of Your Spirit to sustain and empower us. Help us to live with the awareness of the Spirit’s presence in our lives and to allow that living water to flow through us to others. May we boldly declare who You are, and may our lives be a testimony to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”