John 7:14-31, 37-39
14About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. 19“Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” 20The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? 24Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” 25Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. 29I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, “When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?” 37On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
This setting of this passage is at the Festival of Booths–one of three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews living outside of Jerusalem were required to come to the city. The festival included two major ceremonies, one for light and one for water. Jesus presents himself as the source of living water (v.38) and light. (Source: Lutheran Study Bible)
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.” I love this part of today’s scripture reading—it echoes the phrase, “drinking from a fire hose.” Can you imagine being in Christ’s presence at the temple during festival? Imagine hearing him teaching to all those who were there. Imagine seeing all those who were there and whose hearts were open to absorb his teachings. It must’ve been life-changing.
The final part of this reading, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Jesus used the image of water (and light) to represent the Holy Spirit’s presence and power poured out on Jesus’ followers and filling their hearts.
Prayer: Good and gracious God, open our hearts to you and allow us to drink and absorb Jesus’ teachings and messages. Amen.
–Daina Sivanich