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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. (John 7:37-39 NIV)
Water is essential for our staying alive. We can go weeks without food, but only three days without water. Those who have had to forgo water for any specific reason know that nothing is worse than having no water. Covid even changed, for some, the availability of water. Most water fountains were closed down and only a few have reopened. Those who lived in Jesus' day knew the preciousness of water and the necessity of staying alive with water. The importance of water gave it a key part of God's message of caring for us and it becoming a symbol of life.
On the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, a celebration of God's provision during the Exodus, Jesus stands and yells, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." One of the great provisions of God during the forty years of wandering had been the provision of water, and so it is important that those celebrating the giving of water hear again God saying all who are thirsty can still find water to drink in Him. Jesus makes it His own by saying, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit and how He would come with the power the believers would need to live life and share new life with others. And as the writer makes clear, the Holy Spirit had not been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was all a part of God's plan to share with believers and nonbelievers the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the Spirit came, as we will study tomorrow, He empowered the people with all power and authority to spread the word of God through Jesus. Jesus was glorified in His death, HIs ascension and His coming through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brought boldness, wisdom, strength, and the openings we need in which to share our faith. Be bold today and let the Spirit speak through you!
PRAYER: Holy Father, grant to us the living water that is the Holy Spirit that can flow within us and through us. Empower us to do Your work for Thy good; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be bold in sharing what God has done in You.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
