John 7:37-39 - Are You Thirsty?
John 7:37-39 (NLT) On the last day, the
climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to
the crowds, Anyone who is thirsty may come to
me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and
drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of
living water will flow from his heart. 39
(When he said living water, he was speaking
of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone
believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been
given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his
glory.)
INTRODUCTION
Jesus used the term 'living water' in 4:10
to indicate eternal life. Here he uses the term
to refer to the Holy Spirit. The two go
together: wherever the Holy Spirit is accepted, he
brings eternal life. [Life Application SB]
If any one thirst, let him come to me and
drink (justification). He who believes in me, as
the scripture has said, Out of his heart shall
flow rivers of living water (sanctification)
[Joh.7:37,38]. Only as we constantly drink the living
water can our behavior be an outflow of love and
blessing to others. [SS Lesson 4/22-28/90]
COMMENTARY PEARL
The little town where I live boasts of
having "The Best Water on Earth." A network of
springs and streams run underneath the city. You can
even view an underground stream through a giant
grate in the floor of a local restaurant. The
water in this region is so noted for its pristine
purity that a couple of local water-bottling plants
capture it for wholesale distribution. As if that's
not enough, a nearby city park has the
headwaters for the largest river in this state, which
is 400 miles long and flows through our little
town. People come from all over to fill up their
five-gallon water bottles with fresh water from the
headwaters.
Although it's a blessing to have ready
access to pure drinking water, it doesn't compare
to the true refreshment that comes from having
a personal relationship with Jesus. And though
I know water is necessary for my physical
health so that I stay hydrated, sometimes I need to
be reminded to drink some water. However, it's
even more critical for my spiritual health to be
drinking from the Living Water: filling up on Jesus
through prayer time with Him and His Word. Yes, I'm
grateful to live in a place with the best water on
earth. But I know that the really best water in
heaven and earth - from the true headwaters - is
Jesus, the Living Water. Cassandra Tiersma
Faith Step: Pour yourself a glass of
water, and as you drink it, thank Jesus for the
Holy Spirit, the "rivers of living water" which
He promises will flow from your heart when you
believe in Him. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional
by Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
He who seeks to quench his thirst at the
fountains of this world will drink only to thirst
again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied. They long
for something to supply the need of the soul.
Only One can meet that want. The need of the
world, "The Desire of all nations," is Christ. The
divine grace which He alone can impart, is as
living water, purifying, refreshing, and
invigorating the soul. Jesus did not convey the idea
that merely one draft of the water of life would
suffice the receiver. He who tastes of the love of
Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks
for nothing else. The riches, honors, and
pleasures of the world do not attract him. The
constant cry of his heart is, More of Thee. DA187
The heart that receives the word of God is
not as a pool that evaporates, not like a broken
cistern that loses its treasure. It is like the
mountain stream, fed by unfailing springs, whose
cool, sparkling waters leap from rock to rock,
refreshing the weary, the thirsty, the heavy-laden. It
is like a river constantly flowing and, as it
advances, becoming deeper and wider, until its
life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. The
stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind
its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass
on its banks is a fresher green, the trees have
a richer verdure, the flowers are more
abundant. When the earth lies bare and brown under the
summer's scorching heat, a line of verdure marks the
river's course. So it is with the true child of God.
The religion of Christ reveals itself as a
vitalizing, pervading principle, a living, working,
spiritual energy. When the heart is opened to the
heavenly influence of truth and love, these
principles will flow forth again like streams in the
desert, causing fruitfulness to appear where now are
barrenness and dearth. PK233,4
CLOSING PEARLS
No sooner does one come to Christ than there
is born in his heart a desire to make known to
others what a precious friend he has found in
Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be
shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the
righteousness of Christ and are filled with the joy of His
indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our
peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is
good we shall have something to tell. SC78
Every true Christian is a living fountain,
ever receiving of the unfailing streams of grace,
ever refreshed and ever refreshing those that are
around him. Those who are coworkers with God
manifest a missionary spirit; for they are ever
receiving, that they may ever be giving to others the
light and blessing of heaven. CSW66
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 7:37-39 - Are You Thirsty?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190816-1057.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
