The Feast of Booths, also known as the Festival of Tabernacles, was a week-long celebration when the Jews remembered the intervention of God during their wandering in the wilderness, as described in the book of Exodus. (Exodus 17:1-7)
As part of this holiday, the priests would carry water from the Pool of Siloam to the altar, remembering God’s provision of water from the rock. The last day of the feast is the culmination of the festivities, when the priests would recite Psalm 118:25 while making seven circuits around the altar. This backdrop is crucial for understanding why Jesus spoke these particular words, at this particular time.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:37-38
Without knowing it, we all thirst for the water that Jesus offers which will satisfy our souls. From the moment we become conscious of ourself, we begin searching for that One Thing that will truly satisfy us. This search could take us on journeys far from home and away from loved ones, or it could consist of a life long search in the little town we were born in and will and never leave from.
As we search, we will go through many trials and tribulations, thinking we found that ONE thing our souls are searching for. That empty spot deep inside that craves attention. That addictive gene that craves something that is missing. We keep searching as we try to fill that empty cold spot with things like drugs, alcohol, sex, eating, television, work, money, shopping, and sports. We will go from one addiction to another, never feeling as fulfilled or satisfied as we were created to feel.
True satisfaction and inner peace can never be found in worldly pleasures. True peace can only be found by knowing Jesus, the long-prophesied prince of peace.
Thus, HIS words are connected to HIS claim of being the ultimate cure for spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst (John 6:35). The incident of water from the rock, like the priests’ ritual, is only meant to be a symbol. Those events are intended as foreshadowing of Jesus’ eventual ministry, which will culminate in HIS sacrifice that will atone for our sins.
He stands with open arms waiting to welcome us to drink from HIS river of life that will quench our eternal thirst.
I pray those who have ears to hear will, hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
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