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.
Lord Jesus, how fitting that you would stand up on the last day of Israel’s harvest celebration, turn up the volume and beckon those of us who thirst, to come to you for relief and refreshment. For all of Israel’s feasts, the whole of God’s Story and every promise God has made find their fulfillment in you.
Why are we thirsty? Because we were born that way—longing for the libation of Living Water you alone can give us. But some of us also carry weariness-generated thirst. We’re tired from the burdens of life and the cost of loving well.
Others of us are feeling sin-generated thirst. Fortunately, our broken cisterns have failed us, yet again. And some of us are thirsty because our hearts are dry from self-righteousness, a critical spirit, and lack of fellowship with you. Still others of us are thirsty just because you’re turning up the heat in our lives—not to shame us, but to claim us for yourself. Thank you, Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you.
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.
No matter the generation of our thirst, you promise copious amounts of the healing waters of the gospel, the heart-liberating draught of grace, the artesian springs of the Spirit. We are fools, indeed, to ignore your invitation.
40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”
For you aren’t merely a great Prophet; you are the Messiah—God incarnate—our righteousness-fulfilling substitute and our sin-bearing Savior; Creator of all things and Redeemer of all broken things; the Lamb of God and the Lord of Life. Jesus, we come—thirsty, expectant, and grateful. So very Amen we pray, in your merciful and mighty name.
