John 7:37-39

Introduction

Jesus asks you today, “What are you doing with your thirst?”  That is the question pressed upon you by this powerful text.  In order to appreciate its force, we need to ask a number of questions:

1. Why does Jesus speak of thirst?

a. Because He is at the Feast.  Chapter 7 revolves around the annual Feast of Booths, celebrated by the Jews in Jerusalem during the autumn for a week.  On the last day of the feast, which v.37 calls the great day of the feast, the priests would fill golden pitchers with water from the pool of Siloam and bring it to the altar in the temple as they sang Psalms like 114, “The God of Jacob turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of blessing.”(v.8)

b. He is speaking the language of the people.

Is.12:3 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation. Therefore, you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.

Is.41:18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water.

Is.44:3  For I will pour out water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring.

Is.55:1 Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters

Is.58:11 And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire on scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water who waters do not fail.

Ez.47:1 A vision of water flowing from the temple in Jerusalem, which starts as a trickle but becomes an un-fordable river as it flows east, ultimately into the dead sea, making it fresh.

c. He is speaking the language of the human heart.

Our hearts were made to thrive on the life of God, without which we thirst spiritually.  No one in God’s presence thirsts;  they are thoroughly satisfied because there is nothing more to desire.

Ps. 16:11 In your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forever.

d. Thirsting invites self-examination.

Is.55:2 asks, Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?

2. Who can hear the message?

* The gospel is for the whole world.

*  People who are thirsty.

3. Why wouldn’t people respond?

It must be that they are in denial about their thirst, that they are   quenching real thirst with false waters.  Consider some of the ways we do this:

1. religiously self-sufficient

2. morally self-sufficient

3. intellectually self-sufficient

4. materially self-sufficient

5. sensually self-sufficient

4. How do you drink?

Jesus said, “Come to Me and drink, he who believes.”

Is.55:1f  Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Rev.22:17 Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

5. How do you know your thirst is being satisfied?