John 7-9.3.21

Scripture

John 7:37-38

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus enters Jerusalem during the Feast of Shelters, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is celebrated after the Feast of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The Feast of Shelters, the most joyous and the longest of the festivals, was also considered to be the greatest of the feasts. The Feast of Shelters memorialized God's holy Dwelling place, the desert Tabernacle, which was later replaced by the Temple built by Solomon. Jesus entered the city secretly, to avoid causing a disruption. As he speaks in the city, the crowd becomes divided between belief and unbelief. As his last statement before leaving the city, Jesus foretells the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come and fill us to overflowing, like a river in our soul.

Understanding-What does it mean?

I love traveling to where there is water. There is just something about water that seems to bring life to the area around it. But something that I never really considered about water, it has to have an outflow to continue bringing life. I learned the reality of this a couple of years ago, while driving to Idaho on vacation. During our drive, we passed Walker Lake, in Nevada. The lake has no natural outflow and is dying. As agriculture has reduced the flow of water going into the lake, and sediment continues to flow in, the level of salt in the water is increasing. This kills off the fish and increases the rate of evaporation. When we ask God to, He will pour out His love on us. But, just like a river, we are supposed to have an outflow. Jesus told us all the law and commandments are fulfilled in loving God and loving our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40). Furthermore, Jesus states later in the book of John that His disciples will be known by their love (John 13:35), and those who know Him and love Him will follow his commands (John 14:21). Therefore, loving others is a natural outflow of God’s love and spirit in our lives. It’s this outflow of love that shows the true life found in a life submitted to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is our guide to living a life filled with love and submitted to Jesus.

Life Application

Jesus, help me to rely more fully on you everyday. As I trust in you, show me ways to love those around me in a way that is both practical and sensitive to the spiritual needs of others. Help me to seek the needs of others before my own wants and needs.

-Tyler Galloway