If Anyone Is Thirsty...

In John 7:37 we read, "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.'"

Christians understand that Christ gives water which ends our thirst. The Samaritan woman, in John 4, took Jesus literally when He said that she would never thirst again with His water. She wanted His "living water" so that she would no longer have to go to the well. However, we know that Jesus quenches our spiritual thirst and that he satisfies our spiritual hunger. My goal in this post is not to dive into the beautiful thought of Jesus fulfilling our spiritual needs. I wish to make a historical note that I hope impresses you greatly.

Notice in our verse that it was the last day of the feast - that is, the feast of tabernacles. By New Testament times two ceremonies had been added to this feast - a light festival (which we may look at later) and a water procession. Once a day, for six days, the priests and the worshippers would go down to the Pool of Siloam with a golden pitcher. After filling it up, the would walk back to the altar (singing Psalms along the way). When they returned to the altar, they would pour out the water as a drink offering to God.

On the seventh day, they would do this seven times. Remember, the feast of tabernacles was a feast commemorating provision for the Israelites in the wilderness. I do not think it a coincidence that this water procession is very similar to the plan to destroy Jericho.

It was on this last day that Jesus made the statement in verse 37. Now picture this: the Jews are walking back and forth from the Pool of Siloam to the altar in this water ceremony, and Jesus stands up and "cries out...if anyone is thirsty, let him come to ME and drink."

It is not the water from the Pool of Siloam that is so precious. It is the living water that Jesus provides that we should be longing after.

To me, this is a true Bible gem. While we can appreciate Jesus' statement at face value, how much more punch does that phrase carry when we see the action in the background.

jgc