Daily Good News – Living Water

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May 22, 2015 1513

“Jesus said, ‘Whoever believes in me,…streams of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:38).

The events of John chapter seven happened during the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, when people built small temporary shelters in which to live for the duration of the festival. These fragile structures, made from branches and thatched with palm fronds, were a reminder of God’s leading during their wanderings in the desert. The festival was also a celebration of the harvest. As part of the festival, a priest collected water from the Pool of Siloam in a golden pitcher, carried it through the Water Gate of Jerusalem and poured it on the Temple altar. Everyone recited the words of Isaiah 12:3: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Israel was a dry country, and water was very precious. This was a dramatic ceremony of thanksgiving to God for his life-giving provision of water, reminding them of how God caused water to flow from the rock in the wilderness. So when Jesus promised people that their souls would be filled with living water, he was giving them a priceless gift. This symbolised the gift of peace, joy and love. And it was generous—a flowing stream has a strong source.

In the midst of this ceremony, Jesus was telling the people that if they were truly thirsty, they should come to him to drink living water – the water of salvation. When we accept the infinite Christ into our finite lives, he cannot be contained. His Spirit will pour forth from us like a stream of living water to quench the thirst of parched people.