Sermon Nuggets Tues. May 13, 2008
Theme- Calling for a Decision
Verses: John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
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. (NIV)
Evaluate the Claims
Making decisions as to whom we support as President may begin with evaluating the claims, promises, and philosophy of each candidate who hopes to get your vote. Each candidate has a plan for Iraq, for the economy, for education, for crime, for health care, for immigration, and for preserving and enhancing our freedom. To make a decision it is wise to evaluate the claims they make and who they are as persons, not just what others say about them.
John 7 presents Jesus teaching at the temple during one of the Jews' high holy celebration in Jerusalem. This was the feast of the Tabernacles. This holiday reminded Jews of the provisions of God and care of the Lord during the wilderness wanderings. There are many orthodox Jews today that build booths, or small temporary huts with tree branches or leaves over the roof signifying the temporary provision in the wilderness where they stayed for a week celebrating this event. This is also referred to as the Feast of the Booths.
We might compare this holiday to our Thanksgiving commemorating when the pilgrims came to a new land and finally had some of the harvest. They praised God for his provisions amidst their temporary hardship. The same idea is promoted in Lev.23 that details the celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles. Likewise, this was the time of thanksgiving for the provisions to the Israelites while they were going to the promised land.
The last day of the feast of the Tabernacles would be the 7th day, a very special day on which the priests would march 7 times around the altar, chanting Ps.113 to 118. There is the prayer in the 25th verse: "O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success." According to the old Jewish custom, we are told that for each of these seven days of the feast, water is carried in a golden pitcher from the pool of Siloam to the temple, as a reminder of God's provision of water to his people in the wilderness. On this final day the people gathered by the temple. The Jews would be praying for the salvation from God by sending His Messiah. While all this was going on the priests would pour the water from the Pool of Siloam into the altar basin, Others would blast the trumpets; the Levites would sing the Psalms When the Messianic fervor was at the highest pitch, no doubt just as they were pouring out the water, symbolic of the water Moses drew from the rock, Jesus stood and shouted His great invitation to thirsty sinners, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture said, Out of him shall flow rivers of living water." Jesus is saying that He is the answer to their prayers. He is the one who is the fulfillment of what that ceremony celebrates. You can imagine the shock on many of the faces of the Jews as Jesus disrupted this important festival.
Jesus claim to satisfy thirsty soul was God’s provision for salvation and meaning to life. Those who may come are those who choose to come because they are thirsty. When they drink they are figuratively coming to Jesus Christ and receiving Him because of their spiritual needs. We have the need to be forgiven from our sins, we have the need to be saved from hell. We have the need for peace with God, we have the need for eternal life. Jesus is the way to all of those needs. Jesus gives an invitation, "Come, Drink." Come and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, Come and partake of Him by following Him as the controlling force in your life. Yield yourself to His authority and live for Him. For many of his hearers this would be their final opportunity to respond.
Jesus told them, "Whoever believes in me streams of living water will flow from within." He identifies this water as the Holy Spirit which God gave at the time of Pentecost and since to all who truly believe. There is not just the cup of water or a gallon to enjoy but the illustration is that there are rivers of living water. Indeed the Holy Spirit gives, gives, and gives again and pours through us that others might experience the joys and blessings of God. They too may find the source of eternal life and satisfy their thirst. Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, so the Spirit satisfies the inner person and enables us to bear fruit.
Jesus is claiming Messiahship and claiming to be from God and claiming to satisfy the soul of man who is thirsty spiritually. Those are the claims made available to anyone who believes.
Just like there are many political commentators telling us what they think of the candidates for office, there are many people who will tell us what they think of Jesus, but we must start with the claims Jesus makes for Himself.
Pastor Dale
