To The Withered Heart, He Says “Come And Drink”
(John 7:37)
Introduction:For some time now, we have been studying on Sunday mornings some of the Invitations of Christ, and especially those that are marked by the usage of the word “Come.” In the course of this series, we have considered seven distinctive calls that Christ extended, including one where Jesus said in John 21:12, “Come And Dine.” This morning, we’re looking at a portion of scripture where Jesus invites the withered and parched heart, “Come unto me and drink.”
And certainly, when someone comes to Jesus, He is able to satisfy their spiritual hunger and thirst. He said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” He also said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
When He encountered the woman of Samaria at the well in John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
This is a rather familiar invitation in the scripture. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:1, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters…” In Revelation 22:17, the Bible says that “the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that thirst is “One of the most powerful natural appetites, the craving for water or other drink. Besides its natural significance, thirst is figuratively used of strong spiritual desire. The soul thirsts for God (Psalms 42:2; 63:1). Jesus meets the soul’s thirst with water of life (John 4:13 ff; 6:35; 7:37). It is said of the heavenly bliss, ‘They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more’ (Revelation 7:16-17).”
It is noteworthy that the One who promised to satisfy our spiritual thirst, said as He hung upon the cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28). The songwriter Bev Lowry observed this paradox and wrote these words…
He said, “I thirst,” yet He made the rivers. He said, “I thirst,” yet He made the sea. “I thirst,” said the King of the Ages. In His great thirst, He brought water to me
There is so much in this world that cannot satisfy our spiritual thirst. To use the words of Chuck Colson, these things are “like saltwater; the more you drink the thirstier you get.” (From his book, “Kingdoms In Conflict”)
We should note that not everyone will have a spiritual thirst, for Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Some people are spiritually dehydrated, and they aren’t concerned about it. There was a quote in the September 1990 issue of “Pulpit Helps” that said, “When there is no thirst for righteousness, the sermons will always seem dry.”
I read about a little boy who said he was thirsty one night after he had already gone to bed…
“Mom, may I have a glass of water?” the little boy called from his bed. “Honey, you had a drink just before I tucked you in,” the mom reminded him. “But I’m still thirsty, “the boy pleaded. Mom complied, hoping that after one more glass of water the child would drift off to sleep. Fifteen minutes later, a small voice sounded through the house again, “May I have another glass of water please?” Mom yelled back in frustration, “If you ask for one more glass of water you’re going to get a spanking.” For a few minutes, there was silence, but then the boy called out again, “Mom, when you come to give me a spanking, will you bring me a glass of water?”
This invitation is an invitation to salvation. And Jesus extended it on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. John 7:2). The Bible says…
(John 7:37-38) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. {38} He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Now as we think about this invitation, in order to better understand it, we need to realize that…
I. The Timing Is An Important Element In This Invitation
There are three time indicators in this chapter that tell us the chapter is taking place during the Feast Of Tabernacles…
(John 7:2) Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
(John 7:14) Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
(John 7:37) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Keith Smith gives a brief summary of what was taking place in the Feast of Tabernacles…
There were three great annual national “feasts” in the Jewish religious calendar. The first was the Feast of the Passover; the second was known as the Feast of Pentecost; and the third was known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Now we know from (John 7) verse 2 that Jesus was speaking here during the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a high, happy, holy day in the life of the Jew. … During that feast,(a priest) would go to the Pool of Siloam, take a golden pitcher, dip it into that pool, and carry it back to the temple. There he would pour that water out on the altar of sacrifice. At that moment the Levites would blow the trumpets, and the great crowd would cry out, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). There would be leaping, and dancing, and shouting, and singing, and great hallelujahs would fill the air. It was right at this climax of this great holiday that the Lord Jesus stood up in that crowd, and with that royal voice, cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (v.37b). You see, Jesus realized that these people were drinking from the river of ritual … that after this day was over they would go back to the same old fears, the same old faults, the same old failures, the same old frustrations. (
A. Let’s Consider The Details Of The Week During The Feast Of Tabernacles
The Feast began on the 15th day of the month of Tishri, which corresponds to our late September to late October.
1. These Events Were Based Upon Texts That Were Drawn From The Old Testament
The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia says…
The following are the principal passages in the Pentateuch which refer to this festival: Exodus 23:16, where it is spoken of as the Feast of Ingathering, and is brought into connection with the other festivals under their agricultural designations, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Harvest; Leviticus 23:34-36,39-43, where it is mentioned as commemorating the passage of the Israelites through the desert; Deuteronomy 16:13-15, in which there is no notice of the eighth day, and it is treated as a thanksgiving for the harvest; Numbers 29:12-38, where there is an enumeration of the sacrifices which belong to the festival; Deuteronomy 31:10-13, where the injunction is given for the public reading of the law in the Sabbatical year, at the Feast of Tabernacles. In Nehemiah 8 there is an account of the observance of the feast by Ezra, from which several additional particulars respecting it may be gathered.
2. These Events Were Based Upon Traditions That Developed Over Time
In his book, “Manners & Customs of the Bible,” James M. Freeman writes…
In addition to the ceremonies originally prescribed at the institution of the Feast of Tabernacles, were several others of a later date. Among these was the daily drawing of water from the pool of Siloam. Every daybreak of the seven days of the feast, a priest went to the pool of Siloam and filled with water a golden pitcher, containing about two and one-half pints. He was accompanied by a procession of the people and musicians. On returning to the temple, he was welcomed with three blasts from a trumpet, and, going to the west side of the great altar, he poured the water from the golden pitcher into a silver basin, which had holes in the bottom through which the water was carried off.
The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia goes on to say…
The Talmud maintains that the ceremony of the drawing of water is anterior (forward) to the Babylonian captivity, and that Isaiah 12:3 refers to it. Indeed, it is only on this supposition that the imagery in Isaiah 12:3 obtains its full force and- significance.
(Isaiah 12:3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
B. Let’s Consider The Drawing Of The Water During The Feast Of Tabernacles
1. This Was A Daily Ritual During This Feast
The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia gives one of the most thorough explanations of what was taking place in the Feast of Tabernacles…
At daybreak of the first day of the festival a priest, accompanied by a jubilant procession and by a band of music, descended with a golden pitcher holding (about two and a half pints)to the pool of Siloam, and, having filled it with water from the brook, he endeavored to reach the Temple in time to join his brother priests who carried the morning sacrifice to the altar. Following in their steps, he entered from the south through the water-gate into the inner court. On reaching the water-gate, he was welcomed by three blasts of the trumpet. He then ascended the steps of the altar with another priest who carried a pitcher of wine for the drink-offering. The two priests turned to the left of the altar where two silver basins were fixed with holes at the bottom; the basin for the water was to the west and had a narrower hole, while the one for the wine was to the east and had a wider hole, so that both might get empty at the same time. Into these respective basins they simultaneously and slowly poured the water and the wine in such a manner that both were emptied at the same time upon the base of the altar.
Each of the pilgrims held in his right, hand the luláb, or palm, to which were tied the twigs of myrtle and willow as described above, and the ethrôg, or citron, in his left, while these psalms were chanted; and, during the chanting of Psalms 118, the pilgrims shook their palms three times — viz. at the singing of …
(Psalms 118:1) O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
(Psalms 118:25) Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
(Psalms 118:29 – last verse) O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
When the Musâph chant was finished the priests in procession went round the altar once, exclaiming: Hosanna, O Jehovah; give us help, O Jehovah, give prosperity! (Psalms 118:25). Thereupon the solemn benediction was pronounced by the priests and the people dispersed, amid the repeated exclamations, “How beautiful art thou, O altar!” or “To Jehovah and thee, O altar, we give thanks!”
The seventh day, which was denominated the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, was especially distinguished in the following manner from the other six days. After the … special festival sacrifice of the day, the priests in procession made seven circuits round the altar, whereas on the preceding days of the festival only one circuit was made. The willows which surrounded the altar were then so thoroughly shaken by the people that the leaves lay thickly on the ground. The people also fetched palm-branches and beat them to pieces at the side of the altar. It is from this fact that the last day of the festival obtained the names of the Day of Willows, the Great Hosanna Day, and the Branch-thrashing Day. … (This) may have been to symbolize that after the last verdure of the year had served for the adornment of the altar the trees might now go on to cast off their leaves.
A. T. Robertson said…
On each of the seven … days water was drawn in a golden pitcher from the pool of Siloam and carried in procession to the temple and offered by the priests as the singers chanted Isaiah 12:3: “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
2. This Was A Definite Reminder During This Feast
In his book, “Manners & Customs of the Bible,” James M. Freeman writes…
This ceremony was accompanied with songs and shouts from the people and the sound of trumpets. It is supposed to have been designed to represent three distinct things: 1. A memorial of the water provided for their fathers in the desert[Exodus 17:1-7]. 2. A symbol of the forthcoming “latter rain” [of Joel 2:23 that usually came at the time of harvest]. 3. A representation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the coming of the Messiah. To this last, reference is made in verses 38 and 39, and it’s to this pouring out of water, or the Holy Spirit, that Jesus no doubt refers to in our text-verse.
The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia further says…
It is upon this explanation that our Savior’s remark is based (John 7:37-39) in allusion to this ceremony on this last day of the festival when it was performed for the last time.
Warren Wiersbe said…
The last day of the feast would be the seventh day, a very special day on which the priests would march seven times around the altar, chanting Psalms 118:25. It would be the last time they would draw the water and pour it out. 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.
The Jewish New Testament Commentary says…
It was in the midst of this water pouring, trumpet blasting, palm waving, psalm chanting and ecstatic joy on the part of people seeking forgiveness – and in the presence of all 24 divisions of the priesthood – that Yeshua (Jesus) cried out in the Temple courts, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever trusts in me, as the Tanakh says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!”
II. The Terminology Is An Important Element In This Invitation
(John 7:37) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
A. Notice The Terms Associated With His Actions
1. He Was Visible – “He Stood”
stood – Greek NT:2476. heisteékei; absolutely; to stand by, stand near (in a place already mentioned, so that the reader readily understands where). (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says that the word “stood” is actually the imperfect tense, “was standing.”
But though He ‘was standing’ with the crowd, He now ‘stood out’ among the crowd because He lifted His voice.
2. He Was Verbal – “He Cried”
cried – Greek 2896. krazo; to “croak” (as a raven) or scream, i.e. to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat):--cry (out).
cried – Greek NT:2896. ekraxen; to cry i. e. call out aloud, speak with a loud voice. (It is used) of those who utter or teach a thing publicly and solemnly, followed by direct discourse. (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says that “Jesus stood (probably in some elevated position), and cried – as if making proclamation in the audience of all the people.”
Matthew Henry said, “Jesus stood and cried, which denotesHis great earnestness and importunity. His heart was upon it, to bring poor souls in to himself.”
B. Notice The Terms Associated With His Announcement
(John 7:37) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
1. Consider The Terms That Summarize The Situation
man – Greek NT:5100. tis; an indefinite pronoun meaning a certain, a certain one; used of persons and things concerning which the writer either cannot or will not speak more particularly. (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
thirst – Greek NT:1372. dipsao; absolutely, to suffer thirst; suffer from thirst; figuratively, those are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened. (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
2. Consider The Terms That Specify The Solution
come – Greek NT:2064. erchésthoo; to come;properly, of persons; universally, to come from one place into another