Crystal clear streams of living water
Photo: © Peter Hodge

An Amazing Invitation & Offer JOHN 7:37-39; JOHN 4:10-15

It was the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem 33 AD and crowds of worshippers had gathered to witness the climax of the festival.

The High Priest was about to pour sacred water drawn from the Pool of Siloam down a pipe at the back of the altar in front of the Temple using a golden pitcher. The whole Temple courtyard and crowd fell silent for this solemn moment.

All of a sudden the atmosphere was electrified as a man's voice rang out clear for all to hear:

" Anyone who is thirsty come to me! Anyone who believes in me come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of running water will flow from his/her innermost being.’ ”

Jesus' Claim To Be The Spring Of Living Water

The impact of Jesus' words on the crowd must have been dramatic. Not only was he interrupting the most solemn moment of the ceremony, but he was drawing attention to himself as the fulfilment of a prophecy by Isaiah in the Old Testament, which everyone present associated with the Messiah.