John 7:37-44 (WEL) On the last day, the most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, saying, “If anyone thirsts, come to me and drink. 38 “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being.” 39 He said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 Then many of the people hearing this statement said, “Truly, this is the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” Others, however, said, “Christ doesn’t come from Galilee. 42 “Hasn’t the Scriptures said that Christ comes from the posterity of David and from the town of Bethlehem where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
V37 On the last day, the most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, saying, “If anyone thirsts, come to me and drink.
(Zondervan King James Version Commentary, New Testament) “The last day … of the feast (v. 37). The Feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days (see Leviticus 23:34; Deuteronomy 16:13, 15) but had a “holy convocation” on the eighth day (see Leviticus 23:36). Each morning of the feast, the Jews attended a ceremony in which a priest drew water from the Pool of Siloam as the words of Isaiah 12:3 were recited. Upon drawing the water, the joyful procession set out for the temple, singing from the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113-118). With the priest carrying the water in a golden pitcher and each participant carrying a lulab (myrtle and twigs tied with a palm, symbolizing the construction of a tabernacle hut) and an ethrog (a lemon, symbolizing harvest), the procession approached the temple. Upon reaching the Water Gate, the procession was greeted with three blasts of the ram’s horn (shofar) as the procession made its way to the altar of sacrifice, where it circled the altar, singing the Hallel (Psalm 118:25) and waving its lulabs. On the seventh day, the procession would circle the altar seven times before the priest would commence with the pouring of the water, which the rabbis associated with the blessing of rain. It was on this final day of the festivities that Jesus stood up in the temple court and proclaimed that He was the source of living water (v. 38).”
Principle: Apply current situations for a teachable moment. Here, Jesus is the Living Water as He taught in John 4.
V38 “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being.”
Every person who believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, placing faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, has the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-19, 2 Corinthians 6:16-19, Ephesians 3:17, and Romans 5:5), who is the agent causing the living waters to flow. The living waters are speaking and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ (Gospel), living the Christian life, and exercising spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-10, Ephesians 4:11-12, and 1 Peter 4:11). All done for the glory of God.
V39 He said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were about to receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Before Jesus was glorified (death, burial, resurrection, and ascension), the Holy Spirit would come upon believers for special purposes (Judges 6:34, 1 Samuel 16:13, and 2 Chronicles 24:20), but after Jesus Christ was glorified, all believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
V40 Then many of the people hearing this statement said, “Truly, this is the prophet.”
This appears to be more of an intellectual understanding rather than a heart commitment.
(Holman Commentary) “Finally, we see the invitation of Messiah is divisive to unbelievers. How typical of the gospel. Invariably in Acts when the gospel is preached, some people believe, some hesitate, some scoff, and some want to kill the messenger. On this occasion, some believed a portion of what Jesus said; some believed but did nothing; some got lost in religious arguments; and some reacted in hostile indignation. How foolish to recognize that Messiah was prophesied to come from Bethlehem and yet not check the facts of Jesus’ birth. Rejecting hearts are blinded still to the fact that Christ’s origin was not Galilee but Bethlehem; indeed, it was not earth, but heaven.”
Principle: Listen, check, and research Scriptures, and if true, believe God. Most, however, decide by their personal standards.
V41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” Others, however, said, “Christ doesn’t come from Galilee.”
Their decision is clear.
V42 “Hasn’t the Scriptures said that Christ comes from the posterity of David and from the town of Bethlehem where David was?”
This is true. If they had spent only a little time researching the truth, they would know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Many people would still be alive from Jesus’s birth as the shepherds in the fields.
V43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
Jesus is a divider of those who believe and accept Him, and those who don’t.
V44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
Some not only rejected him but wanted Him arrested, tried, and killed.
We learn:
- People tend to choose their own standards of truth and lie.
- The Bible is the only source of 100% truth.
Questions:
- Do you believe Jesus’s message?
- By what standard do you judge Bible teachers?