Jesus Among Us: Walking With Him in His Ministry and MiraclesNäide

To Quench Our Thirst

In the Festival of Shelters, or Booths, the priest brought a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam to the temple altar for seven straight days. On the seventh day, the priest circled the altar seven times. (In the Bible, seven is the number of completion. It is also reminiscent of the seven times the nation of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho.) This priest was then joined by another priest who carried wine on the seventh and final circuit around the altar. Both priests raised their pitchers, stopping for a dramatic pause. This was the highest point of celebration of the entire weeklong feast.

It was exactly at this moment that Jesus stood and spoke the words, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (John 7:37 NLT). He purposefully chose that poignant moment to make this statement and make His point.

Jesus offers water for an otherwise unquenchable thirst—to fill the emptiness and longing inside us and to bring us peace. All we have to do is go to Him and drink.

After saying that everyone who believes in Him may come and drink, Jesus made the following statement: “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart” (John 7:38 NLT). What do you think He meant by this?

On a scale of one to ten, how thirsty are you for Jesus as your Living Water? How might you increase that thirst?

Jesus, thank You for always being there for me. Help me to hunger and thirst for You. Fill my heart with You. Satisfy my hunger with Your Word and my thirst with Your presence. In Your name, amen.