Joel M Bradshaw

37On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.–John 7

One hot summer day, I came in from mowing the lawn extremely thirsty. I didn’t reach for the gallon of milk or the 2-liter of pop. I didn’t brew myself a quick cup of hot coffee. Only water would satisfy my thirst and my body longed for it. I remember quickly drinking three large glasses from the faucet!

When Jesus uttered these words, the Feast of Tabernacles was just finishing. The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was connected to God’s blessing to provide adequate rainfall for the thirsty crops to grow. Read the prophet’s warning which was actually a part of the festival liturgy.

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. (Zechariah 14:16-17, with emphasis)

The original worship during this festival involved waving tree branches and fruit (Leviticus 23:40). Religious historians record that by the time of Jesus, a golden flagon of water was filled with water from the Pool of Siloam and carried in a procession to the altar. Shofar trumpets were blasted, and Psalm 118 was read. The water was poured into a silver bowl and then poured out before the altar at the time of the morning sacrifices. “Give thanks to the LORD” was shouted three times.

So it is with this water symbolism that Jesus made his cry. It recalls the similar cry from Isaiah for the thirsty to come to the waters (55:1). As the crowd remembers the waters being poured out symbolizing God’s faithfulness to provide for the thirst of the earth, Jesus called out for the thirsty to find satisfaction for their parched souls.

Isaiah invited the thirsty to come to the waters of God. Jesus proclaimed that He provides the waters of God. It’s as if on that Feast of Tabernacles Jesus proclaimed that they ultimately pointed to Him and the satisfaction that only He truly provides. Jesus is our Immanuel, God with us. We look forward to God fully and finally tabernacling with us one day for eternity (Revelation 21:3).

Our souls thirst for forgiveness. They are parched for peace with God and man. Only Jesus can ultimately provide those things. He alone offers the waters that will satisfy the thirsty soul.–JMB