Promise Two: Come and Drink! – 7 May 2021
By Carina Francke
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
NgokukaJohane 7
Amanzi okuphila
People like to voice their opinions of other people, especially those in the public eye. In Jesus’ lifetime, it was no different. Opinions of him and his teachings in the temple varied from “He is good” to “He is misleading the people”. They even wanted to arrest him. Amidst these divided opinions, Jesus broke the news that he would shortly return to his Father, the One who sent him. He warned them that it would be of no use to look for Him because where He was, they could not come. Aware of their uncertainty, Jesus extended an invitation to everyone listening to Him, “… Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37b-38)
What a loaded invitation to everyone in the crowd, but also to us! Your humanity and mine thirst after something more, something deeper – our salvation. A thirst that can only be quenched by Jesus Christ, the Fountain of life. But then as individuals, we must believe in Him. In this way, we become part of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the eternal truth of salvation: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)
But there is more to Jesus’ invitation. He promises that our faith in Him will lead to living waters flowing from our innermost being. The Apostle John makes it clear that “the streams of living water” refer to the Holy Spirit that people who believe in him will receive. And here we see Isaiah’s prophecy of this promise of Christ becoming a reality: “… You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11)
This part of the prophecy was only completely fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. And is still given to Christ believers today. We can declare with steadfast faith and without a shadow of a doubt, “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
Prayer: Father, may the flow of living water from within me never be blocked by my “Me-ness”. I admit that You alone are, and will for ever be, the Source of living water. Amen
