This booth was one of three great pilgrimage feasts of Israel.
! Every Jewish male was expected to go up to Jerusalem for these three feasts.
! It occurred in the fall after the harvest, and it lasted seven days followed by a solemn eighth day.
It was a day there was an offering and a feast and they took apart the booths on that day.
During this feast, the people of Israel lived in temporary shelters or booths, again, tabernacles.
You could think in terms of tents made of branches.
They did this to remember how their fathers had lived in tents during the wilderness wandering after the Exodus.
So people set these up in the streets and on the houses, the roof of their houses, all over the city.
But this feast was more than just a history lesson. It was a celebration of God's provision, of God's presence, and of God's promise.
It looked backward to the wilderness where God provided food from heaven and water from the rock.
It looked upward in thanksgiving for the harvest God had just given.
It looked forward in hope to the day when God would again dwell with his people in glory.
It was a week that was just packed full of meaning.
You could not avoid it if you were in Israel in this day.
The Old Testament gives few instructions for what this feast must look like.
But they had developed some tradition that had rich ceremonial meanings, taking place about 600 years before Jesus came on the scene.
Two rituals in particular dominated the celebration.
The first is the significant one for us to think about before we read the text.
This one was a water ceremony.
Each of the first six days, a priest would draw water from the pool of Siloam.
You may remember that pool from chapter 5 where Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and starts the trouble that he finds himself in.
They would draw a pitcher of water and they would lead a procession back to the temple.
People would gather and follow the high priest back to the temple.
And as they approached the water gate on the south side of the inner court,
a shofar would be blown three times as a pronouncement of joy.
And the people would recite Isaiah chapter 12 and verse 3.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
So every day for the first six days, this would happen.
They'd go into the temple.
And while the people watched, the priest would march around the altar
while the singing of the Hillel was led by the temple choir.
People would join in and the Hillel, the word means praise.
And this is Psalm 113 through 118.
So those five, six, six psalms is what they would sing together.
So again, I'm setting the stage for you, right?
So this is happening every single day across this week.
On the seventh day, they're going to go around the altar more times.
It's a more significant, but the same thing is being done on that seventh day.
And so I want you to mark John 7 in whatever way you like to do that.
And I want you to turn with me to Psalm 113.
I want to read these psalms to you.
They're not terribly long.
These songs are the songs they would have sang
while they're going through this process.
This is Feast of Booths every single day.
Setting the stage for what Jesus is going to do when he's there.
So Psalm 113.
I wish I had the tunes to these.
I probably wouldn't sing them if I did, but I wish I had the tunes.
Praise the Lord.
Praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God who is seated on high,
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 114.
When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
The sea looked and fled.
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
O mountains that you skip like rams?
O hills like lambs?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.
Remember, they followed the water back to the temple.
Psalm 115.
Psalm 114.
Not to us, O Lord,
not to us,
but to your name give glory.
For the sake of your steadfast love
and your faithfulness,
why should the nation say,
where is their God?
Our God is in the heavens.
He does all that he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths,
but do not speak.
Eyes,
but do not see.
They have ears,
but do not hear.
Noses,
but do not smell.
They have hands,
but do not feel.
Feet,
but do not walk.
And they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them.
So do all who trust in them.
O Israel,
trust in the Lord.
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron,
trust in the Lord.
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord,
trust in the Lord.
He is their help and their shield.
The Lord has remembered us.
He will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel.
He will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given
to the children of man.
The dead will not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth
and forevermore.
Psalm 116.
I love the Lord
because he has heard my voice
and my pleas for mercy.
Because he has inclined his ear to hear me,
therefore I will call on him
as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me.
The pangs of Sheol laid hold of me.
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I call on the name of the Lord.
O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul.
Gracious is the Lord
and righteous.
Our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple.
When I was brought low,
he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
I believe even when I spoke,
I am greatly afflicted.
I said in my alarm,
all mankind are liars.
What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
O Lord, I am your servant.
I am your servant,
the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you
the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people
in the courts of the house of the Lord
in your midst.
O Jerusalem, praise the Lord.
Psalm 117.
Praise the Lord, all nations.
Extol him, all peoples.
For great is his steadfast love toward us
and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever.
Praise the Lord.
And finally, Psalm 118.
O give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let Israel say,
his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say,
his steadfast love endures forever.
Let those who fear the Lord say,
his steadfast love endures forever.
Out of my distress,
I called on the Lord.
The Lord answered me
and set me free.
The Lord is on my side.
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper.
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
All nations surround me.
In the name of the Lord,
I cut them off.
They surrounded me,
surrounded me on every side.
In the name of the Lord,
I cut them off.
They surrounded me like bees.
They went out like a fire among thorns.
In the name of the Lord,
I cut them off.
I was pushed hard
so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength
and my song.
He has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous.
The tents of the righteous.
The right hand does valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord exalts.
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I shall not die,
but I shall live
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has disciplined severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness
that I might enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord.
The righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we pray, O Lord.
O Lord, we pray, give us success.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God
and I will give thanks to you.
You are my God.
I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord
for he is good
for his steadfast love
endures forever.
Right?
Seven days in a row
they have sung these songs
which are just absolutely ripe
with messianic ideas
foreshadowing
pressing toward
what this feast was really
all about.
Again, not commanded
these psalms
to be sung
but they had begun this tradition
and boy did it serve
to this wonderful end.
At the conclusion of the singing
the people would all cry out
three times
give thanks to the Lord
and the water was poured
onto the altar.
This ceremony commemorated
the water God provided
in the wilderness
and expressed hope
for the coming messianic age
when God
would pour out his spirit.
Second,
this is the water ceremony.
Second there was
the illumination ceremony.
Massive lamps were lit
in the temple courts
casting light over
the city
and this recalled
the pillar of fire
that guided Israel
through the wilderness
and symbolized the hope
that God's glory
would again shine
upon his people.
Jesus is going to
call himself
the light of the world
soon in the text.
So the feast of booths
it was a celebration
of light and life
and provision
and divine presence.
And it's into this setting
charged with expectation
saturated with symbolism
overflowing with religious meaning
that Jesus steps.
I hope that wasn't a waste
of time for you.
There's a lot going on
across this week
and Jesus is going to speak
into it.
We'll see here
in a moment.
What makes John 7
so striking
is that Jesus does not merely
attend the feast
but he interprets it.
He takes the central symbols
of Israel's hope
and he claims
that he himself
is their fulfillment.
But here's the tragedy
of John chapter 7.
The people are celebrating
God's past salvation
while rejecting
God's present
savior.
They're remembering
the wilderness
while standing
face to face
with the one
who led Israel
through it.
They're singing
about light
while turning away
from the light
of the world.
John MacArthur
notes that this feast
which should have produced
the greatest clarity
instead produces
great confusion.
Some say
we'll see
Jesus is good
others say
he deceives the people
the leaders
want him dead
the crowds whisper
no one speaks openly
fear seems to rule
the day.
There's much
confusion
in John 7.
In the middle
of it all
stands Jesus
teaching
confronting
exposing hearts.
does that here
and works
that purpose
for us
today.
John 7
is not
just about
controversy
it's about
revelation
and
responsibility.
It answers
the question
what happens
when the glory
of God
stands in front
of religious
people who
think they
already
know him.
Who's
sight of that
fact?
All of this
is happening
right?
to worship
God
Yahweh
they think
they know
him
they think
they're doing
what they need
to be doing
and they're
missing
they're missing
it.
The answer
is just
sobering
some marvel
some argue
some reject
some perhaps
begin to see
that Jesus
is the Christ
and this chapter
forces every
hearer
to ask the
same question
that the crowd
had to face
what am I
to do
with Jesus
who he
claims to
be
you can't
avoid the
question
it's the
most important
question
perhaps you
could ask
yourself
this morning
what am I
to do
with Jesus
in John
chapter 7
verse 30
through 44
let me
pray for us
before we
read the
text
father
as we've
set the
stage
for what
we're going
to see
Jesus
do here
I pray
that you
would work
in all
of us
belief
whether for
the very
first time
understanding
who Jesus
is
the fulfillment
of all
that the
scripture
has said
the Messiah
would be
our way
back to
you
or once
again
we might
find ourselves
with weak
faith this
morning
having been
distracted by
the world
drawn away
by it
we would
again return
in faith
to the
person
and work
of Jesus
Christ
and we pray
this in his
name
amen
beginning
in verse 30
so they
were seeking
to arrest
him
but no
one laid
a hand
on him
because
his hour
had not
yet come
yet many
of the
people
believed
in him
they said
when the
Christ
appears
will he
do more
signs
than this
man
has done
the Pharisees
heard the
crowd
muttering
these things
about him
and the
chief
priests
and Pharisees
sent
officers
to arrest
him
Jesus
then said
I will
be with
you a
little
longer
and that
I'm
going
to him
who sent
me
you will
seek me
and you
will not
find me
where I
am
you
cannot
come
the Jews
said to
one another
where does
this man
intend
to go
that we
will not
find him
does he
intend
to go
to the
dispersion
among the
Greeks
and teach
the Greeks
what does
he mean
by saying
you will
seek me
and you
will not
find me
and where
I am
you
cannot
come
on 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
whoever
believes
in me
as the
scripture
has said
out of his
heart
will flow
rivers
of living
water
now this
he said
about the
spirit
whom those
who believed
in him
were to receive
for as yet
the spirit
had not
been given
because Jesus
was not yet
glorified
when they
heard these
words
some of the
people said
this really
is the
prophet
others
said
this
is the
Christ
but some
said
is the
Christ
to come
from
Galilee
has not
the scripture
said that
the Christ
comes from
the offspring
of David
and comes
from Bethlehem
the village
where David
was
so there
was a
division
among the
people
over him
some of
them
wanted to
arrest
him
but no
one
laid
hands
on him
now our
text once
again is
chiastic
notice
that it
begins
so they
were seeking
to arrest
him
but no
one
laid a
hand
on him
and the
reason
John
gives
is because
his hour
had not
yet
come
and it
ends
verse 44
some of
them wanted
to arrest
him
but no
one
laid
hands
on him
I just
want to
point that
out to
you
the
central
part of
the text
in this
case
are these
two things
that Jesus
says on
two
different
days
so he
has this
language about
going where
they cannot
come
and then he
has
starting verse 37
on the day
of the
feast
and the
things that
he says
at that
time
so
Lord
willing
I want
to pick
up some
of this
text
as we
close out
our study
of John
7
in just
a couple
of weeks
I want to
come back
into it
so I'm
going to
neglect a
little bit
of it
this morning
but I want
you to
know
I intend
to wrap
it into
the end
of chapter
7
but today
I want to
spend the
rest of
our limited
time on
Jesus'
invitation
and explanation
found in
verses 37
to 39
I want to
give this
ample time
this morning
so picking up
on 37
on the last
day
on the last
day
Jesus'
day
Jesus
stood up
and cried
out
that's
what I want
to spend
the rest
of our
time
focusing
on
so he
makes
this
intention
this
invitation
first
he makes
this
invitation
he cries
out
if anyone
thirsts
let him
come
to me
and drink
right
this is on
the last
day of
the feast
here
John calls
it
the great
day
and no
one knows
for sure
if this
invitation
occurred
on the
seventh
day
or on
the
eighth
there's
a lot
of
argument
about
there
out there
on it
the most
faithful
commentators
just say
we're not
sure
if it was
the seventh
day
or on
the eighth
day
certainly
could be
argued
either way
not
incredibly
important
if it
happened
on the
eighth
day
it
would
have
happened
with
all
of the
rich
meaning
of the
preceding
seven
days
still
ringing
in the
people's
ears
it
would
have
been
there
on
their
minds
as
they're
starting
to
clean
up
from
the
week's
festivities
if it
happened
on the
seventh
day
a day
that had
a bit
more
pomp
than
previously
described
seven
times
around
the
altar
it
was
a
longer
procession
that
took
place
they
would
have
been
likely
in
the
middle
of
expressing
the
rich
meaning
right
then
there
on
that
seventh
day
so
I
like
that
day
I'm
telling
you
but
only
because
I
like
it
I'm
just
telling
you
that's
my
opinion
because
I
like
it
I
like
the
seventh
day
for
this
reason
picture
all
of
that
happening
everything
that I
said
takes
place
and
as
that
water
is
being
poured
out
on
the
altar
!
It's
at
that
time
I
like
to
imagine
that
Jesus
stood
up
and cried
out
with
that
audience
gathered
together
watching
that
water
be
poured
out
he
made
a
bold
invitation
rabbis
in his
day
did not
stand
and
teach
they
sat
everybody
else
stood
to hear
them
place
of honor
for the
teacher
how
interesting
but
he
stood
up
he
wanted
to
be
seen
and
he
wanted
to
project
this
was
a
loud
thing
that
he
said
a
bold
invitation
an
invitation
that
careful
readers
of
John
will
know
was
prompted
by
God
the
father
that
he's
only
doing
what
God
the
father
tells
him
to
do
only
saying
what
God
the
father
tells
him
to
say
so
this
moment
strikes
and
he
stands
up
and
cries
out
if
anyone
thirsts
let
him
come
to
me
and
drink
this
invitation
is
made
up
of
three
parts
and
we
do
well
to
note
all
three
first
he
says
if
anyone
thirsts
and
we
know
that
Jesus
here
is
speaking
metaphorically
he's
not
speaking
of
physical
thirst
he's
talking
about
spiritual
thirst
it
is
not
the
first
time
that
he
has
done
so
concerning
water
speaking
metaphorically
in this
way
do you
recall
his
encounter
with
the
Samaritan
woman
at
the
well
back
in
John
chapter
4
he
says
through
there
in
verse
13
and
14
everyone
who
drinks
of
this
water
the
water
of
the
well
will
be
thirsty
again
but
whoever
drinks
of
the
water
that
I
will
give
him
will
never
be
thirsty
!
again
the
water
that
I
will
give
him
will
become
in
him
a
spring
of
water
welling
up
to
eternal
life
that
phrasing
and
much
of
the
other
things
he
has
to
say
about
being
living
water
in
chapter
4
should
be
going
off
in
your
brain
as
you
hear
this
invitation
if
anyone
thirst
we
understand
right
this is
the
spiritual
thirst
Jesus
is
talking
about
our
souls
are
parched
apart
from
him
parched
apart
from
him
everyone
is
looking
for
satisfaction
for
their
thirsty
souls
everyone
feels
down
at
their
core
whether
or not
they
acknowledge
it
to be
true
down
at
their
core
they
know
that
they
were
made
for
something
more
than
this
temporal
life
has
to
offer
us
something
is
missing
people
talk
about
the
God
sized
hole
in
your
heart
right
I
like
this
metaphor
better
Jesus
metaphor
dry
thirsty
souls
so we
set
ourselves
to the
pursuit
of
passions
trivial
and
temporal
comforts
the
fulfillment
of
sinful
desires
and we
foolishly
think
that we
will find
satisfaction
for our
thirst
nothing
in this
world
that will
satisfy
the thirst
of our
souls
God
says
of the
Israelites
in
Jeremiah
chapter
2
verse
13
my
people
have
committed
two
evils
they have
forsaken
me
the
fountain
of
living
waters
and
secondly
they have
hewed out
cisterns
for the
water
they have
forsaken
the source
of living
water
and they
are
attempting
to hold
water
with a
thing
that can
hold
no
water
this is
so tragic
so epically
tragic
the delusion
to think
that ultimate
satisfaction
will come
from
anywhere
but the
maker
of all
things
thirsty
soul
recognize
your
thirst
recognize
it
if anyone
thirsts
says yes
I am
thirsty
recognize
it
and come
to Christ
for he
offers
to those
who
recognize
their thirst
eternal
life
giving
water
it's the
second part
of this
invitation
if anyone
thirsts
come
to
me
he's the
only source
of this
eternal
life giving
water
what do you
do with
Jesus
he's making
these
astounding
claims
about himself
he's the
one that
gives
that grants
life
eternal
life giving
water
nowhere else
come
to
me
he says
he'll say
in john
14
in verse
6
I'm the
way
and the
truth
and the
life
no one
comes
to the
father
except
through
me
if anyone
thirsts
come to
me
and drink
drink
I want you
to hear the
warmth of
this invitation
if anyone
thirsts
you recognize
the state
of your
thirsty soul
come
come to
me
and drink
and the
metaphor here
holds up
come to
Jesus
and take
hold of
his person
and work
for you
by faith
appropriate
who Jesus
is and all
that he's
accomplished
all of the
promises of
God
that are
yes
in him
by faith
that's what
it means
to drink
of Jesus
take hold
of him
and believe
in him
for the
salvation
of your
soul
trust that
he will be
the source
of that
soul
satisfaction
that you
so
long for
thirsty
soul
you won't
find it
anywhere
else
if anyone
thirsts
let him
come to
Christ
and drink
and he
goes on
this is not
the end
of him
crying out
he says
in verse
38
explanation
whoever
believes
in me
as the
scripture
has said
out of
his heart
will flow
rivers
of living
water
soul
satisfying
water
will be
provided
by Jesus
through
the spirit
I read
a lot
of really
dense
argumentation
across this
past week
that
I want to
totally spare
you from
there's
a lot
of
argumentation
about exactly
where the
punctuation
belongs
in verse
37
and verse
38
I found
that both
arguments
really
were kind
of moot
they essentially
met in the
middle
the concern
for some
in the way
that ESV
has punctuated
this
is that
people would
think
that
me now
as a
redeemed
man
that I
am
the source
of living
water
for others
that's the
concern
for the way
it's
punctuated
here
that I
myself
am
the source
but I
don't
think
that this
punctuation
necessarily
requires us
to think
in that
way
Christ
provides
the living
water
by the
spirit
for me
and
through
me
this
bountiful
provision
will well
up in the
believer
for their
sake
and for
the sake
of others
flows out
of us
for us
and out
of us
for
others
note
it is
flowing
and it
is
living
water
the spirit's
activity
in the
Christian's
life
is for
our
good
our
soul
satisfaction
our
growth
and
holiness
our
confidence
to the
end
but the
spirit's
activity
in the
Christian's
life
is to
be
for
also
the
benefit
of
others
we're
not
meant
to be
stagnant
would argue
with you
that if
you are
in fact
in Christ
you won't
be
stagnant
this is
a
welling
up
water
flowing
living
water
it's
going to
come
out
of
the
life
of
the
Christian
we're
supposed
to be
channels
of
living
water
to a
thirsty
world
now
there is
no
consensus
on a
specific
scripture
that Jesus
is
referencing
in
verse
38
he says
as
the
scripture
has
said
no
consensus
lots
of
different
referencing
it's
likely
that he's
doing
some
biblical
theology
here
where
he's
pulling
together
a
statement
on the
old
testament's
teaching
concerning
the
blessing
of
water
he's
pulling
the
theme
together
right
the
bible
has
taught
this
you've
been
singing
about
this
that I
am
speaking
of
psalm
113
118
another
example
the text
that we
read
earlier
came to
my mind
this week
as I
was
studying
this
text
it
records
an
eschatological
vision
a vision
of the
end
of
things
that
God
gave
to
Ezekiel
astounding
this
water
that
flows
out
of
the
temple
and it
builds
and it
grows
and it
blesses
let me
read it
for us
one more
time
Ezekiel
47
verses
1-12
then he
brought me
back to
the door
of the
temple
and behold
water
was issuing
from below
the threshold
of the
temple
toward the
east
for the
temple
faced
east
the water
was flowing
down from
below the
south end
of the
threshold
of the
temple
south of
the
altar
then he
brought me
out by
way
of the
north
gate
and led
me
around
the
outside
to the
!
outer
gate
that
faces
toward
the
east
and behold
the water
was trickling
out on
the
south
side
going on
eastward
with a
measuring line
in his
hand
the man
measured
a thousand
cubits
and then
led me
through
the
water
and it
was
ankle
deep
growing
grace
and
mercy
again
he
measured
a thousand
and led
me
through
the
water
and it
was
knee
deep
again
he
measured
a thousand
and led
me
through
the
water
and it
was
waist
deep
again
he
measured
a thousand
and it
was a river
that I could not pass through, for the water had risen.
It was deep enough to swim in,
a river that could not be passed through.
And he said to me,
Son of man, have you seen this?
Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river
very many trees on one side and on the other.
And he said to me,
This water flows toward the eastern region
and goes down into Ereba, a desert place,
and enters the sea.
The Dead Sea.
He's referring to here.
When the water flows into the sea,
the water will become fresh.
Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.
It's too salty.
The water becomes fresh,
dead to life.
And wherever the river goes,
every living creature that swarms will live,
and there will be very many fish.
For this water goes there,
that the waters of the sea may become fresh,
so everything will live where the river goes.
Fishermen will stand beside the sea.
From Engadi to Eneglayim,
it will be a place for the spreading of nets.
Its fish will be of very many kinds,
like the fish of the Great Sea.
Those are two locations on the southern and northern part
of the Dead Sea.
I'm saying,
the whole Dead Sea.
The whole thing is going to be brought to life.
But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh.
They are to be left for salt.
And on the banks,
on both sides of the river,
there will grow all kinds of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither,
nor their fruit fail,
but they will bear fresh fruit every month,
because the water for them flows from the sanctuary,
from the source,
from the source of living water.
Their fruit will be for food,
and their leaves for healing.
The Spirit does life-giving work in us,
and in others,
as we put our faith in Jesus on display,
and proclaim his goodness toward us.
If anyone thirsts,
let him come to me and drink.
Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
Now, it needs to be said,
I'm going to wrap this little section up together,
where John notes,
for as the Spirit had not been given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John is in no way suggesting
that the Spirit doesn't have activity.
This third part of the Trinitarian God is not active.
We have many examples before this time.
The Spirit has not yet been fully granted.
We're living in this in-between time.
Jesus is going to promise to send a helper.
Once he's seated at the right hand of the Father,
he's going to send the helper,
and we'll get into that later in John's Gospel.
Up to and at this time,
people could have the Spirit upon them,
but they did not have the Spirit in them.
Brothers and sisters,
we live in a blessed time.
All those who place faith in Jesus Christ,
dead to living,
have the Spirit abiding within us.
this Spirit that he's talking about here,
flow rivers of living water.
What a glorious thing.
What a moment in Jesus' ministry.
It's brought things to a high point,
and we're going to see it'll pick up steam
as we go on in our study.
Let me close.
This quote's in your bulletin.
A bit of a hymn by Horatio Bonner.
I learned this week his good friends called him Horace.
Brother Horace said,
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Behold, I freely give.
The living water, thirsty one,
stoop down and drink and live.
I came to Jesus,
and I drank of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched,
my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
Let's pray together.