Hi, my name is Bo, good morning.
I'm one of the elders that's bringing you this morning the Word of God.
The man for thirsty people from John chapter 7 we just read.
Last week, David told us about this Feast of the Boots,
or Festival of the Boots, so the people were staying in the tents.
And it's supposed to be a time of rejoicing and celebration.
So we'll come to the concluding part of this festival,
and we'll see what's happening.
Let's pray first before we go on.
Almighty God, we admit that we would not be thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ
if you do not draw us to Him.
And we ask that this morning you might do so.
Lord, have mercy on us that we might understand such a great promise
and privilege that we have in Christ.
May you help us in understanding your Word.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Okay, so for this scripture today,
we are coming to one of the most stunning claims and promises in history.
And Jesus was claiming to be the man for thirsty people.
We shall consider the immediate context,
and then the wider context,
the nature of the claim,
and the responses of people as we go on.
So to start with,
I would like to show you a video clipping
of the festival of the Boots
during the time for the water libation.
That is the climax of each day.
So every day, every morning,
the priest will go and draw water
and then bring it to the temple
and pour to a cup.
So to appreciate what's happening,
we can just watch this for about five minutes.
All right.
This is the first reenactment of this water libation in 2014,
so after many years.
So they are drawing this water
from this Shiloh spring.
While they are in the desert,
thirst is a very real problem.
They were quite afraid of dying of thirst.
And they are so angry with Moses
that they wanted to kill him
for bringing them to the desert.
But God make a rock crack
and water flow out from the rock.
And that's how they sustain their life.
And so during this feast of the Boots
while they are staying in the tents,
so the water is a very great simple
for God's provision.
You can sense the joy,
the atmosphere of joy and celebration.
the choir to the twelve to the nine-year- jede kirby.
She running out of bed space now.
Go into the next show.
There must be so good when it comes to the water warm
up to fill out a couple of lenses.
And, please see,
I'm planning on the side of the Gender...
I'm not sure why this become nighttime. I don't think it will go on for the whole until the night, but somehow it just became nighttime.
So they're coming to the place where the altar was, and the square in the middle representing the altar.
And every day they would take the water and circulate the altar for one round. On the seventh day, they would circulate it for seven rounds.
And when they walk around, they would recite Psalm 113 to 118.
. . . . .
. . .
So one of the priest is holding water, the other one is a bottle of wine.
You can see the copper will flow.
Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
I hope this video clip
helped us to appreciate
the atmosphere
of the festival
which is much bigger than this
of course
during the real time
and then we can imagine
after the pouring of the water
and the wine
Jesus stood up
on the platform
and proclaimed
if anyone thirst
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
it's just like
just now when Don stood up
spoke the same
verse
how did we feel
I mean if somebody
during our service
stood up
speaking
programming like that
how would we respond
to such an
interruption
or surprise
and
so
in today's reading
we see
people
have different
had different responses
some believe in him
in some way
some thought that he was
mad
and ignore him
some thought that he was
bad
and wanted to
arrest him
however we were told
that
even the officers
who were sent
by the
priests and Pharisees
to arrest Jesus
did not lay hand
on him
they said
they did not
arrest Jesus
because they have
never
ever heard
someone spoke
like him
so
that gives us
an impression
in terms of
when Jesus spoke
such a
promise
a claim
that his
appearance
was such a way
that people
who hear him
who really could
hear him
would know
that he was
proclaiming the truth
he wasn't
mad
or bad
so let us
consider
the
context
in terms of
what this
water
libation
mean
so
to those people
who are celebrating
the water
would mean
that it's
God's
provision
so water
is something
that we
can't
produce
we all
depend on
God
for that
and so
it's a
sign of
rejoicing
and thanksgiving
to God
for such a
gift of
life
to them
wine
I suppose
to them
is to
represent
the thankfulness
as well
to God
because
through water
they can have
grapes
and through grapes
they can have wine
and so
they want to
offer that
to God
as a
thanksgiving
in the
context
and
possibly
also asking
God
for more
blessing
for the
year to
come
so the
first
meaning
is what
men offer
to God
in thanksgiving
and supplication
the second
meaning
is what
God gives
to men
in mercy
and grace
for those
people who
knew the
Old Testament
well
they might
remember
Zechariah
12.10
Zechariah
is a book
talking about
the Feast of
Booths
the most
in the
Old Testament
in Zechariah
12.10
he says
and I will
pour out
on the
house of
David
and the
independence
of Jerusalem
a spirit
of grace
and
peace
for mercy
so that
when they
look on
me
on him
home
they
have
peace
they
shall
mourn
for him
as one
mourns
for an
only son
or only
child
and weep
bitterly
over him
as one
weeps
over a
firstborn
so those
people who
knew the
Old Testament
well
they will
be waiting
for the
fulfillment
of this
prophecy
that one
day God
will do
something
great in
their midst
again
so they
don't
understand
how this
is going
to be
fulfilled
they were
waiting
for the
day
when God
would change
their heart
and
so
restoring
God's
kingdom
in that
way
so they
were waiting
for the
spirit of
grace
and the
spirit of
peace
for mercy
so in
here
the water
can represent
the spirit
of grace
that's
God's
grace
coming down
from heaven
and the
wine
could represent
the spirit
of peace
for mercy
so by
God's
grace
we can
look to
the one
we have
peace
and ask
for mercy
and so
the second
meaning is
what God
gives to
man
then
in our
reading today
Jesus
seemed to
be
applying
the symbols
to himself
he's saying
that
I am
the first
meaning
and also
the second
meaning
I am
the temple
the altar
and the rock
from which
they got
the water
so he's
both the
offering
to God
and also
God's
gift
to man
so
that's why
we read
from in
John chapter
19
John
wrote
in
from
verse 33
to 35
he said
but when
they came
to Jesus
and saw
that he
was already
dead
they did
not break
his legs
but one
of the
soldiers
pierced
his side
with a
spear
and at
once
there
came
out
water
blood
and water
and
he who
saw it
has borne
weakness
his testimony
is true
and he
knows that
he is
telling the
truth
that you
also
may
believe
so
here
John
is
testifying
that
Jesus
was the
one
whom
they
had
pierced
and from
him
flowed
the
water
and the
wine
libation
water
and
blood
so
we
know
that
from
him
flowed
the
spirit
of
grace
and
the
spirit
of
peace
for
mercy
so
from
him
we
have
a double
cure
for our
sins
first
the guilt
of sin
has been
cleansed
by his
blood
and
the
power
of sin
has been
washed
away
by the
water
make us
pure
so that
we do
not
need to
sin
again
and
that's
what
Jesus
was
telling
people
come to
me
so
the nature
of the
claim is
that Jesus
did not
say to
a group
of people
who were
downcast
or
depressed
he was
talking to
a group
of people
who were
rejoicing
and who
had plenty
of water
and wine
to drink
so what
would these
people be
thirsty
for
so among
those people
who are
dancing
and singing
and
what did
Jesus mean
when he
said
if anyone
thirst
so in
their
context
when Jesus
was
proclaiming
I suppose
there would
be people
who were
thirsty
for the
coming
of
kingdom
of
God
or
at least
wanting
this
celebration
to continue
on
forever
not just
for
eight
days
because
it's
the last
day
they would
need to
go back
to their
routines
again
the next
day
though
there's
such a
thirst
for it
and
what
so that
is the
thirst
that
wanting
God's
kingdom
to come
through
and wanting
our life
to be
happy
there are
other thirsts
as well
so that
we might
be thirsty
for better
relationship
with our
friends
or spouse
or family
maybe thirsty
for a
better job
thirsty
for a
holiday
or
people can
be thirsty
for
pornography
alcohol
gambling
we can
have all
sorts of
thirsts
so
we can
roughly divide
thirsts
into four
categories
sometimes
we do
thirsts
for
something
great
like
world
peace
or
God's
kingdom
to be
coming
God's
righteousness
be done
sometimes
we thirst
for the sake
of somebody
else
we want
someone else
to improve
in their
life
become a
better person
a holier
person
sometimes
we thirst
for ourselves
that we
can be
pure
holier
but many
times
we
we thirst
to have
more comfort
and happiness
and we
want to
have an
easier life
and these
are all
the
different
categories
of thirst
does it
matter what
thirst we
have can we
just come to
Jesus and
have those
thirsts
fulfilled
I think it
really doesn't
matter because
the result is
the same
because Jesus
said whoever
believes in
me as the
scripture has
said out of
his heart
will flow
rivers of
living water
Jesus did
not promise
that your
particular
thirst will
be satisfied
in the way
you hope
for so if
you thirst
for alcohol
you won't
be given
more alcohol
or even if
you thirst
for a job
you may not
be given
a job
but he
said out
of his
heart
will flow
rivers of
living water
our thirst
will always
be
too small
too little
too shallow
and Jesus
wanted to
give us
much more
than what
we thirst
for
and he
wants to
change our
life by
giving us
the Holy
Spirit
when the
Holy Spirit
comes to
you
you will
not care
about your
thirst
anymore
most of
the thirst
at least
you might
care
to be
thirsty
for a
holier
person
but
it's not
the
day to
day
sort
of
thirst
so we
wouldn't
care so
much about
our own
thirst
but from
our heart
we
will
fill this
living
water
that means
we will
care more
about what
other people
thirst for
because we
have this
living water
flowing up
from us
we would
want to
help others
who are
thirsty
but how do
we come to
Jesus
so first
we must
admit that
as you said
we are
thirsty
if anyone
thirsts
if you
do not
have any
thirst
then we
will not
need to
come to
Jesus
if we do
have thirst
Jesus
invites us
to come
to him
and believe
in him
and then
how do we
believe in
him
and we
need to be
a bit careful
here last
week
from the
first half
of John
7
David told
us that
it's
possible
for us
to believe
Jesus
in our
own
terms
I think
we all
do this
to some
extent
as we
first came
to Jesus
however
as we
grow in
the
knowledge
of Jesus
I hope
that we
would learn
to believe
in Jesus
in his
terms
not our
own
terms
not our
own
ideas
so the
gospels
such as
this
gospel of
John
and other
gospels
were written
so that we
can believe
Jesus
as he
claims
he should
be
that is
he is
the Christ
the son
of God
so when
we read
the bible
we attend
bible study
listen to
sermons
hopefully
then we
really can
come to
know
Jesus
and believe
in him
as he
claimed
himself
to be
so what
are the
responses
to this
to the
claim
some of the
believers
thought that
Jesus was
the prophet
some thought
he was
the Christ
these people
unlike us
did not have
the new
testament for
them to
understand
what Jesus
said about
himself
however
they did
have Jesus
there with
them
so they
could have
asked Jesus
when they
were in
doubt
I hope
that you
do not
have just
a vague
idea about
Jesus and
think you
know
and think
that you
know
who he
is
I hope
that you
will
take the
trouble to
study what
Jesus says
about
himself
some of
the listeners
did not
believe in
Jesus
they had
a problem
with
Jesus
origin
they were
in a way
correct in
asking that
Jesus be the
descendant of
David and
coming from
David's city
the king
and savior
they were
waiting for
was supposed
to be a
descendant of
King David
and there
was when we
read the
book of
Romans
Paul started
the book of
Romans by
saying that
he was
proclaiming
the gospel
and the
gospel was
concerning
Jesus who
was descended
from David
according to
the flesh
and was
declared to
be the
son of
God according
to the
spirit of
holiness by
his
resurrection
so Paul
took pain
to point
out that
Jesus was
a descendant
of King
David
but those
listeners back
there they were
too sure about
the judgment
of Jesus
they did not
bother to
find out if
Jesus was
born in
Bethlehem
they could
have if
they wanted
to
the Pharisees
who knew
the scriptures
well were
even more
biased in
the judgment
they assumed
those who
believed in
Jesus were
the cursed
one
thinking that
they were
being deceived
by Jesus
so while the
officers they
said no one
ever spoke
like Jesus
the Pharisees
said no one
who had any
learning would
believe in
Jesus
no sooner had
they said
that who
stood up to
speak for
Jesus
Nicodemus
was one of
the Pharisees
he was a
well learned
man
he was also
one of the
authorities
he challenged
them and said
that if
they were
they know
their law
so well
why didn't
they follow
the law
in letting
giving Jesus
a fair
hearing
to see
what Jesus
had to say
about himself
and understand
what Jesus
was saying
instead of
judging Jesus
without even
giving Jesus
a trial
so they
they could
not answer
Nicodemus
question
what did
they do
they belittled
Nicodemus
to make
his
question
insignificant
and that's
what we
can all
do
we even
make fun
of the
name of
Jesus
Christ
so that
to make
his claim
to be
insignificant
and they
said
they asked
Nicodemus
are you
from Galilee
too
no winner
ever comes
from Galilee
they are
ignorant
and simple
people
how can
Jesus
who grew
up in
Galilee
be anyone
significant
no prophet
ever
came from
Galilee
after all
the Pharisees
did not know
their scriptures
as well as
they thought
they did
at least
we know
that Jonah
came from
Galilee
Elijah
and Nahum
may have
come from
Galilee
as well
and also
in Isaiah
chapter 9
verse 1
to 2
it says
but there
will be
no gloom
from her
who was
in anguish
in the
former time
he brought
into
contempt
the land
of Jebulun
and the
land of
Lahtali
Jebulun
and Lahtali
they are
land in
Galilee
but in
the later
time
he has
made
glorious
the way
of the
sea
the land
beyond
Jordan
Galilee
of the
nations
the people
who walk
in darkness
have seen
a great
light
those who
dwell in
the land
of deep
darkness
on them
have light
shone
so 600
years ago
before Jesus
was born
Isaiah
said that
there will be
a light
in Galilee
and
yeah
the Pharisees
somehow
just ignore
that
because
they had
a theology
of glory
the Pharisees
of the
theology
of glory
they were
impressed
by titles
status
and achievements
they thought
that the
Christ would
come as
a powerful
person
and they
could not
see how
someone from
the outback
without any
education
and status
could be
the Christ
and we
can have
the similar
theology
of glory
as well
we both
seen
being the
best church
or the
church with
the best
something
and that
is the
theology
of glory
but Jesus
has
had the
theology
of the
cross
Jesus
knew that
the problem
with man
is that
everyone
wants to
speak
his own
glory
Jesus
did not
seek
his own
glory
he lived
for the
glory of
God
and for
the good
of others
so Jesus
who knew
no thirst
became one
who had
thirst
so that
he could
be the
water
and wine
libation
to satisfy
our thirst
if anyone
thirst
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
so how
would you
respond to
this claim
of Jesus
most of
us are
proud of
the fact
that we
are
scientific
minded
and it
would be
most
unscientific
if we
dismiss
this claim
before giving
Jesus a
fair hearing
and read
through
what he
said
and think
through
what he
said
and all
of us
have some
thirst
have you
found any
other way
that would
satisfy your
thirst
I see
many people
patients
who are
on
painkillers
for some
sort of
chronic
pain
some of
them
wanting
more and
more
painkillers
to deal
with the
same
pain
these
people
usually
focus
their
whole
life
on
themselves
and
their
comfort
and I
see that
patients
who have
more
important
things to
live for
other than
themselves
they are
not troubled
so much
by pain
or chronic
pain
you see
that the
answer to
our thirst
is not
more of
something
it's more
of moving
from self
centredness
to
Christ
centredness
Jesus
knew that
that's why
he promised
the Holy
Spirit
for the
change
of our
hearts
it's
difficult
I know
for us
to come
to Jesus
with all
the things
that we
have
experienced
in life
we
thirsty
for
something
else
more than
Jesus
Christ
because
we don't
know
the
satisfaction
he could
give to
us
today
I'm
pretty
disappointed
that
my
sister
and the
family
who
came to
visit us
they come
to church
with us
because they
wanted to
sleep in
if I told
them at
10 o'clock
I will
bring them
to see
kangaroos
I'm sure
they will
make their
effort to
get up
and see
kangaroos
they
I mean
at home
they do
go to
church
but
kangaroos
is more
satisfying
than
being
with
God's
people
worshipping
God
I wanted
to
bring them
to see
my
church
family
and to
get to
know
people
here
and
worship
together
and
last
night
also
we
heard
of
the
news
that
Rita's
mother
passed
away
if
you
know
four
months
ago
Rita
is one
of the
students
the mom
came to
visit her
from
Hong Kong
so
four months
ago
she actually
came to
church
and
Rita
told us
that
the mom
couldn't
swallow
well
and
couldn't
speak
very
well
suddenly
so
we
brought
her
to
the
hospital
and
scanned
sure
that
she
got
metastatic
cancer
in
the
brain
and
so
she
needed
to
go
back
to
Hong
Kong
straight
away
so
that
evening
I
took
her
and
her
daughter
and
with
Leigh
to
the
chemist
to
buy
some
medication
that
would
control
their
symptoms
while
Leigh
and
Rita
were
in
the
shop
I
sat
with
her
in
the
car
park
I
had
the
urge
to
tell
her
that
she
had
just
three
months
to
live
if
she
did
nothing
for
the
cancer
if
she
would
go
for
treatment
she
might
have
six
months
I
don't
usually
tell
people
how long
they
would
live
and
I
don't
think
I
would
know
and
even
after
telling
her
I
felt
quite
bad
because
God
could
have
miracle
as
well
I
mean
people
can
recover
from
cancer
but
why
did
I
tell
her
because
I
want
to
show
her
that
she
had
not
much
time
she
should
go home
and
cancel
I
mean
just
repeat
the
semester
just
spend
some
time
with
her
but
when
she
went
back
to
Hong Kong
she
went
to
see
a
Chinese
doctor
and
the
Chinese
doctor
said
no
problem
I
could
cure
you
and
so
she
thought
that
she
could
be
cured
she
didn't
even
seek
Western
medicine
help
so
after
a
couple
of
months
with
Chinese
medicine
her
condition
got
quite
bad
initially
she
got
better
because
she
was
on
steroids
definitely
she
would
feel
better
and
so
she
delayed
her
help
from
the
Western
doctors
and
so
Rita
just
went
back
about
two
weeks
ago
and
she
was
already
quite
sick
and
yes
so
she
I thought
she
missed
the
most
precious
time
in
life
it's
so
easy
to
believe
in
someone
to
say
oh
I
could
kill
you
I
just
find
hard
people
would
believe
these
sort
of
lies
without
finding
the
fact
but
not
coming
to
Jesus
what
Jesus
says
fake
promise
and
you
can
look
through
history
and
see
whoever
really
came
to
Jesus
was
thirsty
again
we
can
find
out
not
only
from
his
word
from
the
last
2000
years
of
history
so
I
hope
that
we
will
not
waste
our
time
on
all
the
insignificant
things
in
life
and
lots
more
life
that
we
can
live
when
we
have
the
Holy
Spirit
in
Christ
let
us
pray
Father
God
we
thank
you
for
being
our
shepherd
because
we
are
in
Christ
that
we
will
lack
laughing
you
anoint
our
heads
with
oil
our
cup
overflows
oh
Father
may
you
help
us
to
be
overflowing
that
we
may
taste
your
goodness
thank
you
Father
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen
com
I
we
gather
industries
%.