A Spiritual Re-Awakening? Day 14 Lenten Readings & Reflections through John’s Gospel

Day 14 (Thursday, March 21, 2019)

Read

John 7:37-39


37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Reflect

We know how refreshing and satisfying a glass of clear cold water is on a hot day. On the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, it was the custom of the Jewish high priest to enter the temple court with a gold flagon filled with water drawn from the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. It was a great occasion for the million or so pilgrims in the city. Accompanied by the blast of trumpets, he would pour the water out into the temple court. It symbolized two things: it looked back to God’s provision of water from the rock at the time of the Exodus from Egypt; it looked forward to the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy which spoke of the day when water would flow from the temple in Jerusalem, the sacred rock, satisfying the spiritual thirst of the nations and blessing them (Ezekiel 47:1-11).

Jesus’ chose this climactic moment to call out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink…” It was a stunning statement. Jesus had already told a woman at Jacob’s well in Samaria that he could give living water that would wash away sin and satisfy thirsty lives. Now he was saying metaphorically that he was the temple from whom the living waters of God would flow, blessing the nations. However, Jesus’ words caused division. Some were impressed, some sneered, some wanted to kill him. But Nicodemus, one of the Jewish rulers who had come to Jesus at night (John 3:1ff) pointed out the inconsistencies of his fellow leaders and stood up for Jesus (7:51f). Nicodemus’s response is a marvelous challenge and encouragement for us today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the giver of all good things, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and grant that by your holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by your grace and guidance do them; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, Easter 5 – adapted)

Daily Reading Plan

Read John 7:37-52