THIRSTY SOUL

THIRSTY SOUL

John 7:37-38 ¶ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus was not afraid of disruption and confrontation. This word that Jesus spoke was spoken as an interruption to the service in the temple in Jerusalem as part of the Feast of Tabernacles celebration. It was during the climax of the week, at the most important time of the service Jesus stood and began to cry out. John’s description of this scene is quite stunning, the word John used for “cried out” was krazo which meant to shout, croak, or cry out as an animal. This was no laid back, casual comment. Like Jeremiah Jesus had fire shut up in His bones, He had been stirred and offended by their spiritual blindness and apathy. He had no choice, silence was not an option. Here is how Charles Spurgeon described this verse.

“Provision is made most plenteously; all is provided that man can need to quench his soul’s thirst. To his conscience the atonement brings peace; to his understanding the gospel brings the richest instruction; to his heart the person of Jesus is the noblest object of affection; to the whole man the truth as it is in Jesus supplies the purest nutriment. Thirst is terrible, but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it.

Proclamation is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest, he who suffers from it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of grace, but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with deeper draughts of lust; but it is not goodness in the creature which brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without respect of persons.”

What a powerful word! The atonement brings peace to our conscience, we are no longer tormented by the nagging guilt of sin. Our understanding receives profound instruction, and our hearts are inflamed with the passion of His love. This truth brings nourishment and refreshing to our souls. No wonder Jesus was crying out in the temple, the long, deep thirst of man’s soul could finally be quenched. The living water of the Spirit would now be available to all who are thirsty.
Are you thirsty today? Have you been drinking from the empty wells of this world? Maybe you have been drinking from the fountain of ambition, or maybe from the fountain sensual pleasure. Or, perhaps, you have been trying to nourish yourself with a hobby or other secular interest. If so, your soul is dry and thirsty and I have good news for you. If you are thirsty there is a well filled to overflowing with living water for you to drink from.