Jn.19:34 – Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
I remember reading about the missionary journeys of Henry Morton Stanley looking for David Livingston in Africa in the 1800’s. This was primarily a missionary journey winning Africans to the Lord but there was also a secondary purpose which was a search for the source of the Nile River. The Nile is one of the longest rivers in the world flowing north through Africa emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The source of the Nile has always been quite a mystery, apparently it comes from underground springs that feed Lake Victoria. On one of our trips to Africa we visited this area where the Nile flows out of Lake Victoria, its quite a beautiful place.
Today’s scripture reminds me of the river that David sang about and Jesus prophesied about. David said in Psalm 36:4 – “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High”. Jesus prophesy about this river is found in John 7:37,38 – “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”.
As I reflect on the death of Christ and the water and the blood flowing from His pierced side I can’t help but think of this river that John also said flows from the throne of God. This river is actually the love of God that flows out of the wounded side of Jesus. His love for us was on full display when He was nailed to the cross. As the Roman soldier pierced His side, water and blood poured out. This is a picture of the river that flows from Him to all who are thirsty.
David said that the river flows through the city of God, the city is all of God’s people that have believed on the Lord Jesus. Jesus said that this river would flow out of all those that drink of Him. Every time we come to the cross we can drink in this river of God’s love, that’s when this river of love flows out of us to the hurting world. Today, Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, this river of love is flowing out of Him to heal the wounded and broken hearts all over the world. Come to Jesus today, let this love flow into you as you look to Him.
