Let anyone who is thirsty come to me

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, 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.” ’ 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.

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’

- John 7:37-52

Jesus has been preaching in the temple at the Feast of the Tabernacles or Booths (Heb. Succoth). For a full understanding of his teaching, see the earlier readings concerning this event from Friday and Saturday, My time has not yet come and The glory of God.

In today's reading, we have reached the final day of the Festival. This festival, as explained in the earlier commentary noted above, was an autumn festival commemorating the time that the ancient Israelites were wandering in the wilderness of Sinai, and lived in tents (or tabernacles, as the name suggests). It is an eight day festival with commemoration for different important events combined into the festival. The great day of the feast, my study bible explains, is likely to be the seventh or eighth day. Ceremonies included a procession from the pool of Siloam, carrying water and pouring it as a libation at the temple. This commemorates the water flowing from the rock which Moses struck in the wilderness (see Ex. 17:1-7). This gives us the context for today's reading, and Jesus' teaching about the "living water."

He cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 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.' " 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. This living water, the gospel teaches us, is the gift of the Spirit, and my study bible notes, "the new life which springs forth by the power of the Spirit. Christ gives the Holy Spirit, and the believer's heart consequently flows with new life. Christ does not force us, but is always available if we desire Him."

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. My study bible notes that many Jews at the time of Christ's life in the world were looking not only for the Messiah (or the Christ) but also for a prophet that would be a new Moses - one who would lead Israel out of bondage. The gospels teach us that Jesus was indeed from the line of David via his father Joseph and was born in Bethlehem at the time of the census - for this reason Joseph had to travel with the pregnant Mary to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. The people who know that Jesus is from Galilee, however, believe he was born in Nazareth where he was raised with his family. But, my study bible notes, John will always use "factual" disputes on occasions like this to bring out the deeper truth of Jesus' identity. The fact that "no one laid hands on him" - as "his time has not yet come" - has been historically interpreted as an indication of his divine nature, that he will choose his proper time, not others.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ In the previous reading (verse 32), we note the temple police had been sent to arrest Jesus in the middle of the Feast. They have returned to the chief priests and Pharisees on the last day, without an arrest. They are overwhelmed by Jesus' preaching and haven't laid a hand on him. In his homilies on John's gospel, St. John Chrysostom points out that the leadership, although witnesses to miracles (such as the healing of the paralytic to which they objected) and having full knowledge of Scripture, have no benefit from Jesus' ministry. But those who had no such knowledge and training - nor witness to miracles of healing - were captivated by a sermon. To quote Chrysostom: "When the mind is open to conviction there is no need of long speeches. Truth is like that" (Homily 52). Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Even the crowd is condemned, because clearly the authorities spare no one in their condemnation or criticism if it gets in the way of the recognition of their authority. Again, in Saturday's reading, we read Jesus' words about intention, and the love of the Father placed above all. If we wish simply to defend doctrines or rules, without being alive to this loving relationship, we may miss the simple truth that strikes so directly in this Presence - that which is striking the officers from one single sermon. Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee. Nicodemus is a figure from earlier in John's gospel. It was he who asked Jesus to explain how a man can possibly be "born again." Nicodemus defends Jesus' rights (forbidding false reporting and requiring that both sides of a case be heard) under the law of the Scriptures, which the Pharisees and and chief priests and scribes are bound to uphold. Ironically, they are using Scripture (prophecy) to attack Jesus' "credentials." Not only do they fail to uphold the law, we are told, but they are also blind to scripture when it suits them - or they speak of ignorance. Their response, "no prophet is to arise from Galilee," is false. Jonah came from Gath Hepher, a town in Galilee three miles from Nazareth. Their statement actually reflects a common prejudice of the time - see Behold an Israelite indeed.

So we have a picture of those who wish to destroy him, those who listen to him, and those who are awed by his very words - and the crowds are stirred in debate among themselves about this man. Jesus has just preached (see the previous readings) that his very words are spirit and life. And so it is, that even the temple police are struck by his words. We have dug more deeply into the nature of Spirit now, as Jesus preaches of the "living water." So deeply powerful is Jesus' substance and reality - the food and drink we are to consume of his spiritual reality, his mystical presence, and all that is contained even in his very words - that it continues to feed us and quench our thirst for spiritual, mystical food. This which he has called the food of life is stirring the crowd, and the leadership cannot stand this life that is turning their power upside down. Jesus has said the scriptures testify to him, but those who are experts in scripture fail to see this life; and if seeing, reject it for the sake of their own glory, their own authority. I think it's important that we take this text in terms of what it is trying to teach us about Presence, a mystical presence and reality, about Life itself to which Jesus has testified. If he is our mystical food and drink, if it is he who will give us rivers of living water to quench our thirst, how do we see this today? How is it alive in us? Are we awake to it? Does it burn our hearts, open enough to hear? I think it will always shake up our lives and our convictions, our "rules" and "laws" and "shoulds" and "musts." And this will always be a personal challenge. Perhaps even a daily challenge. Yet, today, we are still called to be alive to its power and its love. How does this living water stir in you today?