Jesus Said, "If Any Man Thirst, Let Him Come Unto Me!" - Part 1737

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink; he that believes on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)

Herein, Jesus was speaking the words of life -- words that speak directly to our soul.  As we know from numerous accounts in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the multitudes that followed Jesus from place to place, and marveled at His doctrine, held diverse opinions about who Jesus actually was. There were those who willingly pushed through crowds of people to touch the hem of His garment, while others desired in their hearts to stone Jesus for the words He spake. Sadly, these two spectrum's of understanding about Jesus has not changed within our modern society, except that now, many don't even consider Jesus in their day to day. That, in and of itself, is sad commentary but I digress.

The question for this day -- Jesus is asking, "Who do you say that I AM?"

Many of those that followed Jesus when He walked the earth asked this same question, or at least, were heard murmuring among themselves as to His identity. In one scriptural account, for example, there was "much murmuring" among the people concerning Jesus: for some said, "He is a good man" while others would say, "Nay, but He deceives the people." (John 7:12) Later on, when directly asked who Jesus is, some declared -- "Of a truth this is the Prophet [that should come into the world]." (John 7:40; John 6:14) Others claimed, "This is the Christ!"

Even John the baptizer (at a very low point in his faith journey) sent disciples to ask Jesus, "Art Thou He the Lord, or should we look for another?" (Luke 7:19)

Repeatedly, the Jews rejected Jesus, wanting instead to stone Him accusing Him of blaspheming the God of Israel and Jacob because He referred to Himself as the Son of God. (John 10:33) Still others questioned whether Jesus was the Christ and did so citing scripture -- "Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, "That Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town was Bethlehem, where David was?" (John 7:41-42)

In fact, wherever Jesus traveled, this same question was asked repeatedly -- who is this man that speaks of heaven, the kingdom of God? Who is this man that heals the sick and casts out demons? Who is this man who preaches in the synagogues, and yet, threw the money changers out of the temple for turning the house of prayer into a den of thieves? (Matthew 21:12-13)

An interesting dichotomy for sure. On the one hand, the rulers and Pharisees were always trying to catch Jesus in a lie, so that these would have reason to put Him to death. Their motive? So that their own religious kingdoms would not be displaced by another King --- even when scripture clearly identified Jesus as the one and only Potentate -- the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8, 11)

However, as we read in the scriptures, these same officers, chief priests and Pharisees asked among each other, "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?" (John 7:48) These authorities must have been very concerned to have expressed this matter so openly, even though, as we also learn, these had already concluded that "this people who know not the law are cursed!" (John 7:49) So, when Nicodemus (he is the man who came to Jesus by night having been one of them) had said unto them -- "Doth our law judge [any] man before it hear h/Him and know what h/He doeth?" these had already decided in their hearts that Jesus was inconsequential. Thus, these replied to Nicodemus, "Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee arises no prophet." (John 7:48-52)

(As an aside, the words which Moses spake unto all Israel (which the officers, chief priests and Pharisees of that time should have known and displayed -- at least publicly) included -- "I took the chief of our tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes, and I charged your judges at that time, saying, "hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between [every] man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him; ye shall not respect persons in judgment; [but ye] shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." (Deuteronomy 1:15-17) In other words, according to the very law these said they served, their actions showed prevailing attitudes of favour/disdain towards certain segments within society, which is telling in itself.]

At the same time, it is important to note that not everyone was concerned about keeping their own kingdom. As we read in the scriptures, there were those whose heart desire was to come and take Him by force, to make Jesus a King. (John 6:14) However, note that in this same example, Jesus told the multitudes that except they see miracles, they would not believe. And even with miracles, as we saw in the example of Jesus feeding the five thousand, the multitudes only followed Jesus because their bellies were hungry, albeit, these were willing to travel on boats to a far location to seek Jesus' blessings. (John 6:5-13, 26)

And then, still others accused Jesus of having a devil, while at the same time, some of them asked, "Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ." (John 7:20, 26) In other places, ALL the people were astonished at His doctrine. (Mark 11:18)

All sorts of reactions to Jesus who willingly walked this earth so that those of us who believe in Him by faith, and are water baptized in His Name can be redeemed, filled with His Spirit -- the Comforter -- the Holy Ghost. It is no wonder Jesus oft said, "Let him that hath ears to hear, hear."

Indeed, "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16) After the kindness and love of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) Thankfully, those who knew in their hearts that Jesus had the words of eternal life followed Him, and willingly obeyed His commandments.

When Jesus said, "ye both know Me and ye know whence I AM: and I am not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom ye know not. But I know Him for I am from Him and He hath sent Me," there were those followers of Jesus who desired to know more.  (John 7:30) These knew deep in their hearts who He was when Jesus told them, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

And in fact, there was no question. The twelve disciples soon became seventy, and then one hundred and twenty, and then on the day of Pentecost -- 3,000, and consequentially, the body of Christ church grew in numbers daily. (Acts 2:1-47)

But the Pharisees did not listen with their hearts, but instead, with their intellect. Therefore, when the scribes and Pharisees came around, as Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch, disputing and saying, "if thou be the Christ, tell us plainly," Jesus had no choice but to say unto them, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye are not My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me, and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck [them] out of My Father's hand. I and [My] Father are one!" (John 10:23-30)

To those with hardened hearts, Jesus told them, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father; if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:19)

But to those who understood His endless and abundant love for His beloved creation -- that God so loved the world -- we can say (like Peter standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is indeed, both Lord and Christ! (Acts 2:36) The living Word! God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The Comforter who will lead and guide us into all truth. (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3, 8)

"Hear ye Him" -- for He has the words of eternal life!

And now, as the scripture declares -- "But this He [Jesus] spake of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given] because that Jesus was not yet glorified!" (John 7:39; Acts 2:38)

Stand in the offering plate.