Trumpets blasting, people singing, waving 'lulavs' and chanting Psalms 113-118 (the Hallel). The Feast of Tabernacles was an absolutely awesome festival full of salvific meaning, the ruach ha-kodesh (spirit of God) and a symbol of religious joy for the Jewish people.
Text / 7:16-19 / His Credentials
'My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me.'
How many times has Jesus made this claim? Even in chapter 6 we hear from Jesus that God is the one who sent the True Bread (Jesus). In 14:10 we'll hear Jesus claim this reality again, that God is within and behind everything He is and does.
I want to point out to things that have jumped out to me in this section:
- :18 'he who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself' - Jesus is talking about directing all glory to God, He didn't come for to be glorified but to glorify God (though He rightly deserves all honor and glory).
- What about you. How often are you seeking attention, adoration, self-righteous glory? Putting on display at work, at home, with neighbors or friends...the right look, your best qualities, traits, talents and abilities and awards? Are you out for your reputation OR are you out for Gods reputation?
- :24 'stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment' - Jesus is challenging the leaders to discern with true Spiritual discernment. To judge the work of the Messiah based on the character of God found in the Law and not on their own additions to the commands.
- How do you judge Christ's words and work? Are you filtering everything Christ has said, and has done through the lens of 2015 in the suburbs of America? OR are you engaging Christ on His eternal terms?
'If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'
At the height of the Feast in the midst of the great procession of symbolic salvation where a pitcher of water is carried from one of the pools of Jerusalem to the Altar and poured out denoting cleansing, the coming of the Spirit and the joy of the Lord in the lives of the Jews, Jesus cried out.
Jesus rises at the Temple Court and shouts with everything He has, breaking through the song and cheer and rumbling of the multitudes.
This call is loaded with meaning both to the original audience and to you and I. Whoever hears His call anytime, anywhere. Let's break it down a bit:
- if anyone is thirsty: anyone / whoever (literally anyone seeking actual spiritual refreshment and life, Jew and Gentile alike). Thirsty - multitudes chasing down the symbolic pitcher of water, temporary refreshment until next years sin builds up and all joy in the Lord is lost...Jesus offers eternal refreshment by His Spirit and His Truth (4:10 w/ the woman at the well. Chapter 6 regarding food and drink for the crowds - food and drink found only in Christ!)
- come: 6:35
- and drink: 6:53, there is something about symbolically drinking the life of Christ that signifies an awesome unity with Him in Spirit and in Truth!
- believes in me: this theme of simple but utter belief for salvation is all over this book most recently and directly pointed out in 6:28-29.
- as Scripture teaches: A possible compilation of Exodus 17:3-7, Numbers 20:1. I love the last line in Ex. 17:7 'Is the Lord with us or not?' Jesus boldly proclaims the answer to this here and now!
- streams of living water will flow from within him: The very same living water promised to the woman at the well. John even clarifies by noting that this water is the Spirit (:39). It flows from within - Read 14:9-13, Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him and and Jesus is in us. This reality that God is both welling up within the believer and the believer is nestled within Gods heart is an all encompassing relationship.
This ancient festival, a festival instituted to engage God directly and faithfully inevitably failed to do what it was designed to do - connect man with God the Creator and Savior. How can I possibly say this in light of the millions who still engage it for spiritual cleansing and joy? Simply, Jesus said so when He called the crowds to seek Him and not the glass of pool-water.
What's more, if it's joy they were seeking then Jesus offered that as well. 'Remain in my love...I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.' 15:9-11
Question /
Where is the source of your joy? Christ or symbols and celebrations about Christ?
What credentials of Jesus are you seeking? Where are you looking and with what intention? The Word will never change, it can't, God doesn't change. The Spirit enlightens us to the Truth in the context of the Scriptures and connects that Truth to our very life here and now. If you don't want to know Christ as He proclaims, on His terms - you won't find Him. So who and what are you seeking?
It also happens to be The Holy Week in the life of the Church. Are you hoping that your adherence to Lent, to Good Friday, to Resurrection Sunday will draw you back into God's presence? Are you seeking salvation through honoring these traditions?
OR are you engaging Jesus directly, personally, honestly and with all the belief you have? Coming to Him as the only source of Living Water.