Worship into the Week- Living Water

 Worship into the Week- John 7:37-39

Living Water

Pentecost Sunday

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

In this setting we know that Jesus

 is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.

It was one of the big festivals when adult Jewish males

 made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Pentecost means "50 days"- which was seven weeks

 after Passover, and was celebrated when people

 harvested their grain, offering a "tithe" of it to God.

During the time of Jesus, this Festival had also taken on

the remembrance of God's care and provision

for the people of Israel during their 40 years

 of  wandering in the desert. 

The disciples wanted Jesus to go Jerusalem 

so that others would learn about him.

He later went privately and the Pharisees 

wanted to arrest him.

Then on the last day of the feast, Jesus stood up to

share some thoughts.

We learn from the Mishnah that the water ceremonies

 were an important part of this celebration.

At the pool of Siloam a priest would draw water 

with a golden pitcher and then carry it all the 

way back to the temple to pour it 

into a silver bowl next to the altar.

Sometimes they were also choirs and musicians.

With the pouring of the water the priest 

would ask the Lord to send rain.

Some writings state that the water-drawing 

of Tabernacles is interpreted 

as the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

This helps us to understand why Jesus 

brings up Living Water at this time.

 Just as God provided water in the wilderness,

Jesus gives water that is not ceremonial but the

source of eternal life.

A significant point was that the believers

 had not yet received the Holy Spirit,

 because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Water and the Holy Spirit are a powerful 

combination and that gives new meaning 

for this reading at Pentecost.

Supplies:

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Worship into the Week Printable

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