Show Notes
John 7: 37-52, John Series
Survival experts talk about the rule of three. You can live without air for about 3 minutes, without water for three days, and without food for about three weeks. There are exceptions, but that is generally the limits of human existence. Interestingly, Jesus describes the relationship with God in terms we can understand. In Jesus’ wilderness experience under significant testing by the devil, Jesus responds to the temptation of turning stones into bread to satisfy his hunger.
Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4
We need to consume God’s word to sustain spiritual life, even as food sustains our physical life.
In John 6:35, Jesus said that He was the bread of life. Eternal life can only be found in Him.
In John 7, Jesus focuses on the human longing and desire that drives our lives. There is a thirst in every heart. Just like water is essential for human existence, the absence of water is a crisis. In a land like Canada, where we have abundant water, we take it for granted, but living in a desert where water is scarce; its value is more deeply appreciated. In Israel, there are only a few sources of fresh water, one of which is the level of precipitation, the small Jordan River flowing from the mountains of Lebanon and now some desalination plants in the Mediterranean. Water is critical to her existence, and the people there understand that. So, when the Scriptures speak of water, they speak of what sustains life.
In the Old Testament, we find prophetic utterances that speak of having thirst quenched by what God provides. One example is found in Isaiah 55:1a, 3.
'Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.’
Therefore, water was thought of in ancient times as a provision from God. Donald Bowes relates: “Divine blessing is spoken of in terms of water ...and the desire for spiritual life described in terms of thirst for water.
