John 7:37-39 Come, All Who Are Thirsty

# Come, All Who Are Thirsty
## John 7:37-39

>>>
+ e.g., friend waves hi but not to you
+ Jesus **calls** to each one of us
+ invitation is **universal**: churched + un
  + but **individual**: knows you by name
+ not just 2000 yrs ago
  + Jesus is **eternal**
  + still calls to us **today**:

---

# Jesus is **calling** --
# what is my **response**?

>>>
+ Jesus' **invitation** is:
  + to receive **healing**, that
  + **overflows** to care for others
  + to **discipleship** / commit

---

## All Who Are Thirsty [(John 7)](# "ref")
1. **Thirst** for God [(v37)](# "ref")
2. **Seek** the Wellspring of Life [(v38)](# "ref")
3. **Follow** Christ's Path to Glory [(v39)](# "ref")

---

On the last day of the **feast**

[John 7:37a (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ context: 3 annual Jewish **festivals**
  + congregate in **Jerusalem**
+ seeking the **Messiah**:
  + God to **remember** us
+ feast of **Tabernacles** *(Sukkot)*
  + **harvest**: providence
  + last day: priests pour **water**

---

Jesus stood up and **cried** out,

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

[John 7:37b (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not for **success**, achieve **my** goals
+ but for **healing** of the heart
+ for **rescue** from the internal **war**
  + **want** to do good
  + **unable** to follow through:

---

For I have the **desire** to do what is right, 
but not the **ability** to carry it out.

[19](# "ref")
For I do not do the **good** I want, but 
the **evil** I do not want is what I keep on doing.

[24](# "ref")
**Wretched** man that I am! 
Who will **deliver** me from this body of **death**?

[Romans 7:18-19,24 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ v20: then it is not **I** but **sin**
+ "wretched": (ταλαίπωρος) long-standing sorrow 
  + **miserable**, worn down
+ e.g., phys exam: deal w/**tempt**?
+ v25: through **Jesus** Christ our Lord
+ our thirst for **healing** is really
  + a thirst for **God**:

---

As a **deer** pants for flowing **streams**, 
so **pants** my soul for you, O **God**.

[Psalm 42:1 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ when it seems God has **forgotten**

---

Jesus stood up and cried out,

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

[John 7:37b (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Jesus offers **invitation**
+ not just to receive **blessing**
  + like **Christmas** gifts
+ not to take a **drink** and run off again
+ but to **follow** Him
+ we have a **choice**:

---

Enter by the **narrow** gate.

For the gate is **wide** and the way is **easy** 
that leads to **destruction**, 
and those who enter by it are **many**.

For the gate is **narrow** and the way is **hard** 
that leads to **life**, 
and those who find it are **few**.

[Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ JJ: **open** heart vs. be **disciple**

---

# Do I **thirst** for God's healing?

>>>
+ from what? **battle** within
  + **wanting** to do good
  + **unable** to sustain it
  + even **hurting** self, others
  + leaves **wounds**, scars
+ not just: do I **want** healing:
+ do I **direct** my hope toward God
  + trust enough to be His **disciple**

---

## All Who Are Thirsty [(John 7)](# "ref")
1. Thirst for God [(v37)](# "ref")
2. **Seek the Wellspring of Life** [(v38)](# "ref")
3. Follow Christ's Path to Glory [(v39)](# "ref")

---

Whoever **believes** in me 
as the Scripture has said,

Out of his **heart** will flow 
rivers of **living water**.

[John 7:38 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **promise** to the thirsty:
  + not only **satisfy** own thirst
  + but **overflow** to others!
+ "heart" (belly, womb): **innermost** being
+ **caregiver**, providers:
  + **sandwich** generation
  + e.g., elderly lady w/Alz
+ **drain** own energy, patience
  + **dump** on others
  + **pass** misery around, but
  + never **removed**
+ ⇒ not relying on **own** strength:
  + comes from God's **Holy Spirit**:

---

Now this he said about the **Spirit**, 
whom those who **believed** in him 
were to receive

[John 7:39a (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Spirit**: of Jesus
  + knows **mind** of Christ, like
  + **our** spirit **knows** everyth of us
+ Jesus **ascended** to heaven
  + did not leave us **orphans**:
  + Counselor, **Comforter**, Advocate
+ **power** of God
  + not **kung-fu** I control
+ but ask **God** to control my
  + **temper**, relations, values, priorities
+ meaning of "belief": **trust**, faith
+ what Jesus said to **woman** at a well
  + **outcast** / ostracised
  + **knew** she had done wrong:

---

Whoever **drinks** the water I give them 
will never **thirst**.

Indeed, the **water** I give them 
will become in them 
a **spring** of water welling up to **eternal life**.

[John 4:14 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ rely on own **water bottle**
  + of strength, **patience**, love?
+ or **drink** for Jesus' limitless supply
  + ⇒ **wellspring** (fresh water)
  + to **eternal life**
+ to those who **believe**:
  + not just that God **exists**
  + not that Jesus was a **good man**
+ but that Jesus **is** God
  + His **judgments** are right
  + what He **says** is true (Bible)
  + stake my **life** on it

---

# Do I rely on my **own** strength, or God's **wellspring** of life?

>>>
+ **trust** in God means
  + **submission**, obedience
+ do you **believe** I can fly **helicopter**?
  + vs. will you **get in**?

---

## All Who Are Thirsty [(John 7)](# "ref")
1. Thirst for God [(v37)](# "ref")
2. Seek the Wellspring of Life [(v38)](# "ref")
3. **Follow Christ's Path to Glory** [(v39)](# "ref")

---

for as yet the Spirit had **not** been given, 
because Jesus was not yet **glorified**.

[John 7:39b (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Trinity **eternal**, but revealed in **seq**:
+ **Father**: Creator, Judge, plan
+ **Son**: God with us: born → healed →
  + died → resurr → ascen
+ **Spirit**: Counselor, wellspring of life
  + **after** Christ ascended
  + **deposit** until heaven
+ "glorified": path to **glory**
  + led through **suffering**
+ not bc Jesus was **weak**
  + bc our **sin** deserves **death**:
+ prophet **Isaiah** 700yrs prior:

---

he was **pierced** for our transgressions, 
he was crushed for our **iniquities**;

the **punishment** that 
brought us **peace** was on him, 
and by his wounds we are **healed**.

[Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "transgress": **cross** the line
  + **rebellion**, revolt
  + God's **authority** as Creator
+ "iniquity": moral **failing**, guilt
  + **severe**, deserves **death**!
+ when I do **wrong**: "please have **mercy**"
  + when **others** wrong me: "**punish**!"

---

We all, like **sheep**, have gone astray, 
each of us has turned to our **own way**;

and the Lord has laid on him 
the **iniquity** of us all.

[Isaiah 53:6 (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **sin**: trusting **self** instead of Jesus
  + making self as **God**
+ **injustice** of Christ's death
  + He was **sinless**
  + more than just a **noble** sacrifice!
+ our **sins** imputed to Him
  + His **righteousness** imputed to us

---

**After** he has suffered, 
he will see the **light of life** and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous servant 
will **justify** many, 
and he will **bear** their iniquities.

[Isaiah 53:11 (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ path to **glory**: via **suffering**
  + on **our** behalf
+ on the other side: the **light** of life
+ we too **suffer** in **struggle** w/sin:
  + still **miserable** in body of death
+ but put our **hope** in God, remember:
  + **Jesus** already **paid** for our sins
  + **Spirit**, wellspring of life
    + gives us **strength**
  + see the **Father's** face one day:

---

The **Spirit** and the **bride** say, “Come!” 
And let the one who **hears** say, “Come!”

Let the one who is **thirsty** come; 
and let the one who wishes take 
the **free gift** of the water of **life**.

[Revelation 22:17 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ tail **end** of Bible
  + vision of **heaven**
+ **Spirit**: God Himself calls you
+ **bride**: church (Christians)
  + encouraging you
+ **hears**: own heart prompts you
+ ⇒ are you **thirsty** for God?
+ **free gift**: paid for by Christ
  + cost Him His **life**
+ costs me my **selfishness**
  + must **yield**, trust, **follow**

---

# Will I **follow** Jesus as His **disciple**?

>>>
+ not repeating **mantra** (prayer)
+ or joining a **club** (church)
+ or even getting **wet** (baptism)
+ ⇒ lifelong **commitment**
+ journey needs a **start**:
  + **confession**: who God is/did
  + **commitment**: my response
  + **comfort**: God's promises

---

Lord **Jesus Christ**, thank You for loving me. 
You are the **Creator** God, and 
You came **down** from heaven to show Your **love**.

You **died** for my sins upon the cross: 
You paid the **penalty** to remove my guilt.

You **rose** from the dead on the third day -- 
You **triumphed** over sin and death!

[Prayer of Commitment (p.1/3)](# "ref")

---

Lord Jesus, I want to **follow** You. 
Please live in my **heart** 
and take **control** of my life.

I **repent** of my sin -- the sin of 
**trusting** in myself instead of trusting **You**.

I commit to **read** Your Word and **follow** it -- 
to **walk** humbly in Your ways.

[Prayer of Commitment (p.2/3)](# "ref")

---

Grant me the **Holy Spirit** to guide me, 
And give me a **new life** -- Your eternal life.

**Heal** my heart and fill it with Your **love**; 
Bless my **loved ones**, too, 
That they also may **trust** in You.

This I pray, in the name of **Jesus Christ**, 
Amen.

[Prayer of Commitment (p.3/3)](# "ref")

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