Flowing River of Life – Pentecost Sermon May 11, 2008
May 12th, 2008 Posted in Sermons+ In Nomine Jesu +
The Rev. Evan Gaertner
The Feast of Pentecost
“Living Water”
John 7:37-39
Feasts
Mothers Day, Pentecost, Tabernacles
Procession of Water
Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”
Procession and Festival of Tabernacles are about remembering the time in the wilderness after the Exodus. The Water procession is about when the people came to Horeb and there was no water. They complained to Moses that they had been brought out to the wilderness to die of thirst. Moses struck the rock at Horeb and outflow water. The place there was called Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
The festival during Jesus time was a reminder to the people that the Lord had heard their complaint and had sent the promised water.
This idea of water being delivered is used by Isaiah to describe not just the water that quenches our thirst but indeed the very promise of salvation. Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
People at the festival knew that the water of the procession was about more than just water. It was a celebration of God saving the people in the past and trusting that he would do that again.
Jesus standing up and crying out, “Everyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” Jesus offers himself as the salvation that they have been looking for. He offers himself as the truth that this festival pointed to. So do you want to keep going through the motions or do you want to experience the real thing.
Festivals and celebrations whether in the Old Testament or in our times today our about pointing us to the truth that our hope has been realized. Christ has come our salvation is not just a future hope, it is a present reality.
This truth of salvation in Christ, deliverance from our hunger for hope, is found answered in Jesus and this truth is not just for us but for all those that thirst for deliverance.
The fullness of Christ is not just a one time drink of water that leaves us thirsty for more. Jesus is the full and complete salvation that we need. Jesus does just invite people to come and drink from him he offers to them the effect of this drinking of salvation. Out of the belly will flow rivers of living water.
Illustration of drinking and flowing.
How many times when you take a drink of water to massive waters flow out of your belly?
Jesus offers to the people a fullness, completeness, everlasting salvation that they not only can enjoy but that they will be able to reach out to others with and bring them this deliverance.
Soli Deo Gloria
