Water and Spirit

March 8 Water and Spirit John 7:37-52

“A promise is added to the exhortation… Christ declares that He is not a dry and empty cistern but an inexhaustible fountain plentifully and abundantly supplying drink to all. Hence it follows that if we ask from Him what we want, our desire will not be disappointed.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 4:197

Every day, during the Feast of Tabernacles, a ritual took place that gives the context of Jesus’ words. The high priest would lead a procession from Siloam’s pool to the Temple. A golden ewer would be filled with water from the pool, which would then be carried through the Water Gate on the south side of the Temple. In the courtyard, the water would be poured into a silver basin beside the altar. From there the water would flow, through a pipe, to the base of the altar. As the water emerged some priests would stoop to drink while the worshippers sang, from Isaiah 55 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” More water was poured into a basin; the morning sacrifice was made; wine was poured into another basin, then a drink offering of water and wine was poured out before the Lord. The water represented God’s miraculous gift in the wilderness, water from the rock. It also looked forward to the promise of cleansing in the coming age, when the Messiah would come. The wine represented the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the last days.

The water rite was an important, impressive, much-loved part of the Feast of Tabernacles. For the common people the water reminded them of the blessing of rain and the fertility of the land; but there were deeper meanings. The Festival looked back to the Exodus, to the founding of the nation and the inheritance of the Promised Land.it was a source of great national pride. It was part of what held them together as a people, even under the oppressive yoke of Roman occupation. But the Festival also looked forward to a time of national restoration. Hope in the coming of the Messiah was so important to the people of Israel because they had little else to look forward to. It was as if they had the key to the future. They knew how the story ended, with the restoration of David’s Kingdom, so they looked beyond their current plight to the time when the Messiah would come and they would finally be free.

At the end of the Festival, Jesus reappeared. He used the familiar elements, rich with meaning, and applied them to His own mission. Water from the Pool of Siloam may quench one’s thirst, but only for a time. Instead, “Anyone who is thirsty should come to me and drink,” He said. His meaning was obvious. Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of all that the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated. He was the One who would restore the Kingdom; He would be the source of blessing; He would provide water from the rock; from Him would flow the Holy Spirit who would refresh God’s people.

Jesus caused such consternation with His claims that even the Temple guards were unable to act. Once again, the people debated whether He might be the Messiah. Argument raged. The guards could only report back to the Pharisees, “No one ever spoke as this man speaks.” Jesus slipped away. But those who hated Him would not forget this day, or His claims.

For further reading: Psalm 80