October 28, 2004

THE THIRST QUENCHER

"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink' " (John 7:37, NKJV).

The ceremony of water libations was in progress on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Water was being drawn in a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam and carried in procession to the temple where it was offered by the priest to the singers as they chanted the words of Isaiah 12:3, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." During the impressive ritual, Jesus stood and suddenly shouted, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37, NKJV).

In these striking words, Jesus declared Himself to be the "Thirst Quencher." The appeal is universal--"If anyone thirsts." As the desire for water is innate and universal, so is the inner craving for the spiritual water of life. Only Jesus, the living water, can quench the deep longings of the human soul. Nothing but Christ, the living water, can satisfy our spiritual thirst. To all who thirst Jesus says, "Come to me and drink." Indeed, nothing satisfies like Jesus. He is refreshing, life-saving, and fulfilling.

John the Beloved describes Jesus as giving the "fountain of the water of life freely" to those who thirst (Revelation 21:6). What an extravagant offer! We need only to come to the fountain. The apostle concludes the appeal of the Apocalypse with these words: "Let him who thirsts come... And... let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17, NKJV). "The water to which Christ referred was the revelation of his grace in his word. His Spirit, his teaching, his love is as a satisfying fountain to every soul."--Signs of the Times, September 3, 1896.

My Prayer Today: Lord, quench the thirsting of my soul today from the fountain that never shall run dry. Amen.