From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:31-53 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

 But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has done, will He?”

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Him. ³³ Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am going to be with you, and then I am going to Him who sent Me. ³⁴ You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” ³⁵ The Jews then said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He does not intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, does He? ³⁶ What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”

³⁷ Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” ³⁹ But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

⁴⁰ Some of the people therefore, after they heard these words, were saying, “This truly is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” But others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not coming from Galilee, is He? ⁴² Has the Scripture not said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” ⁴³ So a dissension occurred in the crowd because of Him. ⁴⁴ And some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

⁴⁵ The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” ⁴⁶ The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken in this way!” ⁴⁷ The Pharisees then replied to them, “You have not been led astray too, have you? ⁴⁸ Not one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed!” ⁵⁰ Nicodemus (the one who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, ⁵¹ “Our Law does not judge the person unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” ⁵² They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee as well, are you? Examine the Scriptures, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” ⁵³ And everyone went to his home.

Today’s text says: Some of the people therefore, after they heard these words, were saying, “This truly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” But others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not coming from Galilee, is He? Has the Scripture not said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a dissension occurred in the crowd because of Him. And some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken in this way!” The Pharisees then replied to them, “You have not been led astray too, have you? Not one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed!” Nicodemus (the one who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge the person unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee as well, are you? Examine the Scriptures, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” And everyone went to his home.  Isaiah 9:1-2 says: But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. That Jesus, the Messiah would come by way of Galilee, was just one of the over three hundred Messianic prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. The Pharisees apparently had not fully examined the scriptures themselves. Jesus did of course also come from the descendants of David and was born in Bethlehem. Errors in interpreting and understanding scripture can easily be made by those who view it through a limited lens, or by those who try to support or prove their own doctrine or agenda, by using scripture out of context. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. If a person will read the Bible seeking to know the truth, they will find Christ revealed.

The text says: Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. We live on this side, when Jesus has been glorified and the Spirit has been given.  In John 14:26 Jesus says: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” In John 16:13 Jesus says: “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  When we read, interpret and understand scripture through scholarly means, we understand doctrines and theology. When we read, interpret and understand scripture through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, it becomes the living word, the living water that flows from us. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”  Psalm 119:103-105 says: How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, for the revelation of Christ in Your word. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may I gain wisdom and light to understand Your will and Your ways. May that light shine forth and flow out as living water so that anyone who is thirsty may drink. Amen.