Goal:

• To hear Jesus, calling us to come and drink

Overview

1. The Feast of Shelters
2. Water theology
3. If Anyone is Thirsty…

Overview

1. The Feast of Shelters
2. Water theology
3. If Anyone is Thirsty…

2. Water theology

• God provided water from a rock
• This theme of God providing water from a rock is taken up in the songs of Israel:
  • Ps 78:15,16 “He brought streams out of the rock… rivers of water…”
  • Ps 105:41 “…opened rock and waters gushed out…”
    • it was a symbol of freedom and of new life
• The Apostle Paul says that this rock was a picture of Christ
  • 1 Cor 10:4b “For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”
• Then the idea is picked up by the prophets: there will be a new Exodus…

2c. Water theology cont’d

• It is also linked with the idea of a new creation (rivers in garden of Eden)
  • Water is a symbol of this new creation.
• Summary: Streams of water = salvation – as in the Exodus

Summary of ideas:

• feast of Tents:
  • looked back to Moses, wilderness
  • freedom from slavery
  • God’s supernatural provision
• Streams of water:
  • Salvation, God’s Spirit
• Promise of pouring out
  • new Exodus

4. Context in John

• Jesus constantly connects himself with the Wilderness.
• He is the New Moses—greater than Moses—ready to lead them out of captivity.
• John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.”
• John 5:46,47 “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.”
• John 6:1ff. feeding of the 5000
• John 6:31–35 “it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven.”

4b. John 7—One greater than Moses

21. Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed.
22. However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision… you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath.
23. But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

4c. Greater than Moses

• Moses led them out of slavery
  • Jesus is the new Moses
• Moses gave them water from a rock
  • But Jesus Christ is the Rock
• Moses gave them manna
  • But Jesus is the bread from heaven
• Moses lifted up a serpent
  • But Jesus is the one who was lifted up

Overview

1. The Feast of Shelters
2. Water theology
3. If Anyone is Thirsty…

Jesus is proclaming the Gospel

• Come to ME
• I will lead you out of slavery
• “If anyone thirsts, come to me!”

Isaiah 55:1–2

1. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

• Revelation 22

17. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.