In John 7 we read that Jesus traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Shelters (Feast of Tabernacles). It is a festival of thanksgiving commemorating God’s guidance and kindness towards Israel while they wandered in the desert for 40 years. During this festival, the people would build temporary shelters made with branches and live in them to commemorate their wilderness wanderings.
One interesting part of the festival was the pouring out of water. The priests would take a golden pitcher, fill it up in the pool of Siloam, carry it to the Temple, and then pour it out on the altar as an offering to God. The people would recite Isaiah 12:3 as they proceeded together up the Temple Mount:
“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
The water was symbolic of the water supplied by God to the people of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. In Exodus 17:2-6, Moses was instructed to strike the rock and from it flowed fresh waster to refresh God’s people. It was symbolic of God’s salvation.
Fast forward two thousand years to the times of Jesus. In John 7:14, we read that Jesus makes an appearance at the festival. People began to ask one another, if this could be the Messiah and according to John 7:26-31; many began to believe on Him. This ruffled the feathers of the religious leaders and they sent Temple guards to arrest him, however they returned without taking him into custody after hearing him speak
Then in John 7:37-39, on the last day of the feast, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and mad this declaration to the crowds:
“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in my may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”
It is during this celebration, where water was used to symbolize God’s salvation, that Jesus makes this revelation to the crowds. Colossians 2:17 tells us that these feasts and festivals are only shadows of the reality yet to come and Christ Himself is that reality.
The Apostle Paul makes the connection clear for us in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4:
“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
Jesus was the rock! Jesus was declaring, that just like the Rock in Rephidim; which the man of God struck and water flowed. So Jesus would be struck down and from Him would flow rivers of living water. Just like the water being poured out at the Temple, Jesus was poured out as a drink offering for us.
The Feast of Tabernacles was held, so that the people would never forget God’s power to save. It was a celebration of thanksgiving so that they would be reminded of the joy of their salvation.
Sometimes, however, that joy eludes us:
“Restore to me the joy of my salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”-Psalm 51:12.
King David recited these words after his moral failure with Bathsheba. He felt far from God and longed to drink from the wells of salvation once again. He felt distant because of his sinful choices, however God refreshed him and brought restoration to his life.
Perhaps you are reading this today and you have lost the joy of your salvation. I want to encourage you. God gave Moses and the people of Israel a well, but through Christ He has given us a river. May Jesus fill you with peace and refresh your spirit today!
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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