During the Feast of Tabernacles, in which we find the context of today's passage for Lent, it is customary for a special priest to carry water in a gold pitcher from the pool of Siloam to be poured into a basin at the foot of the altar by the high priest. It symbolizes prayer for rain, and on the "last great day" of the festival, the day in which Jesus speaks in this passage, the priests march around the altar seven times carrying willow branches. On the seventh circuit around the altar the priests beat their willow branches until the leaves fall off. The high priest pours out the water while some priests blow gold trumpets, while others sing songs.
It's at the climax of this ceremony that Jesus cries out, "If anyone is thirsty, come to me. Anyone who believes in me will find rivers of living water brimming and spilling out from his heart."
As the Jewish people continued their centuries-long traditions, Jesus claims that he is the living water. One of the aspects that the festival symbolizes is the need for rain in order for crops to grow. It also symbolizes the water that flowed from the rock which Moses struck when the Israelites were begging for water in the wilderness. Jesus's claim here is huge. For the Jew, it means that he is claiming to be the provider of the rain, which would throw a wrench into the meaning of their festival that has been happening for centuries. He is also claiming that the "rivers of living water" can be experienced now. For the Jew, the phrase river of living water is equated to the "Holy Spirit." It is believed that the Holy Spirit will be poured out to all who believed in Jesus at the end of the age. Jesus is claiming that the rivers of living water can be experienced now.
I find it hard to translate this to modern day, but I think it would be like walking into a mega church on a Sunday afternoon, making my way up to the pulpit (assuming no bodyguard slams me to the ground), and proclaiming, "No! This is not what church is supposed to be! We've got to get out of here and start being the church out in the world."
The teachings of Jesus in this passage are in such opposition to Jewish belief that it's no wonder the priests and Pharisees are constantly plotting attempts to arrest him. If it happened today, there's no doubt Jesus would go to jail at the hands of religious leaders.
The thing about Jesus is, even the police were amazed at the things he was saying. They had never heard anyone speak like him. In this passage, Jesus doesn't condemn the Jews for believing the way they do, but creatively draws a picture that makes sense to the audience. They don't get the sense that he is revolting, but they get a sense of comfort - a sense that they can trust this guy.
In the times that I am thirsty, I pray. That's the only way I know of to "come to Jesus." For the audience that Jesus was speaking to, it probably meant to come talk with him or have lunch or hang out. I think the audience was very interested in the idea that believing in something would be like having rivers of living water flowing over the heart. Are we tired? We don't have to be. Are we weary? We don't have to be. Are we hopeless? We don't have to be.
Jesus invites us to experience a joy that flows through trial and tribulation. It's a river of life that flows through the arid soil of the heart, drenching it and producing sustenance that lasts. When this river comes, it turns weariness into vitality, mourning into dancing, and sadness into gratitude. Do we believe this is possible, or are we convinced that life is a veil of tears?
Today's action: Ask ourselves, "How hard is it to trust in Jesus? What are the things that have happened in my life that make it hard to trust? Do I think these things were God's will? What advice would I have given God about these things?" Talk through these questions with a friend today.
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