The Living Water Cries
John 7:2
Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
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John 7:37-38
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot, is the seventh and last feast of the year, around the end of September. This feast was a solemn assembly of Jewish people gathering and presenting their offerings and sacrifices for the harvest. The keyword is solemn, which means formal and dignified.
During Sukkot, the Israelites were to build huts out of palm or willow branches and spend the time quietly reflecting on God through prayer and reading of the scriptures. It is a feast observed to this day by many Jewish people; I know some Christians that follow this; however, the Jewish rabbis incorporated another ceremony into this holy day, which is called The Water Ceremony. The priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam in a gold pitcher. While this process was going on, the crowds would sing a verse from Isaiah 12:3: "With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation." The priests bring it to the altar and pour out the water and wine, dedicating it to the Lord. With a prayer of invocation that God would continue to pour out His blessings upon the people.
Afterward, the celebrations would start, thousands would gather the community would carry torches and dance in the streets. It was a real party. The rabbis would juggle; one rabbi could juggle eight flaming torches without any of them touching, some juggled eggs, others juggled knives, one rabbi could even do a handstand on two fingers! It was a genuine circus!
But the problem is, nowhere in the book of Leviticus is this instructed. The feast of booths was a time for you to gather solemnly with God.
On the last day of the feast, this is why Jesus cried out and said,
"If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
Jesus walked on water just before Sukkot, he also sent the blind man to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam, and finally, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the Mount of Transfiguration during the Tabernacle of Booths. Jesus proved He is the Living Water.
He is: Maqowr Chay Mayim
Fountain of Living Waters
Blessings
