On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’ John 7:37-52
Jesus talks to the crowd, and they are stunned and hopeful. And then the religious leaders come to derail him by saying he was from Galilee. In our times we might say he was from the wrong side of the tracks or from people we do not know or like. It is easy to miss in the arguments that follow, that Jesus said living water would flow from the believers' heart. The author of John's gospel adds an interpretation that Jesus was not yet glorified. Yet, I think many who believed, while Jesus walked the earth were filled with the Spirit. Living water is always moving, always seeking ways through clogged places, always challenging our silly construction and out houses made on the sand. We are both vulnerable and gifted by living water, that which seeks out the hidden, blocked off places and opens them up.
Gracious Creator, you have given your living water
to every generation so we might break through walls
bringing your living water to the whole wide earth.
We are afraid of the intensity of your living water
and would prefer drips and those who are well heeled
yet your love breaks through all people from every side.
Help us to believe so we might be filled again, Lord
for we have shut out and been shut out and are thirsty
for your living water so we might be overflowing with your love. Amen.
