Thursday 23 May 2013

Background

There are no throw away details in the John'sGospel. The precise day on which Christ issues the invitation todrink the living water is deliberate. The 'last day' or the 'greatday' was the climax of the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles. On thatday much water was blessed and provided and poured out inthanksgiving.

Like Isaiah (Isaiah55:1) before him, Jesus stresses our spiritual thirst as wellas our physical thirst. God's spiritual gift of vital and livingwater rises up from deep within a person. Living water is also asign and symbol of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John's Gospel says the Spirit was to be givento believers only after the hour in which Jesus was glorified. Thatwas the hour when he was lifted up on the cross. So in John'sGospel it is the risen Christ who breathes on the disciples onEaster evening and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John20:22).

To Ponder

• Water is at the heart of the biblical story of salvation: theSpirit broods over the waters of creation (Genesis 1:2); the new beginning for all risesfrom the waters of the flood (Genesis 6-9); the Exodus deliverance is throughthe Red Sea waters (Exodus 14); the promises land is entered onlyby crossing the Jordan (Joshua3).

• In the Gospels Jesus is anointed with the Spirit at his Baptismin the Jordan river (Mark1:9-11).

• Paul teaches us in the waters of Baptism we share in Christ'sdeath and resurrection (Romans6:3-4).

• In every Christian Baptism the gift of water and the gift ofthe Spirit are inseparable.

• In the hymn "Jesus, lover of my soul", Charles Wesley'sprayer to Jesus was "Spring thou up within my heart, rise to alleternity". How do you react to these words?

• Think about your Christian journey in terms of water and itsimagery.