August 27

An Open Fountain

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. — John 7:37 BSB

Every word here is full of meaning. "If" marks the one condition for the Savior’s invitation. If we don’t thirst, we won’t feel the need to come to the well and drink. Souls are dying all around us, not because there’s no water, but because they aren’t thirsty. Intense thirst is pitiable, but a lack of soul-thirst is infinitely worse—it’s hopeless. The phrase “any man” shows how universal the Lord’s invitation is. The call isn’t just to Jews, nor only to the righteous, but to anyone. No one is left out. “Thirsty” describes the deep need Christ is able to meet. It’s not physical thirst, but the thirst of the soul. Both body and soul thirst, and the world offers no spring that can satisfy.

The words “let him come” reveal that the way to the fountain is open wide—there’s no barrier. But “let him come” reminds us that to have our thirst quenched by Christ, we must truly come to Him. We must leave our dry wastelands and come to where the living water is. Christ cannot be found if we remain in our sins.

The word “drink” shows that we must receive Christ Himself into our hearts to quench our thirst. Just gazing at a spring doesn’t satisfy; we have to drink. So, simply looking at Christ won’t bless us—we need to invite Him into our lives and let His Spirit fill us. This picture of Christ presents Him as a great well in the desert, with water flowing from a cleft in the rock. That cleft reminds us that Jesus was pierced for us, and from His wounds flow the living waters that can satisfy the thirst of our souls.