This is a picture sewn onto the carrier bag of our six person tent. Ain’t it cheery? Everyone is laughing it up and enjoying the outdoors.
Don’t be fooled. This picture is misleading. Tenting is fun when the weather is fair. Tenting is unbearable when the weather is poor.
In our younger years my wife and I holidayed in my 2-person Eureka tent. I can still recall a fine afternoon pitching a tent alongside the Kicking Horse River east of Golden, BC. And then after sunset, a deluge of rain had water flowing inside. I was outside in the middle of the night digging trenches away from the tent with the blunt end of my axe. Good times.
No wonder people graduate from the tent to the trailer. Who would want to head back outdoors to face the elements? The people of Israel in Jesus’ day. That’s who.
It was called the Feast of Booths. To celebrate this event people would head out into the countryside and live in makeshift booths, or in a way we can relate – tents.
For what purpose? To remember how their ancestors traveled through an arid sand-swept wilderness for forty years on their way to the Promised Land. So, why do it again? To remember how God provided them with food and water through that wilderness wandering.
Back to Jesus’ day at the temple in Jerusalem, through a lot of pomp and ceremony – the high priest would pour water from a golden pitcher onto the altar. This symbolized the prayer that rain and dew would come the next year. More prophetically, this act symbolized the river of paradise that would flow from the side of the altar, quenching all thirst. And, it was then that Jesus cried out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37b-38).
Jesus makes an astounding promise. He refashioned the Feast to Booths to make a point. What the feast promises – He delivers. Jesus blesses all who believe in Him with the living water of the Holy Spirit, so that after being quenched of spiritual dryness, we would be the channels to deliver this same blessing to others.
And yet, whom do you turn to when you thirst for meaning, guidance and healing to your soul? Do you thirst for Jesus? When we “thirst” the emptiness of a parched soul, we may turn to many things: to leisure, to pleasure, or any other kind of self-serving distraction. We don’t realize, however, that that – is precisely the opposite of what we really need. In fact, it can kill us (spiritually), because we chose to live without what Jesus is willing to give – the living water of His Word and presence, which is supplied by the Holy Spirit.
And amazingly, Jesus calls out in the simplicity of the promise to everyone and anyone: “Receive what I am so willing to give.” Receive the living water. Go to Jesus and drink. He is the one who thirsted upon the cross in drinking to the dregs your sin, suffering and death. It was from His pierced side which flowed blood AND water.
The Holy Spirit supplies the promise. Jesus chooses to dwell in all who call upon Him as Lord and Savior. The Spirit of Christ is the Helper Jesus promised that abides within you.
We, the recipients of God’s grace – pass it on to others. St. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Cor 12:7 NLT). Jesus blesses all who believe in Him with rivers of living water, to be satisfied and filled to overflowing, becoming a source of blessing to others.
During that Feast of Booths, water was linked to God’s abundant blessing. It all stems back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their wilderness wandering. Nehemiah said in pious inspiration: “You gave them Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst” (9:20). God sustained them as they traveled through a barren land.
You travel into a barren wilderness where people are parched in soul – perishing away. The golden pitcher of God’s grace and mercy falls on you – a living sacrifice. You then become that stream flowing into the lives of others. You are the conduits of living water. Thanks be to you, Holy Spirit. •
— By Pastor Neil Stern
Grace Lutheran Church
Edmonton, AB