That was the question that Jesus stood up and actually yelled out to everyone within earshot at the conclusion of their big religious celebration… yet ironically there was water and even symbols of water everywhere. As a matter of fact the event itself was more or less a religious festival where they were remembering and paying homage to how God had provided water from the rock in the wilderness and how He had also provided safe passage through the waters of the Red Sea for their ancestors. Each day the priest would take a golden pitcher of water from the spring and parade it through the streets to then pour out around the altar. Scripture tells us that it was on the last and the greatest day of all these religious “aquatic festivities” that Jesus stood up and cried out in a loud voice “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink”. (John 7:37)

It was as if He couldn’t stand it any longer and He stood up to announce in as loud of a voice as possible… “Stop it with all of the religious activities… don’t you realize that all of these symbols are pointing to me? …The one who truly provides living water for the thirsty.”

It saddens me when I consider the many people, unfortunately even churches full of people who are going through all the religious motions and activities in an attempt to celebrate and even pay tribute to the one to whom all these things point. I certainly realize that there are many who are drinking from the well of living water that Jesus has invited everyone of us to drink from. But there are many more who are still thirsty, as they desperately attempt to satisfy a deep spiritual thirst with natural means, people are dying from dry, dehydrated hearts and souls that were only meant to be watered from one source. That source is Jesus… and He continues to water the thirsty who are willing to come to Him and drink.

He is still asking the question, “Who’s thirsty?”… and H e is still inviting “anyone” and “whoever” to come to Him and to drink. What about you? Are you thirsty?

Pastor Greg Richards is Sr. Pastor at Life Church in Kaufman, located at 607 E. Fair. www.yourlifechurch.com