This week's Scripture passage is John 7.

Focus verse: John 7:37-38 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and 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.’”

In John 7, Jesus attends the seven-day Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, the longest Jewish festival. It was a celebration of God's provision for the Israelites in the wilderness and a celebration of the completion of the year's harvest. During the festival, there was a ceremonial water drawing commemorating the provision of water in the wilderness (Numbers 20:2-13) and a lamp lighting ritual. The first of these ceremonies provides the setting for Jesus' first proclamation in John 7:37-38, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." The second, His declaration in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the world!"

Throughout this chapter there is confusion and speculation concerning Jesus.

He taught with authority. v.14-19

He claimed his teaching was not his but from the one who sent him and that he was true and contained no falsehood v.16-18...both point to a claim of deity.  Was He the Prophet (Deut.18:15)? v.40.

Was He the Christ? v. 41

But He came from Galilee and no Old Testament prophecy mentioned that... v. 41-44,52

His proclamation in v. 37 is very similar to the words He spoke to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10-14. Jesus promises to satisfy the deepest thirst of a person's heart and life.

In v. 38, Jesus teaches that to come to Him is equal to believing in Him.

The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him but at the end of the chapter Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night in John 3, reminds them that their law demands a fair hearing.

Discussion Questions:

1) What can we learn about the Father's timing and His protection in Jesus' life? (v.8,30)

2) What thirst does Jesus satisfy? How does He satisfy that thirst in our lives? (v.37-39)

3) Jesus said rivers of living water will flow out of our hearts (v. 38-39). What does that mean?

4) In verses 33-34 Jesus says He is going away and people will seek Him but not find Him. What is He talking about and is this a contradiction to His promise to be with us always (Matt 28:20) and His promise of whoever seeks will find? (Matt 7:7)

5) How does believing in Jesus satisfy our deepest longing, need, and thirst? How is this claim possible?