Tyler Stricklan
I am never satisfied. I get to live a fairly privileged life, it’s not enough. I am selfish, unquenchable, and always wanting more. I battle an inner lust for something greater, something more. I blame it on growing up poor and never having enough. I blame it on my expensive taste, wanting quality in excess. Whatever excuse I want to make is flawed, because the common denominator in all of it is me. My thirst for more will never be satisfied.
In John 7 we see Jesus spending a good amount of time in the northern part of Israel. When the time for a pretty important feast has come we see Jesus’ brothers, assuming his younger biological brothers, telling him it’s time to go home and celebrate with the family.
“Jesus told them, ‘My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me because I testify about it — that its works are evil. Go up to the festival yourselves. I’m not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.’ After he had said these things, he stayed in Galilee.” John 7:6-9 CSB
Jesus explains that it’s not his time. This is a common phrase he used. Jesus was so attuned to the Father’s plan that he didn’t move unless God said so. His explanation lends itself to making that conclusion. He makes a bold statement that the world cannot hate his brothers. Why, well because they belong to it. When his brothers encouraged Jesus to come back to Judea it was selfish. They wanted to see him teach and perform miracles in their hometown. Specifically, while there would be a ton of people there. Jesus’ brothers were trying to force him into the spotlight. They wanted more. They wanted something that was the opposite of what God had in store. They wanted something outside God’s will. Jesus calls it evil.
Understanding this story requires an understanding of this festival. People would build tents or booths outside their homes and decorate them. It was like a competition between the villagers. Who could make the most ornate booth or tent? They would party for six days. Every morning there was a water ceremony. Then on the seventh day, they would repeat the ceremony seven times. Everyone would watch quietly. The water carried around represents Israel wandering in the desert for 40 years and God providing water. It also was a prayer for rain as the dry summer months would have thinned out their water supply. During this sacred and holy moment, Jesus decides to make a bold claim.
“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flowing from deep within him.’ He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39
This time Jesus is telling them that the water ceremony isn’t going to move God to make it rain. No matter how deep you draw in the well, that water will not bring you into a deeper intimacy with the Father. Jesus made it very clear, if you are thirsty and want to be satisfied, you must come to him. You want fulfillment, it’s him. If you want to overflow with joy, it’s him. If you want anything other than him you will be lacking every day. I am never satisfied, but that is my own volition. Jesus offers so much more.
Tyler Stricklan is associate family pastor at LifePoint Minden.