The man for thirsty people

Hi, my name is Bo, good morning.

I'm one of the elders that's bringing you this morning the Word of God.

The man for thirsty people from John chapter 7 we just read.

John 7 · chapter mention

Last week, David told us about this Feast of the Boots,

or Festival of the Boots, so the people were staying in the tents.

And it's supposed to be a time of rejoicing and celebration.

So we'll come to the concluding part of this festival,

and we'll see what's happening.

Let's pray first before we go on.

Almighty God, we admit that we would not be thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ

if you do not draw us to Him.

And we ask that this morning you might do so.

Lord, have mercy on us that we might understand such a great promise

and privilege that we have in Christ.

May you help us in understanding your Word.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Okay, so for this scripture today,

we are coming to one of the most stunning claims and promises in history.

And Jesus was claiming to be the man for thirsty people.

We shall consider the immediate context,

and then the wider context,

the nature of the claim,

and the responses of people as we go on.

So to start with,

I would like to show you a video clipping

of the festival of the Boots

during the time for the water libation.

That is the climax of each day.

So every day, every morning,

the priest will go and draw water

and then bring it to the temple

and pour to a cup.

So to appreciate what's happening,

we can just watch this for about five minutes.

All right.

This is the first reenactment of this water libation in 2014,

so after many years.

So they are drawing this water

from this Shiloh spring.

While they are in the desert,

thirst is a very real problem.

They were quite afraid of dying of thirst.

And they are so angry with Moses

that they wanted to kill him

for bringing them to the desert.

But God make a rock crack

and water flow out from the rock.

And that's how they sustain their life.

And so during this feast of the Boots

while they are staying in the tents,

so the water is a very great simple

for God's provision.

You can sense the joy,

the atmosphere of joy and celebration.

the choir to the twelve to the nine-year- jede kirby.

She running out of bed space now.

Go into the next show.

There must be so good when it comes to the water warm

up to fill out a couple of lenses.

And, please see,

I'm planning on the side of the Gender...

I'm not sure why this become nighttime. I don't think it will go on for the whole until the night, but somehow it just became nighttime.

So they're coming to the place where the altar was, and the square in the middle representing the altar.

And every day they would take the water and circulate the altar for one round. On the seventh day, they would circulate it for seven rounds.

And when they walk around, they would recite Psalm 113 to 118.

. . . . .

. . .

So one of the priest is holding water, the other one is a bottle of wine.

You can see the copper will flow.

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.

Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.

I hope this video clip

helped us to appreciate

the atmosphere

of the festival

which is much bigger than this

of course

during the real time

and then we can imagine

after the pouring of the water

and the wine

Jesus stood up

on the platform

and proclaimed

if anyone thirst

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

it's just like

just now when Don stood up

spoke the same

verse

how did we feel

I mean if somebody

during our service

stood up

speaking

programming like that

how would we respond

to such an

interruption

or surprise

and

so

in today's reading

we see

people

have different

had different responses

some believe in him

in some way

some thought that he was

mad

mad

and ignore him

some thought that he was

bad

and wanted to

arrest him

however we were told

that

even the officers

who were sent

by the

priests and Pharisees

to arrest Jesus

did not lay hand

on him

they said

they did not

arrest Jesus

because they have

never

ever heard

someone spoke

like him

so

that gives us

an impression

in terms of

when Jesus spoke

such a

promise

a claim

that his

appearance

was such a way

that people

who hear him

who really could

hear him

would know

that he was

proclaiming the truth

he wasn't

mad

or bad

so let us

consider

the

context

in terms of

what this

water

libation

mean

so

to those people

who are celebrating

the water

would mean

that it's

God's

provision

so water

is something

that we

can't

produce

we all

depend on

God

for that

and so

it's a

sign of

rejoicing

and thanksgiving

to God

for such a

gift of

life

to them

wine

I suppose

to them

is to

represent

the thankfulness

as well

to God

because

through water

they can have

grapes

and through grapes

they can have wine

and so

they want to

offer that

to God

as a

thanksgiving

in the

context

and

possibly

also asking

God

for more

blessing

for the

year to

come

so the

first

meaning

is what

men offer

to God

in thanksgiving

and supplication

the second

meaning

is what

God gives

to men

in mercy

and grace

for those

people who

knew the

Old Testament

well

they might

remember

Zechariah

12.10

Zechariah

is a book

talking about

the Feast of

Booths

the most

in the

Old Testament

in Zechariah

12.10

he says

and I will

pour out

on the

house of

David

and the

independence

of Jerusalem

a spirit

of grace

and

peace

for mercy

so that

when they

look on

me

on him

home

they

have

peace

they

shall

mourn

for him

as one

mourns

for an

only son

or only

child

and weep

bitterly

over him

as one

weeps

over a

firstborn

so those

people who

knew the

Old Testament

well

they will

be waiting

for the

fulfillment

of this

prophecy

that one

day God

will do

something

great in

their midst

again

so they

don't

understand

how this

is going

to be

fulfilled

they were

waiting

for the

day

when God

would change

their heart

and

so

restoring

God's

kingdom

in that

way

so they

were waiting

for the

spirit of

grace

and the

spirit of

peace

for mercy

so in

here

the water

can represent

the spirit

of grace

that's

God's

grace

coming down

from heaven

and the

wine

could represent

the spirit

of peace

for mercy

so by

God's

grace

we can

look to

the one

we have

peace

and ask

for mercy

and so

the second

meaning is

what God

gives to

man

then

in our

reading today

Jesus

seemed to

be

applying

the symbols

to himself

he's saying

that

I am

the first

meaning

and also

the second

meaning

I am

the temple

the altar

and the rock

from which

they got

the water

so he's

both the

offering

to God

and also

God's

gift

to man

so

that's why

we read

from in

John chapter

John 19 · chapter mention

19

John

wrote

in

from

verse 33

to 35

he said

but when

they came

to Jesus

and saw

that he

was already

dead

they did

not break

his legs

but one

of the

soldiers

pierced

his side

with a

spear

and at

once

there

came

out

water

blood

and water

and

he who

saw it

has borne

weakness

his testimony

is true

and he

knows that

he is

telling the

truth

that you

also

may

believe

so

here

John

is

testifying

that

Jesus

was the

one

whom

they

had

pierced

and from

him

flowed

the

water

and the

wine

libation

water

and

blood

so

we

know

that

from

him

flowed

the

spirit

of

grace

and

the

spirit

of

peace

for

mercy

so

from

him

we

have

a double

cure

for our

sins

first

the guilt

of sin

has been

cleansed

by his

blood

and

the

power

of sin

has been

washed

away

by the

water

make us

pure

so that

we do

not

need to

sin

again

and

that's

what

Jesus

was

telling

people

come to

me

so

the nature

of the

claim is

that Jesus

did not

say to

a group

of people

who were

downcast

or

depressed

he was

talking to

a group

of people

who were

rejoicing

and who

had plenty

of water

and wine

to drink

so what

would these

people be

thirsty

for

so among

those people

who are

dancing

and singing

and

what did

Jesus mean

when he

said

if anyone

thirst

so in

their

context

when Jesus

was

proclaiming

I suppose

there would

be people

who were

thirsty

for the

coming

of

kingdom

of

God

or

at least

wanting

this

celebration

to continue

on

forever

not just

for

eight

days

because

it's

the last

day

they would

need to

go back

to their

routines

again

the next

day

though

there's

such a

thirst

for it

and

what

so that

is the

thirst

that

wanting

God's

kingdom

to come

through

and wanting

our life

to be

happy

there are

other thirsts

as well

so that

we might

be thirsty

for better

relationship

with our

friends

or spouse

or family

maybe thirsty

for a

better job

thirsty

for a

holiday

or

people can

be thirsty

for

pornography

alcohol

gambling

we can

have all

sorts of

thirsts

so

we can

roughly divide

thirsts

into four

categories

sometimes

we do

thirsts

for

something

great

like

world

peace

or

God's

kingdom

to be

coming

God's

righteousness

be done

sometimes

we thirst

for the sake

of somebody

else

we want

someone else

to improve

in their

life

become a

better person

a holier

person

sometimes

we thirst

for ourselves

that we

can be

pure

holier

but many

times

we

we thirst

to have

more comfort

and happiness

and we

want to

have an

easier life

and these

are all

the

different

categories

of thirst

does it

matter what

thirst we

have can we

just come to

Jesus and

have those

thirsts

fulfilled

I think it

really doesn't

matter because

the result is

the same

because Jesus

said whoever

believes in

me as the

scripture has

said out of

his heart

will flow

rivers of

living water

Jesus did

not promise

that your

particular

thirst will

be satisfied

in the way

you hope

for so if

you thirst

for alcohol

you won't

be given

more alcohol

or even if

you thirst

for a job

you may not

be given

a job

but he

said out

of his

heart

will flow

rivers of

living water

our thirst

will always

be

too small

too little

too shallow

and Jesus

wanted to

give us

much more

than what

we thirst

for

and he

wants to

change our

life by

giving us

the Holy

Spirit

when the

Holy Spirit

comes to

you

you will

not care

about your

thirst

anymore

most of

the thirst

at least

you might

care

to be

thirsty

for a

holier

person

but

it's not

the

day to

day

sort

of

thirst

so we

wouldn't

care so

much about

our own

thirst

but from

our heart

we

will

fill this

living

water

that means

we will

care more

about what

other people

thirst for

because we

have this

living water

flowing up

from us

we would

want to

help others

who are

thirsty

but how do

we come to

Jesus

so first

we must

admit that

as you said

we are

thirsty

if anyone

thirsts

if you

do not

have any

thirst

then we

will not

need to

come to

Jesus

if we do

have thirst

Jesus

invites us

to come

to him

and believe

in him

and then

how do we

believe in

him

and we

need to be

a bit careful

here last

week

from the

first half

of John

7

David told

us that

it's

possible

for us

to believe

Jesus

in our

own

terms

I think

we all

do this

to some

extent

as we

first came

to Jesus

however

as we

grow in

the

knowledge

of Jesus

I hope

that we

would learn

to believe

in Jesus

in his

terms

not our

own

terms

not our

own

ideas

so the

gospels

such as

this

gospel of

John

and other

gospels

were written

so that we

can believe

Jesus

as he

claims

he should

be

that is

he is

the Christ

the son

of God

so when

we read

the bible

we attend

bible study

listen to

sermons

hopefully

then we

really can

come to

know

Jesus

and believe

in him

as he

claimed

himself

to be

so what

are the

responses

to this

to the

claim

some of the

believers

thought that

Jesus was

the prophet

some thought

he was

the Christ

these people

unlike us

did not have

the new

testament for

them to

understand

what Jesus

said about

himself

however

they did

have Jesus

there with

them

so they

could have

asked Jesus

when they

were in

doubt

I hope

that you

do not

have just

a vague

idea about

Jesus and

think you

know

and think

that you

know

who he

is

I hope

that you

will

take the

trouble to

study what

Jesus says

about

himself

some of

the listeners

did not

believe in

Jesus

they had

a problem

with

Jesus

origin

they were

in a way

correct in

asking that

Jesus be the

descendant of

David and

coming from

David's city

the king

and savior

they were

waiting for

was supposed

to be a

descendant of

King David

and there

was when we

read the

book of

Romans

Paul started

the book of

Romans by

saying that

he was

proclaiming

the gospel

and the

gospel was

concerning

Jesus who

was descended

from David

according to

the flesh

and was

declared to

be the

son of

God according

to the

spirit of

holiness by

his

resurrection

so Paul

took pain

to point

out that

Jesus was

a descendant

of King

David

but those

listeners back

there they were

too sure about

the judgment

of Jesus

they did not

bother to

find out if

Jesus was

born in

Bethlehem

they could

have if

they wanted

to

the Pharisees

who knew

the scriptures

well were

even more

biased in

the judgment

they assumed

those who

believed in

Jesus were

the cursed

one

thinking that

they were

being deceived

by Jesus

so while the

officers they

said no one

ever spoke

like Jesus

the Pharisees

said no one

who had any

learning would

believe in

Jesus

no sooner had

they said

that who

stood up to

speak for

Jesus

Nicodemus

Nicodemus

was one of

the Pharisees

he was a

well learned

man

he was also

one of the

authorities

he challenged

them and said

that if

they were

they know

their law

so well

why didn't

they follow

the law

in letting

giving Jesus

a fair

hearing

to see

what Jesus

had to say

about himself

and understand

what Jesus

was saying

instead of

judging Jesus

without even

giving Jesus

a trial

so they

they could

not answer

Nicodemus

question

what did

they do

they belittled

Nicodemus

to make

his

question

insignificant

and that's

what we

can all

do

we even

make fun

of the

name of

Jesus

Christ

so that

to make

his claim

to be

insignificant

and they

said

they asked

Nicodemus

are you

from Galilee

too

no winner

ever comes

from Galilee

they are

ignorant

and simple

people

how can

Jesus

who grew

up in

Galilee

be anyone

significant

no prophet

ever

came from

Galilee

after all

the Pharisees

did not know

their scriptures

as well as

they thought

they did

at least

we know

that Jonah

came from

Galilee

Elijah

and Nahum

may have

come from

Galilee

as well

and also

in Isaiah

Isaiah 9:1–2

chapter 9

verse 1

to 2

it says

but there

will be

no gloom

from her

who was

in anguish

in the

former time

he brought

into

contempt

the land

of Jebulun

and the

land of

Lahtali

Jebulun

and Lahtali

they are

land in

Galilee

but in

the later

time

he has

made

glorious

the way

of the

sea

the land

beyond

Jordan

Galilee

of the

nations

the people

who walk

in darkness

have seen

a great

light

those who

dwell in

the land

of deep

darkness

on them

have light

shone

so 600

years ago

before Jesus

was born

Isaiah

said that

there will be

a light

in Galilee

and

yeah

the Pharisees

somehow

just ignore

that

because

they had

a theology

of glory

the Pharisees

of the

theology

of glory

they were

impressed

by titles

status

and achievements

they thought

that the

Christ would

come as

a powerful

person

and they

could not

see how

someone from

the outback

without any

education

and status

could be

the Christ

and we

can have

the similar

theology

of glory

as well

we both

seen

being the

best church

or the

church with

the best

something

and that

is the

theology

of glory

but Jesus

has

had the

theology

of the

cross

Jesus

knew that

the problem

with man

is that

everyone

wants to

speak

his own

glory

Jesus

did not

seek

his own

glory

he lived

for the

glory of

God

and for

the good

of others

so Jesus

who knew

no thirst

became one

who had

thirst

so that

he could

be the

water

and wine

libation

to satisfy

our thirst

if anyone

thirst

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

so how

would you

respond to

this claim

of Jesus

most of

us are

proud of

the fact

that we

are

scientific

minded

and it

would be

most

unscientific

if we

dismiss

this claim

before giving

Jesus a

fair hearing

and read

through

what he

said

and think

through

what he

said

and all

of us

have some

thirst

have you

found any

other way

that would

satisfy your

thirst

I see

many people

patients

who are

on

painkillers

for some

sort of

chronic

pain

some of

them

wanting

more and

more

painkillers

to deal

with the

same

pain

these

people

usually

focus

their

whole

life

on

themselves

and

their

comfort

and I

see that

patients

who have

more

important

things to

live for

other than

themselves

they are

not troubled

so much

by pain

or chronic

pain

you see

that the

answer to

our thirst

is not

more of

something

it's more

of moving

from self

centredness

to

Christ

centredness

Jesus

knew that

that's why

he promised

the Holy

Spirit

for the

change

of our

hearts

it's

difficult

I know

for us

to come

to Jesus

with all

the things

that we

have

experienced

in life

we

thirsty

for

for

something

else

more than

Jesus

Christ

because

we don't

know

the

satisfaction

he could

give to

us

today

I'm

pretty

disappointed

that

my

sister

and the

family

who

came to

visit us

they come

to church

with us

because they

wanted to

sleep in

if I told

them at

10 o'clock

I will

bring them

to see

kangaroos

I'm sure

they will

make their

effort to

get up

and see

kangaroos

they

I mean

at home

they do

go to

church

but

kangaroos

is more

satisfying

than

being

with

God's

people

worshipping

God

I wanted

to

bring them

to see

my

church

family

and to

get to

know

people

here

and

worship

together

and

last

night

also

we

heard

of

the

news

that

Rita's

mother

passed

away

if

you

know

four

months

ago

Rita

is one

of the

students

the mom

came to

visit her

from

Hong Kong

so

four months

ago

she actually

came to

church

and

Rita

told us

that

the mom

couldn't

swallow

well

and

couldn't

speak

very

well

suddenly

so

we

brought

her

to

the

hospital

and

scanned

sure

that

she

got

metastatic

cancer

in

the

brain

and

so

she

needed

to

go

back

to

Hong

Kong

straight

away

so

that

evening

I

took

her

and

her

daughter

and

with

Leigh

to

the

chemist

to

buy

some

medication

that

would

control

their

symptoms

while

Leigh

and

Rita

were

in

the

shop

I

sat

with

her

in

the

car

park

I

had

the

urge

to

tell

her

that

she

had

just

three

months

to

live

if

she

did

nothing

for

the

cancer

if

she

would

go

for

treatment

she

might

have

six

months

I

don't

usually

tell

people

how long

they

would

live

and

I

don't

think

I

would

know

and

even

after

telling

her

I

felt

quite

bad

because

God

could

have

miracle

as

well

I

mean

people

can

recover

from

cancer

but

why

did

I

tell

her

because

I

want

to

show

her

that

she

had

not

much

time

she

should

go home

and

cancel

I

mean

just

repeat

the

semester

just

spend

some

time

with

her

but

when

she

went

back

to

Hong Kong

she

went

to

see

a

Chinese

doctor

and

the

Chinese

doctor

said

no

problem

I

could

cure

you

and

so

she

thought

that

she

could

be

cured

she

didn't

even

seek

Western

medicine

help

so

after

a

couple

of

months

with

Chinese

medicine

her

condition

got

quite

bad

initially

she

got

better

because

she

was

on

steroids

definitely

she

would

feel

better

and

so

she

delayed

her

help

from

the

Western

doctors

and

so

Rita

just

went

back

about

two

weeks

ago

and

she

was

already

quite

sick

and

yes

so

she

I thought

she

missed

the

most

precious

time

in

life

it's

so