John 7: Rivers of Living Water
At the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus teaches openly, divides the crowds with his claims, and invites the thirsty to come to him and drink.
John 7 (WEB)
1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus therefore said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”
9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.
10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?”
12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”
13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”
16 Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”
20 The multitude answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.
22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.
23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?
24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill?
26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know.
29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.
31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
34 You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come.”
35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36 What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?”
37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”
47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?
48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,
51 “Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”
52 They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
53 Everyone went to his own house,
John 7 (KJV)
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53 And every man went unto his own house.
John 7 (ASV)
1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest.
4 For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.
5 For even his brethren did not believe on him.
6 Jesus therefore saith unto them, My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.
8 Go ye up unto the feast: I go not up unto this feast; because my time is not yet fulfilled.
9 And having said these things unto them, he abode [still] in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up unto the feast, then went he also up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
12 And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him: some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray.
13 Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15 The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself.
18 He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?
20 The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel because thereof.
22 Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.
23 If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?
24 Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
25 Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill?
26 And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?
27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no one knoweth whence he is.
28 Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
29 I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me.
30 They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.
31 But of the multitude many believed on him; and they said, When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?
32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.
33 Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me.
34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come.
35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, Whither will this man go that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36 What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot come?
37 Now on the last day, the great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
39 But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 [Some] of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?
43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?
46 The officers answered, Never man so spake.
47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?
48 Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
49 But this multitude that knoweth not the law are accursed.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them),
51 Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
53 And they went every man unto his own house:
Summary
As the Feast of Tabernacles approaches, even Jesus' own brothers do not believe in him and urge him to show himself in Judea. Jesus goes up quietly, then teaches openly in the temple, and the crowds are amazed at his learning. He explains that his teaching comes from the Father who sent him and that anyone willing to do God's will can recognize its source. The people are divided: some think he is a good man, others that he leads the crowd astray, and the leaders send officers to arrest him. On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stands and cries out that if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Jesus and drink, and rivers of living water will flow from within, a promise of the Spirit. The crowd debates whether he is the Prophet or the Christ, the officers return empty-handed, marveling that no one ever spoke like this man, and Nicodemus quietly urges fairness while the leaders dismiss him.
Main Characters
- Jesus — Teaches openly at the feast, points to the Father, and invites the thirsty to come and drink.
- The brothers of Jesus — Do not yet believe in him and urge him to display himself publicly in Judea.
- The temple officers — Sent to arrest Jesus, they return amazed, saying no one ever spoke like him.
- Nicodemus — A leader who quietly defends giving Jesus a fair hearing under the law.
Key Verse
John 7:37-38 (WEB)
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
Lessons Learned
- Jesus teaches with an authority that comes from the Father who sent him.
- A willing heart that desires to do God's will can recognize the truth of Christ's words.
- Jesus invites the spiritually thirsty to come to him and find living water in the Spirit.
- People are divided over Jesus, and honest seekers are called to examine him fairly.
- Jesus' teaching comes from the Father, not from himself. Jesus says, 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me' (John 7:16, WEB), grounding his words in the Father's authority.
- A willing heart recognizes God's truth. Jesus promises, 'If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God' (John 7:17, WEB).
- Christ invites the thirsty to come and drink. Jesus cries out, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!' (John 7:37, WEB), offering himself to all who long for life.
- From Christ flow rivers of living water by the Spirit. Jesus promises that out of the believer 'will flow rivers of living water' (John 7:38, WEB), which John explains is the Spirit (John 7:39, WEB).
- The words of Jesus are unlike any other. The officers sent to arrest him return saying, 'No man ever spoke like this man!' (John 7:46, WEB), struck by his authority.
- How do Jesus' brothers and the crowds respond to him at the feast, and what does this reveal about belief and unbelief?
- What does Jesus say about the source of his teaching, and how can someone know whether it is from God?
- What is Jesus offering when he invites the thirsty to come and drink, and what does the living water represent?
- How do the officers and Nicodemus respond differently from the other leaders, and what does that show?
- Where in your own life are you thirsty, and how is Jesus inviting you to come to him and drink?
- Jesus' own brothers do not yet believe and want him to make a public display (John 7:5). The crowds are sharply divided, some calling him good and others saying he deceives, while the leaders seek to seize him (John 7:11-13, 32). The chapter shows how Jesus draws both faith and hardened unbelief.
- Jesus says his teaching is not his own but comes from the Father who sent him (John 7:16). He adds that anyone who truly desires to do God's will can discern that his teaching is from God (John 7:17). Willingness of heart, not mere intellect, opens the door to recognizing the truth.
- On the last day of the feast Jesus invites all who are thirsty to come to him and drink, promising rivers of living water (John 7:37-38). John explains that this living water is the Holy Spirit, whom believers would receive (John 7:39). Jesus offers the Spirit's life to satisfy our deepest thirst.
- The officers return without arresting Jesus, amazed that no one ever spoke like him (John 7:45-46), and Nicodemus urges that he be given a fair hearing under the law (John 7:50-51). Both stand apart from the leaders' hostility, showing that honest attention to Jesus softens hardened opposition.
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to name where they feel spiritually dry or thirsty, and to hear Jesus' open invitation to come and drink. As leader, point to the promise of living water in verses 37-38, encourage honest sharing, and never press anyone to share more than they wish.