The Gospel Of John Chapter 16 Pt. 2 Come And Drink The Waters Of Eternal Life

Though it may seem hard, God often has great good for us in hard things. 

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Jesus placed a renewed emphasis upon the fact that He was leaving, and that His disciples were going to face the same hostility from the world, that Christ endured.

Jesus also repeated His promise that when He returned to His Father in heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit to them. 

In fact, Jesus made it clear that until He returned to His Father, the Holy Spirit could not come to them.

The word "expedient" means to bring something together for our advantage, for our good and for our benefit. It has the idea of urging us forward to see Christ's leaving as very advantageous for us. 

Thus, Jesus taught His disciples that He was going to die, be raised from the dead, and return to His Father. 

One tremendous outflow of Christ returning to the Father is the coming of the Holy Spirit to live in them. 

The disciples' hearts were very naturally, filled with grief and sorrow at the thought of Jesus not being with them each day, as He had been for 3 1/2 years. We would be grieved as well, if we were in that situation.

This is a great principle from the Bible. Those things that often seem most grievous to us, can often turn out to be most expedient for us. 

Our Lord Jesus is always bringing to us that which is most expedient for us, even though we may not see it at that moment. 

Jesus sending the Holy Spirit fulfills prophecy. 

John 7:37-39  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.)  

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit of God. He describes sinners as those who are like a dry, parched, thirsty man wandering in the desert of sin. The sinner is desperately  searching for water and will die if he cannot find it.

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ with repentant faith, quenches the thirsty soul. The ministry of the indwelling Spirit of God in us, is compared to life giving, life sustaining waters. 

Jesus said the "rivers of living waters"  represent the Holy Spirit living in us. His presence in us, is going to change us. Paul calls this spiritual transformation "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (See Titus 3:4-6). 

The indwelling Spirit of God is going to flow out from us like a river of living waters flowing from our bellies. This vividly pictures how the Holy Spirit will minister to others through us. 

John makes it clear for us that Jesus is indeed, speaking about the Holy Spirit whom He would send, when He returned to His Father. 

The words that Jesus used in speaking about the Holy Spirit, come from the prophet Isaiah.

Jehovah promise of rivers, fountains and springs for the thirsty. 

Isaiah 41:17-18  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18)  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Isaiah also used very vivid ways to describe a sinner. A sinner is like a poor and needy person who is looking for water, but he cannot find any. His tongue is as dry as a clump of dirt. 

Then, the prophet turns his readers to Jehovah. There is hope, there is life, and a sinner can look to Jehovah for salvation from sin, for deliverance from evil.

Jehovah will open rivers in high places and make springs of living water flow forth, to satisfy the parched, lifeless soul of a sinner.

Living waters from God picture the coming of His Spirit.  

Isaiah 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

The parched thirsty man is a picture of a sinner, helplessly lost in the wilderness of sin. Isaiah reminds us that all people are born sinners, devoid of spiritual life. 

Isaiah also reminds us that salvation is the work of God. Man can do nothing to save himself from sin, death and hell. 

Salvation from our sins, and deliverance from our evil adversary and full redemption, is God's mighty work for us. 

Isaiah 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  

Isaiah reminds us that Jehovah freely invites every thirsty soul to come and drink from the waters of His salvation. It is a call from God to all sinners to come and drink freely of the waters of life. 

No money is required, which pictures salvation by the grace of God, not of works (See Ephesians 2:8-10). The idea of freely offered water, wine and milk, is that God supplies all of our spiritual needs through faith in Jesus Christ. 

God's invitation for sinners to repent and be saved continues. 

Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

John saw visions of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and he recorded His words for us. Hear what Jesus says to all sinners. I will give to him that is athirst (the sinner) the fountain of the water of life, freely. 

Jesus invited all sinners in every generation and location, to be born again. He will give you the waters of life from His heavenly fountain. 

This gracious invitation connects back with Jesus telling Nicodemus that he must be born of the water and the Spirit (John 3:5).

Revelation 22:16-17  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17)  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 

The words of invitation to sinners for salvation from God, continues right to the end of the Bible. 

The Holy Spirit of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the redeemed saints of God in heaven, all say "Come and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

Thoughts to Ponder...

We have seen the beautiful pictures painted by Isaiah and referenced by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These pictures of spiritual realities, are designed to help us see, that without the indwelling Spirit of God, we do not have eternal life and we are dead in trespass and sin.

God wants all men everywhere to repent and be born again (1 Timothy 2:1-6). 

God is not willing that any perish, or die in their sins, but that they should repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

Those who hear and heed the call of the gospel of Christ, find themselves transported out of sins darkness and into the marvelous light of the glory of God (See Colossians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 2:9). 

This is why I spend many hours writing each post and incorporating scripture into each one. 

I want to share the gospel so that people are born again. 

I want to share the gospel so that Christians are edified by the Word, and strengthened in their faith. 

I want to share the gospel so that others can learn to worship God in Spirit and in truth.  

Will you pray with me for the salvation of lost souls in the world around us? 

Will you share these truths with those who do not know Jesus?

May the Spirit of God flow out of us in ministry to those around us, and may we be a blessing as Christ's ambassadors.

Bob