If Any Man Thirst
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.” — John vii. 37.
I. Lesson. Christ’s gracious importunity: “In the last day, that great day of &e feast Jesus stood and ciied,”
296 8BRM0N xun.
The feast here spoken of was the great (east of tabernacles, being one of the three yearly festivals when all the males came up irom the country to Jerusalem. They used to build tents, or tabernacles, of the branches of palm trees, olive, myrtle, and willows, on the flat roofe of their houses, in their courts, or in the open streets and gardens. In these they lived for seven days. The priests and Levites used to teach and preach to the people, and it was a time of great joy before the Lord. The eighth, or last day, was a hdy convocation, when all the people met in the house of God before going away to their homes. On that day it was that Jesus stood and cried.
1. Observe, it was when the whole people of the land were met together that Jesus stood and cried: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Jesus never thought his words thrown away, even if there were but a single soul to hear. Never did he use words of more divine power than when he spoke with Nicodemus alone by nighty and with the woman of Samaria by the well; but still, when thousands came together, Jesus would not miss the happy opportunity: ‘’Jesus stood and cried.” 0 my friends! Jesus still stands in the crowded assembly. May you hear his voice this day!
2. Observe, the people were going home. This was the last day of the feast To-day the courts of the temple are thronged with Jews from all parts of the country; to-morrow they will be on their way home* No time must he lost; speak now or never: ‘’Jesus stood and cried.” I doubt not there was many a Jew there that day who never heard the voice of the Saviour again; and therefore I can see what was in the mind of Christ when he lifted up his voice so loud: “Jesus stood and cried.** There may he some here to-day who never will hear the word of Christ again. This may be the last day of the feast to some of you. Oh! then, that we might stand and cry — lift up the voice like a trumpet, and say: ‘’ If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink;” and O that you would hear as for eternity!
3. Observe, Christ had often preached to them before, yet he “stood and cried.” From verse 14 we learn that it was about the middle of the feast (the middle of the week) that Jesus began to teach in the temple; and no doubt he continued preaching and teaching till the last day of the feast. Some marvdied — some murmured — some sought to
SERMON XLin. 297
lay hands on him. And was his patience not wearied out? Ah! no; who knows the long-suffering of the Son of God? How justly he might have gone away for ever, and said: If ye will not hare me for a Saviour, then I will not he a Saviour unto you — I will go my way to Him that sent me.” But no; the more careless the Jews became, the more anxious he became. On the last day he stood and cried: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Jesus is the same still. Many of you hare heard his words for a thousand Sahbath-days. He has stretched out his hands all the day — he has sent all his messengers, rising up early and sending them. You have been always unmovd — Hying in sin — worse than you were. Does Jesus give you up? No; he stands and cries on the last day — ne follows you to your dying-day.
Some of you are afraid that Jesus will not receive you now, for you haye so long resisted his words. Ah! it would be quite just if he were to say: “I will not hear — I will laugh at your calamity — I will mock when your fear Cometh.” But no; be not afraid. On the last day of the feast he stands and cries. He speaks more loudly, more clearly, more freely than ever. Oh! listen to his words: If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
II. Lesson. Christ is the smitten rock.
The feast of tabernacles was intended to be a picture of the time when the fathers of the Jewish nation lived in tents in the wilderness. It was intended to remind them that they too were strangers and pilgrims in the wilderness, and that they were journeying to a better land. But there was one thing in the wilderness which they had no resem-Uance of in the feast of tabernacles — the smitten rock which
five out riyers of water. In order to make up for this deciency, it is said that on the last day of the feast the Jews used to draw water in a golden pitcher from the Fountain of Siloam, and pour it out upon the morning sacrifice, as it lay upon the sdtar. They did this with great rejoicing, having palm branches in their hand, and singing the 1 2th chapter of Isaiah. Now it was on this very day — perhaps at this very time — that Jesus stood up in the midst of them, and — as if he wished to show them that he was the true smitten rock — cried: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Now, Christ is the smitten rock, because hia VAoodi li
298 8BRM0N XLin.
been poured out for sin. (1.) The rock tras smitten before it gave out the stream. So is it with Christ. He was smitten of God and afflicted. He bore the wrath of God; and therefore his blood gushed forth, and cleanses £rom aS sin. Oh! you that fear to be smitten of Gk)d, wash in thil blood — it flowed from a smitten rock. (2.) The water gushed forth abundantly when Moses smote the rock. It was no scanty stream — it was enough for all the thousands of Israel, and for their cattle; and so is it with the blood of the Saviour. It is no scanty stream. There are no sins it cannot wash out — there is no sinner beyond its reach — thoe is enough here for all the thousands of IsraeL (3.) It was a constant supply: They drank of the spiritual rode which followed them, and that rock was Christ.” We aw not expressly told in the Old Testament that the waters of the smitten rock did actually follow the camp of Isnid, but some learned divines are of opinion that it was so — that the water continued to flow wherever Israel went; so that it might be said the smitten rock followed them. So is it with Christ. He is a rock that follows us. He is like rivets of water in a dry place. You may wash, and wash again*
III. Lesson. All are invited to come to Christ and drink: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
1. Careless sinners are heie invited to come to Christ and drink. Men in their natural condition are quite careless about their souls and about Jesus Christ. They thirst after pleasure, they thirst after money, and they thirst after the world; but they do not thirst after Christ or heavenly things. Yet Christ wishes us to cry aloud in the hearing of such: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Let me speak to such. — You have no anxiety of soul — no desires after Jesus Christ — no wish to receive his Holy Spirit. You are not thirsty for anything beyond the waters of this world — you are quite happy where you are, and as you are; yet the day may come when you shall be a weary, thirsty soul. O that it may come soon! Now Jesus says: “If ever you feel thirsty, remember, come unto me, and drink.” “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and ye scomers delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you; I will make known my words unto you.”
2» AnjnouSy thirsty sotiiU, ore etpeciA{(f| invited to come
SERMON XLm. 299
unto Jestis: ‘* If anj man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Souls awakened hj God are thirsty in two ways. (1.) They thirst after the forgiveness of sins — they have hem awakened to know their lost condition — the weight of €rod’s anger has been revealed to them. They go from mountain to hill seeking a resting-place, and finding none. At last they sit down, weary and thirsty. They feel that all they do just signifies nothing — that they cannot bring themselves nearer to peace. They feel as if already in that place where they shall ask in vain for a drop of water to cool the tongue. Do any of you know what this condition is? Then you are here spoken to by Christ. (2.) They thirst affcer deliverance from sin. Awakened persons generally put away all outward sin. When a drunkard or swearer is awakened, he puts away his outward sin; but he is far from being able to change his heart. On the contrary, mostwicked and hateful thoughts sometimes rise into the soul. The heart is filled with such vile desires that the soul is almost driven to distraction. He goes from mountain to hill seeking a new heart, but finding none. He sits down, at last, weary and thirsty. Do any of you feel this? It is to you Christ speaks: ^’ If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
O thirsty souls! — afflicted, tempest- tost, and not comforted — why will ye not come unto Jesus, the smitten rock, to drink? One says: I have sinned too much — I dare not come as I am. Ans. But are you not thirsty? Christ says: ‘^ If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Another says: I have sinned against Christ — I have turned a deaf ear to his warning voice — I have mocked at his messengers >^I have profaned his sacraments — eaten bread and wine when I was living in sin; and surely I dare not come. But are you not thirsty? Hear what Christ says: ‘’ If any man thirst.” Another says: But I am unwilling to come to Christ — ^I have a proud, unbelieving heart — my heart rises against coming to Jesus Christ — surely I dare not look to Jesus. But are you not thirsty? Christ does not ask the willing or the believing, but the thirsty. He asks no more: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
8. Thirsty believers are here hid to come to Jesus, Among the crowd on that great day of the feast, we are told that there were many who believed on Jesus (verse 31); and it was for their sakes also that he spake these blwed words: “If any man thirst.” All true peieN%x
800 ‘SERMON XUII.
are a thirsty people. They are trayelling in a wildeniett and therefore they need the rock to follow them. Oh! it if a bad sign of a soul when there is no thirst. True Christians are like new-bom babes — they desire the sincere milk of the Word — they need nourishment, and need it ofteo they cannot lire without it. Oh, then, hear the word of Jesus: *’*’ Come unto me, and drink.”
(I.) Remember you must come to Christ before you can drink. It is only when you hare a believing view of the Sayiour that you can receive the Spirit. It is only what your eye is fixed on the smitten rock that you can drink of the living water. Are there not some Christians heanog me who seem to receive very little of the Spirit of God? Are there not some Christians among you who ofien exhibit a mean, worldly spirit? — some who are easily betrayed into -a fiery, passionate spirit? Why is thiff? Ans, You do not come to Jesus to drink — you do not keep the eye of faith on Jesus Christ — you do not live by iaith on the Son of God. You are thinking to walk holily without coming unto Jesus day by day, and hour by hour. You do not look on the Lord our strength at God’s right hand; there- ‘’’ fore you receive little of the Holy Ghost.
(2.) Remember when you come to Jesus you must drink. O how many seem to come to Jesus Christ, and yet do not drink! How few Christians are like a tree planted by the rivers of water! What would you have thought of the Jews, if, when Moses smote the rock, they had refused to drink? or what would you have thought if they had only put the water to their lips? Yet such is the way with most Christians. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. The Spirit was given to him vrithout measure. The command is given to us to draw out of his fulness; yet who obeys? Not one in a thousand. A Christian in pur day is like a man who has got a great reservoir brimful of water. He is at liberty to drink as much as he pleases, for he never can drink it dry; but instead of drinking the full stream that flows from it, he dams it up, and is content to drink the few drops that trickle through. 0 that ye would draw out of his fulness, ye that have come to Christ! Do not be misers of grace. There is far more than you will use in eternity. The same waters are now in Christ that refreshed Paul — that gave Peter his boldness — that gave John his aflectionate tenderness. Why is your aoul less richly supplied Ibankdc^ Because you will not drink: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
TV, Lesson. The change on all who drink — they he come fountains like Christ: ^’ He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rirers of living water.” — John vii. 38.
The Holy Spirit is an imperishable stream. It is not like those rivers of which you have heard which flow through barren sands till they sink into the earth and disappear. Not so the stream of grace. When it flows from Jesus Christ, it flows into many a barren heart; but it is never lost there. It appeai;s again — it flows forth from that heart in rivers of living water. When a soul is brought to befieve on Jesus, and to drink in the Spirit, it often appears as if the Spirit were lost in that soul. The stream flows into such a barren heart, that it is long before it makes its appearance; but it is never lost. The Scripture must be fulfilled: “He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
jfc 1. -4 new motive for coming to Jesus. If you will come to Jesus and drink, you shall become a fountain — you shall be changed into the image of Christ. Are there none of you living in a godless family? O come to Jesus and drink! You will become a fountain of grace to your family. Through your heart — through your words — through your prayers — the stream of grace will flow into other hearts. Those you love best in all the world may in this way receive grace. O come unto Jesus and drink! Many of you Kve in a godless neighbourhood — come to Jesus and drmk, and you vrill become a fountain of grace to your neighbourhooa. From you shall flow rivers of living water. O if all of you that know the Lord Jesus would only drink out of his fulness, even this neglected place might become as the garden of the Lord, well watered everywhere!
2m New test if you have come to Jesus, If you have believed on Jesus, then you have received the Spirit, and fiom you there must be flowing rivers of living water. Is this the case Alas! how many of you must answer: No; we know not what you mean.
(1.) Are there not some hearing me whose heart is more like a sink of iniquity than a fountain of living water? Are there not some who send forth from their heart rivers that pollute and poison every place where they go Axe lS^<^xe not some who send forth streams of horrid imaginations and impure desires? Are there not some who send forth polluting conversation — foolish, lascivious talking and jesdng, which are not convenient? Ah I how plain you have never been brought to Jesus! The river of grace has never hem turned into that foul bosom.
(2.) Are there not some who are like a fountain sealed? They seem to come to Jesus, but they do not give out any living stream. I stand in doubt of you.
Every one that believes on the Lord Jesus must recei?e the Spirit. Every one that receives the Spirit will make it manifest by sending forth rivers of living water. Be not deceived, my dear friends. He that doeth righteousness is righteous. If you are living a dead, useless life, you are no Christian. Examine yourselves whether ye be in die faith. Prove your ownselves. Know ye not your ownselves how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be repio-StPeier October 22, 1837.
(t
And