On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38 (NIV)
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus is the Great Satisfier of the soul. Whatever “thirst” we may have, He is the ultimate “thirst quencher”. Indeed, He is not stingy with His graces rather He gives abundantly, openhandedly, satisfying our desires with good things. All that is needed to quench our soul’s thirst stands at the ready for every heir of mercy. His call to all is “Come to me” and His provision is most generous and wonderfully kind. He pleads with us to be reconciled to Him and patiently waits for us to move His gracious hand on our behalf – will we shun His mercy always? Has not the well of this world run you dry and kept you wanting? It is a never ending pit of unsatisfaction because it always keeps us longing for more. Yet with Jesus, streams of living water flows from within and we are most abundantly satisfied even in the most humble of circumstances.
Interestingly, no other distinction is made but that of our thirst. No waiting or preparation is even hinted at. Sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in the Savior. We ignorantly thirst for all the world offers to fill our empty voids within when unknowingly the longing cavern inside us was made to be filled by Him alone. All are welcome, “Come”.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)