John 7:32-39 (ESV)

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. ³³ Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. ³⁴ You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” ³⁵ The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?” ³⁷ On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” ³⁹ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

As far as the religious leaders were concerned, it was time to get rid of Jesus, so a formal arrest warrant was issued. But Jesus let them know that though they were ready, God wasn’t. Jesus would be arrested, but not yet. In fact, where he would ultimately go, they wouldn’t be able to find him. The Jews listening wondered what in the world he was talking about. Was he going to go after the Greek-speaking Jews who had moved out of Israel and get involved in foreign lands? Not yet. Not until his followers took the gospel to the ends of the world. For now, he meant he would ascend to heaven, where the Father was, very soon, and the leaders would not be able to come after him. Many were in Jerusalem during the Feast of the Tabernacles, a celebration of the provision and the presence of God. A water-pouring ceremony occurred throughout the feast, in which the people would express their thankfulness for the provision of water. On the last day, they would go around and around the pool and cry out, “Please bring salvation now! Lord, save us!” On the last day of the feast, Jesus made an astounding statement. He boldly proclaimed that only he could satisfy spiritual thirst. Jesus actually declared that they should come to him and drink.

What did John mean when he wrote that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given? Were believers at this time saved without the Spirit? Did they live without the help of God? No. In many Old Testament incidents, the Holy Spirit illuminated, worked through, or empowered God’s people to do his will. In fact, no one has ever been able to trust God for salvation apart from the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, we should not overlook the fact that we, the church, are incredibly blessed to have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit upon conversion. Forgetting this great truth can cause us to live discouraged and defeated lives and not walk victoriously in the freedom with which the Lord has graced every believer. If Jesus has provided for your thirsty soul, then live consistently with the Holy Spirit with whom he has filled you. Say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness today.