8 January 2010
Psalm 117, 118; Exod. 17:1-7; Col. 1:15-23; John 7:37-52

Three days removed from the miracle at the Red Sea and the glorious worship song of Miriam and Moses, the people question and doubt that the Lord is with them. They are at the breaking point of how long a people can go without water. Also, gods were thought of as territorial in that they had a particular territory of influence and power. Remember Moses asked to go three days journey away from Egypt, outside the power sphere of Pharaoh. Here, the people wonder if indeed this God who rolled back the sea is still with them or have they gone beyond His power. They are given proof that He is with them by providing water from the rock.

Can you just see Jesus shaking His head as they argue about where He is from? He has made an incredible offer. This feast day is the day on which the priests pour out the water they have left in faith that God will provide the rains. They are making a statement of great faith and Jesus offers living water to them and reveals Himself as the source of that water, goes out on the limb, and they immediately begin to talk about Galilee. The temple police don’t know what to do and everyone seems confused except the Pharisees, whose only test of Jesus is whether or not they have believed in Him. Here is God in their midst and they no longer recognize Him by His works.

Paul speaks of the pre-eminence of Jesus. Nothing was before Him, all things came into being through and for Him, in Him was the fullness of God and in Him God is reconciling all those things that came into being through Him to Himself. God has not abandoned us He has saved us and is with us today in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not alone, we have not gone beyond His power and His presence. We, however, must remain or abide in Him, it is our choice.

Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!