“On the last day, the climax of
the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may
come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For Scriptures
declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said, “living
water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing
in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet
entered into glory.)” John 7:37-39 JCB
The climax of the Festival of
Shelters was when a Pharisee would pour water from the sacred pool over the
sacrificial altar. This was done in thanksgiving for God’s provision of water during
the forty years the Hebrews, led by Moses, wandered in the wilderness.
I keep reflecting on the Hebrew
use of blood, of animal sacrifice, to atone for sin. Animals without blemish,
ranging from doves to cattle according to the Law, were slaughtered. The blood
was carefully collected then poured over the altar. Only then was a person considered
purified. But it didn’t last. Sacrifices had to be made constantly simply
because of it was impossible for anyone to abide by all the Laws given to
Moses.
Except Jesus.
Pure and unblemished was the
Lamb.
“He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and a new life through
the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5
The altar at the temple must
have been a gruesome sight…all that blood. I suppose growing up with this
practice would have meant it was a normal sight, mundane, just one of those
things: the familiar morphing into the unseen, the unremarkable.
Jesus stood up and shouted. I
have always imagined Him to be a quiet man. Gentle and lowly He calls Himself.
To see Him leap to His feet and shout would have been remarkable. But then, His
message is remarkable.
There is nothing I can do to
atone for my sins. Dealing with the consequences of free choice isn’t the same
as atonement. I can repent when I stray because forgiveness is freely given. It’s
that easy. No animals required.
I can strive to make better
choices, to turn my back on sin. I can give thanks I have the Holy Spirit to
guide me into those better choices.
I ask You, Lord, to continually
remind me of Your presence in my life. Sometimes the gift of faith, of God’s
Holy Spirit, becomes an unremarkable, taken-for-granted, aspect that gets lost in
the day to day grind.
That’s when I need You, Jesus,
the most. I need You to stand and shout, “Here I am!”
These things I pray in Jesus’
name. AMEN!
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