Jesus Christ
The Living Waters
by Lani W. Finley

One of the most profound themes that exists in the Word of God is; The Revelation of God's Plan of Salvation for Man In Both the Old and New Testament. This theme is the very framework upon which the creation of man and his great potential rests. It is all encompassing and endless in scope. The Holy Scriptures would fail to have meaning, if they were not woven from the tread of Jesus Christ. He is thread, which composes the fabric of all scripture, from Genesis to Revelations. The Adam Clarke Commentary makes a very insightful comment concerning Jesus and the scriptures. " ...Take Jesus, his grace, Spirit, and religion out of the Bible, and it has neither scope, design, object, nor end."

The Old Testament is the soil from which the New Testament grew. It was not the harvest, only the ground upon which the harvest was produced. All sacrifices, offerings, ceremonies, Sabbaths and Holy Day Festivals revealed in the Old Testament were powerful symbols that God used to foreshadow the great works of His Son, Jesus Christ. This one thread lives throughout the Old and New Testaments.

A good example which illustrates how Jesus is the harmonizing thread between the Old and New Testament is found in John 7:37-38.

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. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The tremendous impact of Christ's words has been lost, because New Testament Believers have not fully understood the significance of the ceremony that Jesus was attending. God and Christ's behavior is never impulsive, nor whimsical. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. His actions were premeditated and completely coincided with the ceremony at hand. This scene was intended to shock the worshippers at the temple and to make the greatest impression possible.

In order to fully comprehend the magnitude of Christ's words and actions on this Feast Day; it is necessary to understand the setting in which Jesus stood, and shouted these words of life to the people in the temple. It is vitally important that we grasp the splendor and the majesty, which surrounded this ceremony.

It took place in the temple, on the Last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. We must remember that this was the greatest religious celebration of the year. It has been remarked, "If you have not seen the celebrating at this feast, then, you have never seen celebrating at its greatest." Some Biblical teachers claim that there were up to a million Jews and Israelites attending this Feast. They overflowed the temple and all the grounds that surrounded it. Their temporary shelters filled the landscape as far as the eye could see. There was great joy, feasting and celebrating among the people.

A great assembly of two hundred and forty eight musicians and singers were performing at the temple ceremony (1 Chr 25:6,7). Can you imagine the power and majesty of such a great orchestra and choir? The worshipers were also instructed to take the boughs of certain trees and waive them during the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:40). Biblical historians tell us that by the Last Great Day of the Feast; the temple floor was several inches deep with the boughs of palms that had accumulated during the first seven days.

The temple is filled to capacity. There are thousands of people outside the building, thronging each other and moving closer to the sounds of the worship services. The musicians and singers are performing with great joy and enthusiasm. The whole temple resonating from the sounds of worship. The fragrance of palm branches fills the temple air.

Now, the great ceremony begins. The High Priest appears with the attendant priests of the Sanhedrin, along with the magnificent Temple Guard. The Priest comes forth from the temple bearing a Sacred Golden Vessel in his hand. He is followed by this great procession and walks somberly through the temple and down the Temple Mount toward the river Siloam. There, the High Priest dips the Sacred Golden Vessel into the river and slowly proceeds back to the temple. The temple choir, along with tens of thousands of people, is singing the words of Isaiah chapter12.

2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (Isaiah Chapter 12, Emphasis Mine).

This magnificent procession makes its way back to the temple; they walk slowly toward the altar of God. The High Priest climbs the steps. The great multitude of worshipers are singing and waiving their palm branches with great excitement and anticipation. The High Priest leans forward, tilts the Sacred Golden Vessel, and pours out the water upon the altar. A great shout goes up from the people "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation". At just that moment, a young man with no title stands up beside the Sacred Altar and lifted his hands and voice to the multitude. He cries out with such power that His voice filled the temple and echoed down the Temple Mount to the hearts of all mankind.

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

A hush fell over the crowd! The singers and the musicians stopped! "What a wonder that any man should be so daring as to step forward and take the High Priest's place and declare that He, Himself, was the Sacred Fountain opened in Judah for all sin and all uncleanness 1." The deafening silence made its way outside. People were asking, "What is wrong, what is happening." Someone may have remarked, "A man has challenged the High Priest and put Himself into the High Priest position." Shock and confusion fell over the sea of worshippers. Every eye in the temple was fixed upon Jesus. What a dramatic and extraordinary moment!

Now, we must focus on one point, which the people at the temple did not comprehend. The fulfillment of the song they were singing from the Book of Isaiah. Notice the last sentence of Isaiah 12:6 "for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, was right there in their midst, and they did not even know it. They had unwittingly sung praises to the one that was now in their presence. Jesus, the True Sacred Golden Vessel of Living Waters. The One who gives eternal life to all mankind. How powerful! How magnificent! The scriptures that they had been singing were fulfilled before their very eyes. Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer of Israel, and all mankind, was standing right there before them. The Old Testament symbols gave way and surrendered themselves to the Lord and Savior of all things. The people could have physically reached out and touched the one who possessed all that they were seeking. However, their eyes were blinded to their Messiah's most astonishing announcement. The Old Testament surrendered all to the Glorious One. Do we fully understand how magnificent were the events of this day?

Jesus transcended the symbols revealed to Ancient Israel. He fulfilled, and became their meaning. He is their Light and express image. The appearance of Jesus illuminated them. They were a reflection of the One to come. The Old Testament symbols were swallowed-up in Christ. The Son of God eternally glorified the observance of these days. True believers in Christ will continue to assemble on the Sabbath and Holy Festivals of God, to outwardly proclaim their faith in works of the His Son. The Sabbaths of God are not an option to the plan of salvation; they encompass the plan of salvation.

Friends, do we begin to see how all scriptures (Old and New Testament) were written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God? Every Old Testament sacrifice, offering, ceremony, symbol, Sabbath and Holy Day Festival was woven in Jesus, Himself. Our Heavenly Father orchestrated it this way. God created all things by Jesus, and He reconciled all mankind to Himself, through Christ.

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:18).

The true gospel is not about the search of man for God, but God's quest for a relationship with man through Jesus. It is the efforts of God and Jesus, which reaches out to man and provides his salvation.

Christ has always been the Alpha and Omega (the Beginning and End) of all things. God began to reveal His plan of salvation in the writings of the Old Testament. However, God finished our salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is God's promise throughout the Old and New Testament. Jesus is the Living Golden Sacred Vessel of Water that gives eternal life to all mankind.

1 Pastor J. Preston Eby, Kingdom Bible Studies