The Spirit is waiting

The Spirit is waiting

John 7: 37-39

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Jesus mentions the Scripture without mentioning the Scriptures. I am sure many a commentator will have their idea of which part of the Old Testament Jesus is referring to. I can imagine possibly Ezekiel or Isaiah for they come to mind.

But note that John carefully tells us not only that Jesus was thinking back scripturally but that he was looking ahead. It was to Pentecost when the Spirit will flow from their lives.

Look back and look ahead.

Jesus can do that in detail but we cannot.

We only have knowledge of the road travelled but Jesus knows what is ahead of us.

If we lean into him with our faith and if we seek to glorify him in our world then there are further works of the Spirit in front of us.

Our ancestors cheers us on and our advocate, the Spirit, is waiting for us. So we trust and magnify Jesus as we journey down this road. There is more ahead. He is waiting.