John 7:38 is a powerful verse where Jesus declares, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This profound statement points to the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. But what did Jesus mean when He spoke of “rivers of living water” flowing from those who believe in Him? Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this passage.
The Background
To understand Jesus’ declaration in John 7:38, we need to look at the context. Jesus spoke these words during the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the major Jewish feasts. Part of this week-long festival involved a daily procession to the pool of Siloam to collect water in a golden pitcher. This water was then brought back to the temple and poured out as an offering to God. This commemorated how God provided water for the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus.
On the last day of the Feast, the high priest would pour out the water at the altar while the people recited Isaiah 12:3 – “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” This was a time of great celebration and anticipation of God’s blessing and the coming Messianic age (Isaiah 35:6-7).
It was on this climactic day that Jesus stood up and boldly proclaimed, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus presented Himself as the fulfillment of the Feast, the long-awaited Messiah who would provide the people with spiritual water to quench their soul’s thirst.
Living Water
When Jesus spoke of “living water” flowing from those who believe in Him, He was making an important distinction. Running water from a spring was considered “living”, whereas water collected in a pool or cistern was “dead.” Fresh, flowing water was life-giving, while stagnant water was inert. Throughout the Old Testament, “living water” is used metaphorically to signify spiritual refreshment, sustenance and vitality (Jeremiah 2:13, Zechariah 14:8).
Jesus utilized this imagery of fresh, running water to signify the Holy Spirit working in and through the lives of believers. Just as drinking cool, flowing water brings life and satisfaction to the body, so the Spirit would bring new life and spiritual nourishment to all who trust in Christ.
The Promise Fulfilled
The Lord’s promise of “rivers of living water” flowing from those who believe in Him was fulfilled at Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early Church, the disciples were “filled with the Holy Spirit” and boldly began proclaiming the Gospel, despite fierce opposition (Acts 2:4, 4:31). As Peter testified:
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
As people heard the message of salvation and came to faith in Christ, they received that promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Acts 2:38-39, Romans 8:9). The Spirit empowered believers and the Church to fulfill Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations (Acts 1:8). Truly, rivers of living water began flowing out through the preaching of the Gospel and the testimony of believers.
Ongoing Work of the Spirit
While the first outpouring of the Spirit came at Pentecost, Jesus’ promise remains true for all generations of believers. At the moment of salvation when we put our faith in Christ, we are permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit works continually in our hearts, transforming us into greater Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). He produces His fruit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit empowers us, guides us, teaches us, and prays for us (John 14:26, Romans 8:26).
As we walk in step with the Spirit, allowing Him to direct our words and actions, His living water can flow out from us. We receive spiritual vitality and nourishment to refresh our souls. We are empowered to serve others, share the Gospel, make disciples, and building up the body of Christ with our spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16).
The rivers start as a trickle but grow deeper and wider as we mature in our faith and yield more of ourselves to the Spirit’s control. Our lives become more and more characterized by the fruit He produces in us – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Overflow to Others
This promise of “rivers of living water” is not just about personal spiritual vitality. Jesus declares these rivers will flow from “within” believers “out into the world.” As we walk in the power and guidance of the Spirit, His life and presence can overflow to bring refreshment and new life to others.
We can share the Gospel with the lost so they too can come to faith and receive the Holy Spirit. We can allow the Spirit’s gifts and fruit to flow through us to encourage and build up fellow believers. We can let His rivers of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control impact all our relationships at home, at church, at work, and in our community. As Charles Spurgeon said, “If you have the Spirit of God within you, the water of life must and will flow forth.”
Living water brings life and growth wherever it flows. As the Spirit flows through us in “rivers of living water”, He brings spiritual life, nourishment and refreshing to all those around us. People will see and encounter Jesus in and through us as we yield to the Spirit working within us.
Unceasing Supply
The beautiful thing about Jesus’ promise of “rivers” of living water is that it indicates an unceasing supply. Rivers flow continuously, year-round, sustained from an inexhaustible source. This perfectly sums up the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in believer’s lives.
Once we come to faith in Christ, the Spirit takes up permanent, unending residence within us (John 14:16). We never need to worry the Spirit’s supply will dry up or that we must work to sustain it. His empowering presence just keeps renewing us and working through us day after day, year after year. As we yield to Him, the rivers of living water continue flowing from us.
Even amid difficult seasons of life when we feel spiritually dry, the Holy Spirit remains at work within us. As Charles Spurgeon said, “He is a spring shut up, a fountain sealed, but also a fountain ever flowing.” The supply of His life-giving water never fails as we continue abiding in Christ.
Cultivating the Flow
If we want to see rivers of living water flowing from our lives, we must stay connected to the source – Jesus Christ. He is the one who gives the Spirit, so only through vital relationship with Him will the Spirit’s power be manifested. As Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38).
Practically speaking, cultivating the flow of the Spirit involves what we often call the spiritual disciplines – things like prayer, Bible study, meditation, fasting, worship, fellowship with other believers, etc. As we devote time to knowing Jesus, abiding in Him, and obeying His Word, we open ourselves up to be filled with more and more of the Spirit’s life and power.
The early disciples give us a great model of how to maintain the flow of the Spirit. We read that they devoted themselves to prayer, to the apostles teaching (or studying Scripture), to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). The disciples understood that ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit requires staying connected to the Source through spiritual disciplines.
It also requires surrender and faith. We must give up control of our lives to the Spirit and trust Him fully. As Andrew Murray said, “The Spirit of God cannot fill us without an emptying of self.” When we humble ourselves and rely completely on the Spirit’s power working through us, then living water can flow out.
Overflowing for Others
A key aspect of John 7:38 is that these rivers of living water are meant to flow outward to others. The Spirit’s power is not given merely for our own personal edification, but for ministering to those around us.
As the living waters flow within us, our hearts are filled with more love, joy, peace and spiritual vitality. But even more importantly, these rivers then pour out from us to bring new life and refreshment to other thirsty souls. Our spiritual health and vitality overflow through our words, actions, and Christlike character to impact those around us.
We must actively look for ways to channel these rivers outward. We can do this through personal evangelism, community service, words of encouragement, or any way we can express the Spirit’s love to others. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Look at your own heart; the river rises there. Look at your own life; the river must flow into that first. But it cannot stop there, for every Christian is a Jonathan Edwards, who observes that ‘we contribute nothing to the flow unless we empty the streams into the world around us.'”
Our calling is take this supernatural water surging from within and pour it out wherever we go. We must allow the Spirit to make us channels through which living water can flow to and through us for the blessing of others.
The Ultimate Source
It is so important to remember that the Holy Spirit is the source of this living water flowing in and through us – not ourselves. Jesus makes this clear when He says these rivers flow “from within” the believer, indicating internal, spiritual power at work through us.
We cannot manufacture or drum up this life-giving water in our own limited strength and resources. Only the Lord can open up rivers of supernatural life, spiritual gifts and divine enabling flowing out from His people. Zechariah 4:6 declares, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.”
Our role is simply to yield ourselves to the Spirit’s control and rely fully on Him. We must surrender our will, plans, skills and resources completely into His hands for the Spirit’s direction and empowerment. As we wait on Him, He fills us again and again so His living water can flow out.
Fulfillment of Scripture
An important detail in John 7:38 is Jesus’ statement that “rivers of living water” flowing from believers is the fulfillment of Scripture. Jesus was likely referencing passages like Isaiah 58:11:
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Ezekiel also spoke of a time when God’s Spirit would be poured out like water to refresh His people and revive dry bones (Ezekiel 39:29, Ezekiel 47:1-12). Joel prophesied of rivers and fountains flowing from God’s house when His Spirit was poured out on all flesh (Joel 3:18).
Jesus came to fulfill all the promises and pictures found throughout the Old Testament (Luke 4:21). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost inaugurated this age of living water available to all who believe in the Messiah. Where before the Spirit only came upon some, now He would indwell all God’s people – just as Jesus promised in John 7:38.
A Future Fulfillment
Not only does Jesus’ promise hearken back to Old Testament prophecies, it also points ahead prophetically to a future fulfillment. The book of Revelation gives us a breathtaking vision of a “river of the water of life” flowing from the throne of God in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1).
This end-time fulfilment of the promise of living water is vividly described:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2)
What begins as a trickle of living water from individual believers (John 7:38) culminates in a mighty river flowing from God’s throne, bringing life and healing to all nations. This will ultimately be fulfilled in the New Jerusalem when Jesus returns to dwell with His people forever.
Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).