If Anyone Thirsts Let Them Come

In John 7 Jesus cries out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” Many years before Jesus shouted this invitation, in Exodus 17 we read how Israel was thirsty in the wilderness. God promised his presence would go before them and rest on a rock. He told Moses to take his staff and strike that rock. Moses did this, water gushed from the rock, and the people were saved.  Jesus invites us to come to him and drink because he is the rock of living water (1 Cor. 10:4). He took the stroke of our punishment that we deserve for our rebellion against God. On the cross his blood flowed so we might be saved. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”