Let Anyone Who Is Thirsty… Come! (John 7:37–39)
Have you ever been truly thirsty? Not just “I could use a glass of water” thirsty, but the kind of thirst that dries out your mouth, makes your lips crack, and leaves you desperate for relief.
That’s the picture Jesus paints in John 7:37–39. Standing up in the middle of a crowded festival, He makes a bold declaration:
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
This wasn’t just a casual invitation. It was a cry to the crowd — to all of humanity — that He alone is the source of the water our souls are desperate for.
Let’s unpack what this invitation means for us today.
An Open Invitation
One of the most beautiful parts of Jesus’ words is their inclusivity. He doesn’t say, “Let the religious come.” Or, “Let the qualified come.” He says, “Let anyone who is thirsty come.”
That means everyone is welcome. No matter your race, gender, social status, or background. The gospel tears down every barrier we humans try to build. Peter learned this firsthand when he declared in Acts 10:34–35, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
And notice the one prerequisite: thirst. Jesus doesn’t require perfection. He doesn’t demand a résumé of good works. All He asks is hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).
So let me ask you: are you thirsty?
Faith Is the Key
Jesus ties the invitation directly to belief: “Whoever believes in me…”
Faith is what unlocks the flow of the Spirit. Without faith, you can hear the invitation but never step toward it. With faith, rivers begin to flow.
Think about Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25–31). Beaten, chained, and in the darkest of circumstances, they sang hymns to God. Their faith not only led to their own breakthrough but also to the salvation of a jailer and his entire family.
Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” If you want faith to grow, feed it with the Word. But don’t stop there — faith must also be exercised. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight.”
Faith is like a muscle: if you don’t use it, it won’t grow.
The Living Waters of the Holy Spirit
When you come to Jesus in faith, you receive more than a drink — you receive a fountain. John tells us that Jesus was speaking about the Spirit, who had not yet been given but would soon come in power.
Ezekiel 36:25–27 prophesied this very thing: God would cleanse His people, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them so they could walk in His ways.
The Spirit is not a trickle. He is a river. Continuous, refreshing, life-giving. But like any river, that flow can be obstructed. Sin acts like debris, damming up the stream and leaving us stagnant. That’s why confession and obedience are so vital — they clear out the blockages so the Spirit can flow freely again.
Picture this: a river doesn’t just refresh itself; it brings life wherever it goes. That’s the Spirit’s work in us. He keeps us fresh, free, and fruitful.
Practical Application
So how do we live this out?
Welcome All. Just as Jesus’ invitation was for “anyone,” the church is called to be radically welcoming. That means extending grace to the overlooked, the hurting, the forgotten. Jesus went out of His way to touch lepers, dine with sinners, and welcome children — and so should we.
Exercise Your Faith. Don’t just feed your faith by reading the Word — put it into practice. Pray bold prayers. Step into service. Share your story. Remember: faith is proven by action.
Trust God’s Power. Jesus said even mustard-seed faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). It’s not about the size of your faith but the greatness of your God. Sometimes all you can muster is a whispered, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). And that’s enough for Him to move.
Why This Matters Today
If we’re honest, many of us walk around spiritually dehydrated. We chase fulfillment in careers, relationships, entertainment, or possessions, but still end up dry. Jesus’ words cut through all of it: “Come to Me.”
Not to religion. Not to rules. Not to a self-help plan. To Him.
And the promise? If you come, you won’t just be filled. You’ll overflow. Rivers of living water will spill out of you into your family, your workplace, your neighborhood.
Final Word
At the close of John 7, the crowd was buzzing. Some were skeptical, some were curious, some were ready to believe. And into that mix Jesus declared, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.”
That invitation still stands today. If you’re weary, burdened, or parched for meaning, Jesus is calling. You don’t have to fix yourself up. You don’t have to have it all together. Just come. Drink. Be filled.
And when you do, His Spirit won’t just quench your thirst — it will transform you into a source of living water for others.
Because with Jesus, the well never runs dry.
