“We Will Interrupt This Program … ”

“We Will Interrupt This Program … ”

 Jesus’ cry in John 7:37 was far more dramatic than most modern readers realize. He chose a time when Jerusalem was packed with holiday visitors and a crucial moment in the festivities when He could attract the most attention. It would be as if someone broke into the broadcast of a presidential state-of-the-union address to announce, “We interrupt this program to bring you a special report.”

 The annual Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths, or Tents; John 7:2) swelled Jerusalem with an overflow of festive crowds. Every Jewish family within twenty miles of the city was required to move out of its home and live in a booth or tent in remembrance of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness. Many chose to move into the city for the week. Reunions and parties alternated with solemn processions from the temple down to the Pool of Siloam, a reservoir (9:7). Pushing its way through the crowded streets, the throng sang Pss. 113—118 in anticipation of God’s righteous reign over Jerusalem.

 Jesus chose to keep a low profile at this year’s festival (7:2–10). He taught in the temple (7:14), but waited for the right moment to declare Himself publicly. It came on the last day of the feast (7:37), probably at the climax of the daily processional.

 As on the previous six days, the high priest filled a goblet of water from Siloam and carried it back to the temple, where he poured it out for all the people to see. Each day at that point the crowds chanted, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD” (Ps. 118:1), and “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity” (118:25), and again, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD.” Then they shook myrtle, willow, and palm branches toward the altar, as if to remind God of His promises. Then, after a pause, sacrifices were offered.

 On the last day, however, just after the crowds had not only waved their branches but, as was the custom, literally shook them to pieces in a frenzy of enthusiasm, a voice suddenly cried out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37, emphasis added). Jesus’ timing couldn’t have been more perfect or His claim more explicit: He was declaring Himself to be none other than the long-awaited Messiah who would pour out the Holy Spirit, as many in the crowd immediately recognized (7:39–43).

 In many ways 7:37 acts as the pivot for John’s account. From that point on, the hostility of Jesus’ enemies mounted until they finally arrested Him (18:12) in vain hopes of shutting off the “living water.”