John 7:37-53 | What is a lesson for the original audience?

A mentor of mine helped me to see something extremely important throughout the Gospels. Jesus extends a simple invitation. He does not make demands and insist. He invites. And here, we see that invitation as clear as day. The readers would have followed John's connection here with the Spirit pretty clearly as John comments on it. Jesus is extending the invitation to believe upon Him and there are consequences to that belief. The consequence namely is that they would be filled. Even more than being filled, we see that they would be overflowing.

Something that is noteworthy is that this invitation is seemingly passed to all people. So any of those who would read or hear John's Gospel would draw the conclusion that this is to them as well. If they thirst, they can come to Jesus and be filled. Though they wouldn't just be filled, they would be transformed. Jesus states that out of them would flows rivers of living water. That is critical. Living water was understood as a natural source of water like rain or a spring. It was called that as it was coming from God. So when Jesus says living water would flow out from His people, He is saying that water from God would be flowing out from them. So we see where the following controversy is coming from. The people are understanding, as the readers would, that Jesus is saying that if they come to Him, God will do a work in them.

So what is the lesson? Heed the invitation and be filled.

What lesson do you see for the audience?