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MAY 24
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests
and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have
you not brought Him?”
The officers answered, “No man ever 7:37–52 This section catalogues the different
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spoke like this Man!” reactions of people to Jesus’claims.These reac-
Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are tions have become universal patterns for
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you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or reactions to Him through the ages.This section
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the Pharisees believed in Him? But this may be divided into the claim of Christ (vv.
crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 37–39) and the reactions to Christ (vv. 40–52).
50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by The reactions may be subdivided into 5 sec-
night, being one of them) said to them, tions: 1) the reaction of the convinced (vv.
51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears 40,41a); 2) the reaction of the contrary (vv.
him and knows what he is doing?” 41b,42); 3) the reaction of the hostile (vv. 43,
52 44);4) the rejection of the confused (vv.45,46);
They answered and said to him, “Are you
also from Galilee? Search and look, for no and 5) the reaction of the religious authorities
prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” (vv. 47–52).
53 And everyone went to his own house.
DAY 23:What does the “living water”have to do with Jesus?
A tradition grew up in the few centuries before Jesus that on the 7 days of the Feast of
Tabernacles,a golden container filled with water from the pool of Siloam was carried in procession
by the high priest back to the temple. As the procession came to the Watergate on the south side
of the inner temple court,3 trumpet blasts were made to mark the joy of the occasion and the peo-
ple recited Isaiah 12:3,“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” At the temple,
while onlookers watched, the priests would march around the altar with the water container while
the temple choir sang the Hallel (Pss.113–118).The water was offered in sacrifice to God at the time
of the morning sacrifice.The use of the water symbolized the blessing of adequate rainfall for crops.
In John 7:37, Jesus used this event as an object lesson and opportunity to make a very public
invitation on the last day of the feast for His people to accept Him as the living water. His words
recall Isaiah 55:1.“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” These 3 words summarize the
gospel invitation. A recognition of need leads to an approach to the source of provision, followed
by receiving what is needed. The thirsty, needy soul feels the craving to come to the Savior and
drink, i.e., receive the salvation that He offers.
“Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”(v. 38).The water-pouring rite was also associ-
ated within Jewish tradition as a foreshadowing of the eschatological rivers of living water foreseen
in Ezekiel 47:1–9 and Zechariah 13:1.The significance of Jesus’invitation centers in the fact that He
was the fulfillment of all the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated,i.e.,He was the One who provided the
living water that gives eternal life to man (4:10,11). By this “He spoke concerning the Spirit” (v. 39).
The impartation of the Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual and eternal life.

May 24 and said, “Today you have disgraced all your
servants who today have saved your life, the
lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of
your wives and the lives of your concubines,
2 Samuel 19:1–20:26
6 in that you love your enemies and hate your
And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is friends. For you have declared today that you
19 weeping and mourning for Absalom.” regard neither princes nor servants; for today
So the victory that day was turned into I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of
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mourning for all the people. For the people us had died today, then it would have pleased
heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for you well. Now therefore, arise, go out and
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his son.” And the people stole back into the speak comfort to your servants. For I swear
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city that day, as people who are ashamed steal by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will
away when they flee in battle. But the king stay with you this night. And that will be worse
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covered his face, and the king cried out with a for you than all the evil that has befallen you
loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, from your youth until now.” Then the king
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my son, my son!” arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the
Then Joab came into the house to the king, people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in
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