💧 Devotional on John 7:31–40 – Rivers of Living Water

💧 John 7:31–40 Devotional – Rivers of Living Water

1. Start with Prayer

Lord Jesus, I come thirsty. Fill me with Your truth, quench my soul, and help me believe deeply in who You are. Teach me through Your Word. Amen.

2. Scripture Reading – John 7:31–40 (NIV) 📖

31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me.
34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
    

3. Repeated Words or Phrases 🔁

• Believe / Believed – v.31, v.39
• Thirsty / Drink – v.37
• Spirit – v.39
• Where I am, you cannot come – v.34, v.36
• Living water – v.38

4. Theme 🧭

"Jesus quenches our deepest thirst through the Holy Spirit"

5. Observing God 🙏

• Jesus knows His time is limited and speaks with urgency (v.33).
• He speaks of returning to the Father who sent Him (v.33).
• He invites the thirsty to come to Him for living water (v.37).
• He promises the Spirit to those who believe (v.39).
• God reveals truth to those open to hearing (v.40).

6. Observing Humanity 🙋

• Some believed in Jesus because of His signs (v.31).
• Religious leaders felt threatened and sought to arrest Him (v.32).
• The people misunderstood Jesus' statement about going away (v.35-36).
• There was spiritual curiosity, but also confusion (v.36).
• Some recognized Jesus as the Prophet (v.40).

7. Interpretation – About God 💡

Jesus stands in the middle of human misunderstanding and spiritual thirst, offering something far deeper than ritual or religion—His very Spirit. The promise of “living water” isn’t about knowledge or performance, but presence. He alone can satisfy the heart’s longing. The Spirit was to come after Jesus’ glorification, a gift for every believer—a river within, not a trickle from without.

8. Interpretation – About People 🪞

Human beings often miss what God is saying because we listen with assumptions. The people in this passage argued, misunderstood, and debated—yet some believed. This is true today: some mock, others misunderstand, but to those who thirst, Jesus gives life. The key is not being smart, but being thirsty. Those who know their need come and drink freely.

9. Life Application 🪴

Am I truly thirsty for God today, or am I just going through motions? Do I believe Jesus is the source of living water, or am I trying to fill my soul elsewhere? I will come to Jesus in prayer and Scripture with an open heart, asking to be filled again with the Spirit. I choose to be a vessel where living water flows out into the lives of others.

10. Spiritual Touch ✨

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:38

11. Closing Prayer 🙏

Lord Jesus, I am thirsty for You. Let Your Spirit fill me and overflow through me. Forgive me for trying to satisfy my soul with things that cannot quench. Let Your living water cleanse, renew, and guide me today. Amen.

12. Walk With the Word 🌅

Keep asking today: “Am I drinking from the living water Jesus offers?” Let the Spirit refresh you moment by moment.