What Old Testament prophecies might the crowd be referencing in John 7:40? The Moment in John 7:37-40 “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: streams of living water will flow from within him.’ He was speaking about the Spirit… When they heard these words, some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ ” (John 7:37-40) Why the Crowd Mentions “the Prophet” • Moses had foretold a unique, Spirit-empowered spokesman who would arise after him. • Jewish expectation by the first century kept that promise distinct from, yet often overlapping with, hopes for the Messiah. • Jesus’ words about “living water” during the Feast of Tabernacles—when priests poured water at the altar—echoed prophetic promises of end-time refreshment, prompting listeners to connect Him with both “the Prophet” and “the Christ.” Primary Passage Behind “the Prophet” “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers; you must listen to him… I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.” – Key parallels: raised up by God, speaking God’s words, demanding obedience. Other Old Testament Texts Hinting at a Spirit-Filled Prophet-Messiah • Isaiah 61:1-2 — “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news…” • Isaiah 11:1-2 — “A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse… the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him.” • Isaiah 42:1 — “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One in whom My soul delights; I will put My Spirit on Him…” • Numbers 24:17 — “A star will come forth out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.” • Genesis 49:10 — “The scepter will not depart from Judah… until Shiloh comes.” Prophecies About Living Water Echoed by Jesus • Isaiah 55:1 — “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…” • Isaiah 44:3 — “I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring…” • Isaiah 12:3 — “With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation.” • Ezekiel 36:25-27 — cleansing water linked with the Spirit’s indwelling. • Joel 2:28-29 — promised outpouring of the Spirit in the last days. Messianic Kingly Prophecies Also in View • 2 Samuel 7:12-14 — a son of David whose throne is forever. • Psalm 2:6-8 — God’s anointed King in Zion. • Psalm 110:1-4 — the exalted Lord and eternal priest. • Micah 5:2 — ruler to be born in Bethlehem, “whose origins are from the days of eternity.” • Daniel 7:13-14 — “One like a Son of Man” receiving an everlasting kingdom. The crowd quickly pivots in John 7:41: “Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’ ” These passages fueled that thought. Putting It Together Listening to Jesus claim that the thirsty could come to Him, many connected the dots: • Deuteronomy 18 marked Him as the long-awaited Prophet. • Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Joel connected His promise of living water with the Spirit’s end-time outpouring. • Davidic and royal prophecies suggested He might also be the Christ. Their instinct was right—every strand of these Old Testament hopes converges in Jesus, the Prophet-Messiah who alone satisfies spiritual thirst and reigns forever. |
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