Episode 1164
Where Do Living Waters Flow Today? (John 7:14–31, 37–39)
This episode of the Daily Bible Refresh presents an insightful exploration of the Gospel of John, specifically focusing on the question of Jesus' identity as the Messiah. The discourse emphasizes that authentic teaching is validated not by authority but by its capacity to engender love and healing within the community. Throughout the reading, we are encouraged to recognize that the true essence of spirituality lies in its ability to flow outward, providing support and nourishment to those in need. Furthermore, we deliberate on the imperative of identifying and addressing the various forms of thirst present in our surroundings. By engaging in deliberate acts of compassion, we can embody the living water that Jesus offers, transforming our own lives and those of others.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the significance of understanding biblical teachings through the lens of love and compassion rather than mere adherence to authority.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage in meaningful action by identifying and addressing the needs of those around them, particularly in moments of suffering and need.
- The notion of healing, as discussed in the podcast, transcends dogma and rigid interpretations, advocating for a more humane approach to spiritual practice.
- The episode illustrates that true spiritual fulfillment arises not from individualistic experiences, but from the collective sharing of resources and support within communities.
- It is posited that the essence of Jesus' teachings revolves around uplifting the marginalized and ensuring that spiritual practices foster love and healing.
- Finally, the podcast invites listeners to participate in a practical exercise of 'thirst spotting,' prompting them to identify and meet the needs of those who are suffering in their daily lives.
Links referenced in this episode:
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version Relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
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Speaker A:Subscribe here's today's Reading we're reading today from the Gospel of John 7:14 31 from the Message could it be the Messiah?
Speaker A:With the feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the temple teaching.
Speaker A:The Jews were impressed but puzzled.
Speaker A:How does he know so much about being schooled without being schooled?
Speaker A:And Jesus said, I didn't make this up.
Speaker A:What I teach comes from the One who sent me.
Speaker A:Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up.
Speaker A:A person making things up tries to make himself look good, but someone trying to honor the One who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality.
Speaker A:It was Moses, wasn't it, who gave you God's law, but none of you were living it, so why are you trying to kill me?
Speaker A:And the crowd said, you're crazy.
Speaker A:Who's trying to kill you?
Speaker A:You're demon possessed.
Speaker A:Jesus said, I did one miraculous thing a few months ago, and you're still standing around getting all upset, wondering what I'm up to.
Speaker A:Moses prescribed circumcision.
Speaker A:Originally it came not from Moses, but from his ancestors.
Speaker A:And so you circumcise a man dealing with one part of his body, even if it's the Sabbath.
Speaker A:You do this in order to preserve one item of the law of Moses.
Speaker A:So why are you upset with me?
Speaker A:Because I made a man's whole body well on the Sabbath?
Speaker A:Don't be hypercritical.
Speaker A:Use your head and heart to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.
Speaker A:That's when some of the people of Jerusalem said, isn't this the one they were out to kill?
Speaker A:And here he is, out in the open, saying whatever he pleases and no one is stopping him.
Speaker A:Could it be that the rulers know that he is in fact the Messiah?
Speaker A:And yet we know where this man came from.
Speaker A:The Messiah is going to come out of nowhere.
Speaker A:Nobody's going to know where he comes from.
Speaker A:That provoked Jesus, who was teaching in the temple, to cry out, yes, you think you know me and where I'm from, but it's not where I'm from.
Speaker A:I didn't set myself up in business.
Speaker A:My true origin is that the one who sent me and.
Speaker A:And you don't know him at all.
Speaker A:I come from him and that's how I know him.
Speaker A:He sent me here.
Speaker A:They were all looking for a way to arrest him, but not a hand was laid on him because it wasn't yet God's time.
Speaker A:And many of the crowd committed themselves in faith to him, saying, will the Messiah, when he comes, provide better or more convincing evidence than this?
Speaker A:The scripture reading for this day continues with John 7:37,39.
Speaker A:On the final and climactic day of the feast, Jesus took his stand.
Speaker A:He cried out, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Speaker A:Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the scripture says.
Speaker A:He said this in regard to the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were about to receive.
Speaker A:The Spirit had not yet been glorified, been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Speaker A:Well, some powerful questions here in this scripture reading, all about the theme is this guy Jesus, the Messiah, and the argument that goes back and forth about this.
Speaker A:So let's get into a couple points to ponder about it, to go a little deeper.
Speaker A:And let's unpack this a little bit.
Speaker A:The first point to ponder is this test truth by the fruit of love, not by the badge of authority.
Speaker A:Jesus says anyone who wants to do God's will can test this teaching.
Speaker A:In progressive reading of this, the test isn't who taught you, but whom does this help.
Speaker A:Healing a whole person on the Sabbath is not a loophole.
Speaker A:It's the law's heartbeat.
Speaker A:Authentic teaching elevates the vulnerable, restores bodies, dignifies the marginalize.
Speaker A:If the teaching protects power and leaves people parched, it's not from the one who sent Jesus.
Speaker A:In my work with folks impacted by cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, we kind of test things sometimes about whether words that people say bring hope, encourage or shame and fear.
Speaker A:See, a diagnosis doesn't wait for a convenient day.
Speaker A:Compassion doesn't clock out On a Sunday, on a Sabbath day.
Speaker A:And if doctrine keeps you from healing, Jesus calls that hypercritical.
Speaker A:Use your head and your heart.
Speaker A:A second point to the Spirit's living water flows through us, not just to us.
Speaker A:At the height of the festival, Jesus cries if anyone thirsts, rivers of living water will spill out the depths of of anyone who believes.
Speaker A:That's not a private spirituality, that's a public spring left of center lens to this says the Spirit makes communities where water is shared, justice flows, inclusion deepens, creation is cherished, bodies are made whole.
Speaker A:The question isn't did I feel spiritual?
Speaker A:It's are rivers flowing through me toward the thirsty, toward the uninsured neighbor, the unhoused veteran, the kid facing racism, the person hiding in fear from those who would arrest them for merely being an immigrant, the trans teen who needs safety, the family at the food bank.
Speaker A:All of these hit home.
Speaker A:All of them do.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an application.
Speaker A:We might call this application, this action step to take thirst spotting, that is Name and meet one thirst this week.
Speaker A:How do you do that?
Speaker A:Well, walk your neighborhood, walk your workplace, go to your faith community, your church or your hospital, your local hospital.
Speaker A:Go to the waiting room or walk the halls and ask yourself, or maybe observe about this question, where is the thirst?
Speaker A:And then choose a concrete response to meet the thirst.
Speaker A:Bring a meal to somebody going through treatment.
Speaker A:Offer a ride.
Speaker A:Hey, actually donate a bottle of water to somebody.
Speaker A:Or maybe contribute to a medical debt relief fund or advocate that the Sabbath is made for whole people all the time.
Speaker A:For healing with flexible working care policies that heal.
Speaker A:Keep it small, keep it specific, but make it real.
Speaker A:Hey rivers, start with a trickle.
Speaker A:We'll come back with a prayer here in just a second, but did want you to know that we have a resource for you called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Please head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com it's for you there.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:God of open festivals and crowded hospitals.
Speaker A:You meet us with a swirl in the noise.
Speaker A:You teach us without pedigree you heal without permission slips, you pour water where the ground is cracking.
Speaker A:And so I just ask you.
Speaker A:For the listener who is weary, for the caregiver who counts meds at midnight.
Speaker A:For the body aching for relief, for the heart anxious about tomorrow.
Speaker A:Be cool water on hot tongues.
Speaker A:Be steady breath when fear tightens.
Speaker A:Be a friend who won't leave.
Speaker A:Save us from hyper critical hurts.
Speaker A:Help us to test truth by God's love.
Speaker A:Let your spirit turn our scarcity into rivers through our calendars, our budgets, our voices make our homes wells of wisdom and our streets streams of justice.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
