HERE is an invitation of Jesus which is thrilling. Jesus bids all who are thirsty to come to him and drink. What is Jesus saying and promising here?

Jesus is declaring that he can satisfy the thirst of any soul with a drink that will satisfy that thirst.

First we must seek to understand what thirst Jesus is speaking of. To understand this we can go to John 4. In this chapter Jesus is sitting at a well. He is thirsty. A Samaritan woman comes to draw water. The woman is surprised that Jesus speaks to her because Jews did not speak to Samaritans. As the conversation proceeds Jesus tells the woman that he could give her water that would spring up to eternal life.

In this we understand that Jesus was speaking of thirst of soul. All human beings are soul thirsty because they are dead spiritually and fall short of what God requires of each of us in our living. Jesus is telling the woman that he can satisfy this thirst. He satisfies this thirst by raising a person to life which is eternal. This is because all who drink this water which Jesus gives are cleansed from all that falls short of the pureness which God requires and so raises the soul to new eternal life.

This water is not something we drink with our mouths because it is spiritual water. This water which Jesus gives is drunk by faith. This is to place ourselves in the hands of Jesus and believe on him as our God and Saviour who cleanses us from all our failures to satisfy God's holy requirements. Being washed in this way, we have new life which is able to come into the presence of God and be blessed with his eternal life.

Do you feel this thrist of soul? Come now, just as you are. Confess this thirst to Jesus and ask him to quench your thirst by the washing of forgiveness. Then you will experience rest for your soul.