“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
       cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and
       drink.” 
              — John 7:37

Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day
of the feast he pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the
year he pleads with us, and waits to be gracious to us. Admirable
indeed is the longsuffering of the Saviour in bearing with some of us
year after year, notwithstanding our provocations, rebellions, and
resistance of his Holy Spirit. Wonder of wonders that we are still in
the land of mercy!

Pity expressed herself most plainly, for Jesus cried, which implies not
only the loudness of his voice, but the tenderness of his tones. He
entreats us to be reconciled. “We pray you,” says the Apostle, “as
though God did beseech you by us.” What earnest, pathetic terms are
these! How deep must be the love which makes the Lord weep over
sinners, and like a mother woo his children to his bosom! Surely at the
call of such a cry our willing hearts will come.

Provision is made most plenteously; all is provided that man can need
to quench his soul’s thirst. To his conscience the atonement brings
peace; to his understanding the gospel brings the richest instruction;
to his heart the person of Jesus is the noblest object of affection; to
the whole man the truth as it is in Jesus supplies the purest
nutriment. Thirst is terrible, but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul
were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it.

Proclamation is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No
other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst
of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest, he who suffers from
it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of
grace, but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with
deeper draughts of lust; but it is not goodness in the creature which
brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without
respect of persons.

Personality is declared most fully. The sinner must come to Jesus, not
to works, ordinances, or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who his
own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. The bleeding,
dying, rising Saviour, is the only star of hope to a sinner. Oh for
grace to come now and drink, ere the sun sets upon the year’s last day!

No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at. Drinking represents
a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot
can drink; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation
to believe in Jesus. We want no golden cup, no bejewelled chalice, in
which to convey the water to the thirsty; the mouth of poverty is
welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing flood. Blistered, leprous,
filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love; they cannot pollute
it, but shall themselves be purified. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear
reader, hear the dear Redeemer’s loving voice as he cries to each of
us,

“IF ANY MAN THIRST,
LET HIM
COME UNTO ME
AND DRINK.”

On this day...

• Official Lyrics of O Canada! - 2010
• Jonathan Edwards - Theologian - 2009
• The Joy in Maturing - 2009
• Truth in this small world - 2009
• Revelation 4:4 - 2008
• Jeremiah 33:3 - 2008
• THE WATERS OF SATISFACTION SCATTERED - 2008