March 27: THE GREATEST INVITATION

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

There is a marvelous interaction going on here. Today’s verse is a microcosm of the divine work of Almighty God, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and supernaturally extended through the bride of Christ to anyone who will hear. None of this is done “in a corner.” It is all openly on display. Jesus said, “In secret I have said nothing” (John 18:20).

In the prologue of Revelation, we are introduced to an “organizational chart” from the beginning. The series of Revelation’s visions came from God to reveal more of Jesus and the divine Plan of Redemption to His followers, His servants. Also revealed are details regarding opposition to the saving message. God gave these visions to His Son Jesus Christ, who sent His angel directly to John (see 1:1) who received the powerfully symbolic visions and carefully documented them for the world. Hence, “John the Revelator” bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw (v.2). A profound and unquestionable trustworthiness, characteristic of all of these relationships — forward and backward — is a key element in the validity of the message and its transmission of the universal invitation to listening ears.

Today’s verse comes on the heels of the words of Jesus in verse 16. As the Lord’s unique representative upon the earth ever since the ascension of the resurrected Jesus, the Holy Spirit is greatly invested in the affairs of men and the saving of souls. Both He and the Lord’s bride, upon hearing these words of Jesus (v.16), say back to Him, “Come!” It is no secret! And people are meant to overhear, be drawn by the Holy Spirit, and in joyful response turn to others and invite: “Come!” This sanctified message being passed by “word of mouth” is multiplied to still others. And God is glorified! This, too, reflects the “organizational chart” of the divine Majesty.

The seventh and final annual feast of the Jews was the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), a joyful, week-long celebration around the hillsides of Jerusalem where little shelters were set up to signify “tabernacling with the Lord” just after the Day of Atonement. In the fall, before the spring of His crucifixion, Jesus quietly came to attend the feast and teach in the temple. But on the last day of this momentous celebration (which points to the seventh “day” with the Lord for the redeemed, that is, the millennium of Revelation 20:4 – see also 2 Peter 3:8), Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The one who thirsts is one who longs to follow after God. Is this you, dear reader? Claim this promise of Jesus for yourself:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

For further study: Psalm 42:2; 63:1; 69:21; Proverbs 25:21; Isaiah 44:3; 55:1; Matthew 25:35-40; John 4:14