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“If Any Man Thirst, Let Him Come!”
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At night the temple blazed with artificial light. The music, the
waving of palm branches, the great concourse of people, over whom
the light streamed from the hanging lamps, and the majesty of the
ceremonies deeply impressed the beholders. But the most impres-
sive ceremony was one commemorating an event in the wilderness
sojourn.
At dawn the priests sounded a long blast on their silver trumpets,
and the glad shouts of the people from their booths welcomed the
festal day. Then the priest dipped from the flowing waters of the
Kedron a flagon of water. Lifting it on high, while the trumpets were
sounding, he ascended the broad steps of the temple, keeping time
with the music with slow and measured tread.
At the altar in the court of the priests were two silver basins. The
water was poured into one, and a flagon of wine into the other; and
the contents of both flowed into the Kedron and to the Dead Sea.
This consecrated water represented the fountain that at the command
of God gushed from the rock to quench the thirst of the children of
Israel.
As the sons of Joseph made preparation to attend the feast, they
saw that Christ made no movement signifying His intention of at-
tending. Since the healing at Bethesda He had not attended the
national gatherings. To avoid useless conflict at Jerusalem, He had
restricted His labors to Galilee. His apparent neglect of the great
religious assemblies and the enmity manifested toward Him by the
priests and rabbis, were a cause of perplexity even to His own disci-
ples and His kindred. In His teachings He dwelt upon the blessings
of obedience, yet He Himself seemed indifferent to the service which
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had been divinely established.
His mingling with publicans, His disregard of rabbinical ob-
servances, and the freedom with which He set aside traditional
requirements concerning the Sabbath, all seemed to place Him in
antagonism to the religious authorities. His brothers thought it a
mistake to alienate the great and learned men of the nation. They
felt that these men must be in the right. But they had witnessed
Jesus’ blameless life and had been deeply impressed by His works.
They still hoped He would lead the Pharisees to see that He was
the Messiah, the Prince of Israel! They cherished this thought with
proud satisfaction.