Belly or Womb

The discussion of John 7 turns to Jesus going away to a place where they cannot follow. They questioned whether or not Jesus might be expanding His ministry to the Dispersion, to the Jews that lived in Roman provinces and were more susceptible to Greek influence. Then idea of Jesus, if He were the Messiah, traveling the world, gathering up displaced Jews and bringing them home to re-establish a new Jewish state is an aspiration that still lives in the hearts of Jewish people. Gathering His people from the four winds was a welcomed thought. But they were having trouble with his cryptic message. Their minds were set in earthly constraints. They had very worldly visions. They needed to expand the understanding of what Jesus was really going to do when He went where they could not come. Jesus is anticipating a glorious journey that would result in the most intimate and personal outcome for His followers. His reference to leaving was not just a statement of His completing His work, it was a statement of His continuing His work through the Holy Spirit whom He would send. He will say much more about this in the days ahead, especially to His apostles, but for now He alludes to a great truth. For those with ears to hear a great benefit is coming. They will be changed in ways they could only barely imagine.

It was on the last day of the Feast of Booths that Jesus stood up and proclaimed a challenging and wonderful truth. "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as the Scripture  said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" (7:37-38)  John makes sure we understand that He is speaking of the Spirit who would be given after Jesus was glorified, i.e. returns to the Father. This pronouncement was more amazing that they could realize. So often man hears words from above that cannot be fully appreciated. So who is not "thirsty?" We all are. We have a gut thirst. We have a thirst that reaches to our very core. This phrase translated "innermost being" in the NASB is most often translated "belly'(stomach) and "womb." Both are cavities inside us, though one is gender neutral and the other is specifically female. Both seek to be filled. Our bellies need and crave food and water (See John 4 and John 6). But, the Scriptures are replete with the idea of the womb that seeks to be filled and to give birth. Proverbs 30:15-16 says there are four things that are never satisfied and say enough: Sheol (the grave), the earth wanting water, fire that always seeks more fuel, and the barren womb. It reminds me of Hannah who begged God for a child, or Sarah who was disgraced for not being able to bear a child.

There is something that cries out for fruitfulness. There is an insatiable desire to produce life. We seek to have a source of life within us. Just as God is the ultimate source of life, and Eve is the mother of all living, so each of us want to be a part of the process that began with some of the first words of God to man, "Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth." Our earthly immortality demands that we leave descendants who can carry on our names, and to make our time spent on earth even more valuable. We live through out children. So should we look at the innermost being as a belly or a uterus? John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit in his mother's womb. Jesus relates salvation to new birth in John 3, and the image of coming forth from a womb that was made fruitful by the Holy Spirit. Paul prays for the strength that comes from out inner being so that Christ Himself may be able to dwell in our hearts through faith. To have Jesus and the Holy Spirit within us is to have the source of life in us. His seed remains in us(1John 3:9). He has impregnated His bride Rom.7:1-4) so that we can produce life, offspring, the fruit of the Spirit. These traits, good works, and converts are meant to flow out of us as surely as water flows from an artesian spring.

Ponder this. Is it belly or uterus? Which makes more sense? Which is more fitting? The flesh is compared to a stomach (Rom.16:15; Phil.3:19). But could it be that our appetite is more like a woman's womb that cries out for life within, and fruit produced? Ponder it.