John 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said.

Notice that "believing" corresponds to "coming" in the preceding verse, showing that faith is the means that brings us to Christ. The reference is not to any single passage, but to the spirit of the Scripture, notably such passages as Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 58:11; Psalms 36:8-9.

Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Below the spot on which Jesus stood while speaking in the temple courts, was. vast reservoir of water. It is probably to this subterranean supply Joel referred when he spoke of. fountain that "shall come forth from the house of the Lord," and to which Zechariah alluded when he said that "in that day living waters shall go out of Jerusalem." Christ now shows that the living waters shall go forth because every one who drinks shall himself become. fountain. It will be observed that the promise takes. wider sweep. He who drinks shall not only never thirst but becomes himself. running fountain, an unfailing supply of the waters of life. Meyer says: "The mutual and inspired intercourse of Christians from Pentecost downward, the speaking in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, the mutual edification of Christian assemblies by means of inspired gifts, even to the speaking of tongues, the entire work of the apostles, and the early evangelists, furnish an abundant commentary on this text." Christ is the living water; he who believes upon Christ has Christ formed within him, and hence must become. fountain to dispense the living water wherever he goes.