John 7:31-40 (NKJV) ​ Rivers of Living Water

31  And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?" 32  The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33  Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34  You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." 35  Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36  What is this thing that He said, 'You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come'?" 37  On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Questions to Consider:

1. Why do you think that the common people could perceive the truth concerning Jesus while at the same time the leaders were blind to who Jesus was?
2. What do you think Jesus was referring to when He talked about "rivers of living water" flowing out of a Believer's life?
3. Why didn't the idea of Jesus leaving go over well with Jesus' followers?

If you ever want to get an honest evaluation of what is happening in a local church, listen to the people who are not in leadership.  They may not "lead" the church, but they have an insiders understanding of what the church experience is like for the average attender.  The non-leaders of the Jews had a very different view of Jesus than the Pharisees and chief priests.  The people viewed Jesus as a miracle worker, and they reasoned that the Christ would not produce more signs and wonders than what Jesus was producing.  They came to the conclusion that Jesus must be the Messiah.  v.31 "Many of the people believed in Him."
When the Pharisees and chief priests heard what the people were saying, they sent officers to "take" Jesus.  
Jesus gives a prophetic word: v.33,34 "I shall be with you a little while longer...you will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come."  This is very similar to what Jesus shared with His disciples in the "Last Supper Discourse."  (John 13:36,37)  
On the final day of the feast, Jesus spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit.  (This is the greater baptism that John the Baptist stated that Jesus would bring with Him)  The Holy Spirit would be like "Rivers of living water flowing from the heart of the Believer."
There is a logical tie between the two words that Jesus was sharing.  1) He would be leaving, to ascend to a place at the right hand of God.  2) His leaving would signal the coming of the Holy Spirit who would empower the Church.