Jesus knew the wants of the soul. Pomp, riches, and honor cannot satisfy the heart. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me." The rich, the poor, the high, the low, are alike welcome. He promises to relieve the burdened mind, to comfort the sorrowing, and to give hope to the despondent. Many of those who heard Jesus were mourners over disappointed hopes, many were nourishing a secret grief, many were seeking to satisfy their restless longing with the things of the world and the praise of men; but when all was gained, they found that they had toiled only to reach a broken cistern, from which they could not quench their thirst. Amid the glitter of the joyous scene they stood, dissatisfied and sad. That sudden cry, "If any man thirst," startled them from their sorrowful meditation, and as they listened to the words that followed, their minds kindled with a new hope. The Holy Spirit presented the symbol before them until they saw in it the offer of the priceless gift of salvation.

Jesus kendte sjælens længsel. Pragt, rigdom og ære kan ikke tilfredsstille hjertet. "Om nogen tørster, han komme til mig!" De rige og de fattige, de høje og de lave, alle er de lige velkomne. Han lover at tage byrden fra det tyngede sind, at trøste de sørgende og give de modløse nyt håb. Mange af dem, der hørte Jesus, sørgede over skuffede forhåbninger. Mange nærede en hemmelig sorg. Mange søgte at tilfredsstille deres rastløse længsler med denne verdens goder eller menneskers bifald; men når de havde opnået det alt sammen, opdagede de, at de trods al deres møje kun var nået til en utæt brønd, som ikke kunne hjælpe dem til at slukke deres tørst. De stod der midt i glansen af det glade optrin, utilfredsstillede og bedrøvede. Dette pludselige råb: "Om nogen tørster," vækkede dem op fra deres sorgfulde grublen, og medens de lyttede til de følgende ord, tændtes et nyt håb i deres sind. Helligånden fremstillede symbolet foran dem, indtil de deri så tilbudet om frelsens uvurderlige gave.