"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." - John 7:37 KJV

What was “the last day, that great day of the feast”?

The feast that was being celebrated was the Feast of Tabernacles. This  feast lasted for seven days. Jews call this feast “Sukkot,” which is Hebrew for “tabernacles.” Sukkot was just celebrated. The last day of the feast is called “Hoshana Rabbah,” the "Great Hosanna" or "Great Salvation."

During the time of the Temple, starting on the second night of Sukkot, there was the Water Drawing Festival. While each day water would be offered with the sacrifice, the water was drawn the evening before. This Water Drawing was preceded by all-night celebrations in the Temple courtyard. The Talmud describes the festivities in detail. Levites played on harps, lyres' cymbals and trumpets and other instruments of music on the fifteen steps leading from the Court of the Israelites to the Court of the Women. There was a great fanfare, singing, reveling, and sages danced and juggled burning torches. Huge oil-burning lamps illuminated the entire city.

The Talmud states that "one who has not witnessed the Festival of the Water Drawing has not seen joy in his lifetime!"

It was said the water drawing came with a great awareness of Godliness, to the degree that people would “draw” prophetic revelation.

The verse that is connected to this joyous celebration is,

"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." - Isaiah 12:3 KJV

It is interesting to continue with the rest of the verses after:

"And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." - Isaiah 12:4-6 KJV

It was on the last day of this feast, that Jesus “stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:37-39 KJV

Jesus connected the outpouring of His Spirit, which would begin on the Day of Pentecost, with the great joy of the Water Drawing Festival.

“The chassidic masters explain that the water celebration signifies a joy caused by a connection to God so deep and so true that, like water, it has no describable taste. And like water, it sustains all life.” (Chabad.org)

Jesus spoke to the woman at the well of His Spirit that would be poured out:

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. ... Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:10, 13-14 KJV

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17 KJV

The joy that Jesus gives us in His Spirit is more than the water drawing celebration! It is joy UNSPEAKABLE and FULL OF GLORY!!

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost how to receive His Spirit.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV