The Smitten Rock

 

Jesus our Rock said, "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

In order for the “rivers of living water” to be poured out (the Holy Ghost), Jesus had to be smitten, just as the rock in the wilderness was smitten in order for the waters to pour out.

The Lord told Moses to take the rod “wherewith thou smotest the river” and to “smite the rock.” (Exodus 17:5-6).

The rod that God told Moses to take is the rod that Moses smote the Nile river with. When he smote the Nile river, the water turned to blood. (Exodus 7:20).

When God told Moses to take the rod that he had smote the river with, God was making a connection with the water turning to blood. Thus, when Moses struck the rock and the water came forth, there was the remembrance of a river of blood.

The rock in the wilderness that was smitten was a type of Christ the rock when He was smitten and died on the cross. Out of Christ’s side there came blood and water.

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." - John 19:34 KJV

The smitten rock that water came out of with the remembrance of blood is also a type of water baptism.

When we are water baptized in the name of Jesus, there is the remembrance of Jesus’ blood in the water. (Romans 6:3-4, Acts 20:28, Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 5:6, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 7:14).