The Feast of Tabernacles marked the beginning of the rainy season in Israel. On the last day of the feast, water was taken from the pool of Siloam in a procession and poured on the temple altar to ask for life-giving rain.

In the midst of this ceremony Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38).

In Jeremiah 17:13, God is described as a fountain of living water. Also in Jeremiah 2:13.

Through Jesus, divine life comes into us and flows out of us.

This is done by the Holy Spirit. John writes in John 7:39, “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive”.

In Revelation 22:17 Jesus says: “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Jesus’ disciples were still full of joy of the wonder of the multiplication of the loaves (John 6). Then a storm follows on the lake, and they are afraid.

It is like a picture of our faith. We have an overwhelming experience of faith, are full of joy and enthusiasm, feel God very close, only a short time passes, and we are in the middle of the storm and find ourselves in difficult situations in the darkness and God’s closeness seems very far away.

Jesus follows the disciples from behind and says: “It is I; do not be afraid.” (John 6:20)

In the midst of many worries, problems and difficulties that shake the sea of our lives, Jesus calls to us: Trust me, it is I; do not be afraid! I haven’t lost sight of you.

Ups and downs are there to grow our trust in Him.

Jesus was not impressed or seduced by a crowd that wanted to make him king (John 6:15). This crowd was willing to support Jesus as long as he gave them what they wanted – bread.

But Jesus wants to accomplish the will of the heavenly Father and not that of the people.

Some love Jesus for what he gives us. But he wants us to love him for who he is: the Son of Man (6:27) from heaven (6:29), with eternal life (6:27).

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Good news. There is a way back into an active relationship with Heavenly Father. But it is also difficult to digest that the path to the Heavenly Father is only open to people who do not ignore God’s revelation. Continue reading The fourth surprising message from Jesus: The Way →

The third surprising truth about Jesus is that he speaks about the resurrection and life after death. Our soul exists independently of our body. Jesus says in Matthew 10:28: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was the first who speaks of heaven and hell. But over time we have imagined heaven and hell in an unverified way.

Many peoples have an idea of the continued existence of souls and have an ancestor cult. But in all cultures, there are also people who reject the continued existence of the soul (cf. Paul in Athens, Acts 17:32). Continue reading The third truth of Jesus – our soul exists independently of our body →

Another surprise is God’s continued presence through the Holy Spirit.

At Pentecost, an acoustic signal is heard again as the Holy Spirit came. God is present in the people who receive him. God dwells in us.

Jesus said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

God does not want to be far from us, not separate, not to visit us from time to time, but to be “God with us – Immanuel”. Father and Son are present and accessible through the Holy Spirit.

Another message, sweet as honey, yet difficult to grasp and a mystery of God (Revelation 10). Continue reading The second unexpected Jesus fact – God in us →