Wednesday 27 March, 2019

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Over January we have been learning and hearing from God about the Holy Spirit.  How incredible to think that Jesus says in this passage “anyone who is thirsty can come”; however those who believe “can come and drink”.   Every person is invited to COME to Jesus; but only those who believe can COME and DRINK.  “the scriptures declare that ‘rivers of living water will flow from His heart.”

In this hot weather over summer it has reminded me afresh that people become dry and thirsty in tough conditions.  People in our community are dry and thirsty for truth, for honesty, for integrity, for freedom, for purity, for grace, for a message that brings life, hope and a future.

I have thought about this – what can I do to help people see the “river of Christ’s hope in me”?  I can remove blockages, I can focus my heart and my mind on Christ, I can pray for release and freedom.  I can think less about myself and my circumstances and focus more about how God can use me.

Lord help me to see others better and clearer.  Give me the skill and ability to connect with others and help them to see you.  Help me to be a river of living water this year.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta