RIVER OF LIFE

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.” (John 7:37-39)

Long before this statement there was a prophecy in Ezekiel 47 about ‘water flowing from the temple’ and flowing until it becomes a river (47:5). Ezekiel mentions that a person may be ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep or in enough water to swim (47:3-5) in this river. Everywhere the water goes will bring life and healing (47:8-9). It appears that that the depth of entering the river depends on individual desire. It is a clear picture of the coming Holy Spirit that Jesus mentioned above. It is presented as: ‘How much do you want?’

Ezekiel 47:12 says, “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

This is important because John saw this same River of Life and the Tree of Life (Eden’s Tree) when he wrote, “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2) Dive in!

“How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Jesus