John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
What an encouraging verse and wonderful reality. We have here the promise of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who was to be given to believers, thirsty people who come to Jesus and drink of His life. Jesus became the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles—God’s provision of deliverance from sin, the bread of life, and the eternal supply of living water. At this time, Jesus was foretelling two things that were to come. One depended on the other. The Holy Spirit would not be given until Jesus was glorified. So this raises a couple of questions. What did He mean by glorified? What are the rivers of living water?
The birth of the church was signified by the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. So we know that whatever Jesus had in mind, had occurred, or the Holy Spirit would not have been given. So what had occurred? He had, according to the Scriptures, both died for sins and had been raised from the dead for the justification of the church. He had ascended into heaven and taken His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. In John 14:20 , Jesus told His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, they would know that three things were true. “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” The gift of the Holy Spirit was the Father’s testimony that He had glorified His Son. Jesus was in the Father, that the church had been raised up and seated with Jesus, and that Jesus was now coming to reside in His church as its glorious head.
Maybe you remember how Jesus began His prayer to His Father in Gethsemane before going to the cross.
“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You. Even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
God has glorified the Son by raising Him up and giving Him authority to give eternal life. Eternal life is given with the giving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Life” (Rom. 8:2). He manifests the presence and power of Jesus in our lives, as He loves us, fills us and flows through us, producing rivers of living water. We live to love with Jesus, being filled and sustained by the rivers of living water through the Holy Spirit. May you experience Jesus’ fullness and the overflow of His love today.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God, and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.