Contemporary listeners describe Abraham Lincoln as a fabulous story-teller, keeping a crowd engaged for hours. Too bad we don’t have video of him in action. I feel the same way about Jesus. What would it have been like to hear him teach live and in the flesh?

A team of temple security officers were sent to pull Jesus in for questioning. These were hardened men, used to preachers spouting off and charged with keeping order throughout the chaotic grounds.

They joined the crowd and listened as Jesus proclaimed in a booming voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

The guards stood rooted in place. Something sparked in their souls. After a time they returned empty-handed to their bosses who scolded them for not bringing Jesus with them. They responded, No one ever spoke the way this man does.

Indeed, no one has spoken like him since. My mind fills with noise from news channels and social media and entertainment and sports. But nothing compares to Jesus. He’s the source of living water, and he’s worth our ear.

John 7 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Gustavo Leighton