I think it is possible to directly access values of instance variables in a JSF/JSP page, but for that use the scriptlet <%= expression %>. This code will be inserted directly in the service()-method of your
servlet and so is able to access the instance variable. I don't say that this look pretty...
With an faces-tag like <h: outputText> I don't see a possbility to access the instance variable, because the "page-scope" misses. I think in Faces 2.0 exists a page scope, and so perhaps it is then also possible with tags like <h: outputText>.