Who is it that overcomes the
world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who
came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come buy water
only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the
Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water
and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (I John 5:5-8)
Have you ever felt like people were ganging up on you? Perhaps more to the point, have you ever had others gang up with you, on your side? I remember both but I’ll tell you about the latter. During college, I worked as security at a retail establishment. One day I saw someone put sander-disks in his bag. I called my boss and hurried out, catching up with the man and his buddy as they walked into the mall. My confront technique undoubtedly needed work. It’s not that I was impolite. I was just stupid. I was 5’4” and significantly overweight, and they were several inches taller and fit, and after inviting them to return to the store with me, I turned my back on them. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
To my shock, as I was turning, they were turning with me. Then I saw why. Three of the biggest, strongest guys in the store were standing behind me. This is the way things are for Jesus. He has three witnesses who have His legal back: the water, the blood, and the Spirit. Three good, strong proofs. As I started considering this idea this morning, I really couldn’t come up with an idea about what “the water and the blood” meant. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to research it before I came to the hospital to sit with Dad.
One possibility is that it refers to His crucifixion. When the soldier pierced His side with the spear, water and blood flowed out separately, a proof of death – therefore a witness of death. Another possibility comes to mind this afternoon. The water may refer to His life, and the blood to His death. By examining His life and His death, we find evidence of who He is, and He then stands behind us in the same way that the water, the blood, and the Spirit stand behind Him. It would have made a big difference if I’d known that the three big guys were behind me. I wonder how it would change my outlook on life if I really believed that Jesus had my back, and the water, the blood, and Spirit had His.
Have you ever felt like people were ganging up on you? Perhaps more to the point, have you ever had others gang up with you, on your side? I remember both but I’ll tell you about the latter. During college, I worked as security at a retail establishment. One day I saw someone put sander-disks in his bag. I called my boss and hurried out, catching up with the man and his buddy as they walked into the mall. My confront technique undoubtedly needed work. It’s not that I was impolite. I was just stupid. I was 5’4” and significantly overweight, and they were several inches taller and fit, and after inviting them to return to the store with me, I turned my back on them. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
To my shock, as I was turning, they were turning with me. Then I saw why. Three of the biggest, strongest guys in the store were standing behind me. This is the way things are for Jesus. He has three witnesses who have His legal back: the water, the blood, and the Spirit. Three good, strong proofs. As I started considering this idea this morning, I really couldn’t come up with an idea about what “the water and the blood” meant. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to research it before I came to the hospital to sit with Dad.
One possibility is that it refers to His crucifixion. When the soldier pierced His side with the spear, water and blood flowed out separately, a proof of death – therefore a witness of death. Another possibility comes to mind this afternoon. The water may refer to His life, and the blood to His death. By examining His life and His death, we find evidence of who He is, and He then stands behind us in the same way that the water, the blood, and the Spirit stand behind Him. It would have made a big difference if I’d known that the three big guys were behind me. I wonder how it would change my outlook on life if I really believed that Jesus had my back, and the water, the blood, and Spirit had His.
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