S140P6 – The power of the blood: the water and the Spirit have witnessed

1 Jn. 5:6-10

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood.  And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.  Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.  Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

The Bible gives us a running theme in scripture regarding the confirmation of testimony.  No criminal charge could be brought unless there was evidence from at least two witnesses. [Deut. 19:15]  A murderer could be put to death for his crime on witness testimony, but there had to be more than one. [Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6]  Jesus taught that any charge by a believer against a brother had to be brought with at least two witnesses. [Mt. 18:15-16]  Paul reiterated this in his writings to the Church in Corinth and to Timonthy. [2 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 Tim. 5:19]  When God sends his witnesses to prophesy in the last days, there will be two of them. [Rev. 11:3]  The pattern is clear.

This theme of witness testimony is mirrored in the fact that the blood of Christ carries the testimony and confirmation of the water and the Spirit.  These are the two witnesses of the power of his blood.  His baptism in the Jordan River saw him emerge from the water as the Holy Spirit alighted on him in the form of a dove.  In that moment, the Father spoke in affirmation of that witness testimony.  The Father himself bore witness and testified himself.  They all testify to the fact that the spilling of Christ’s blood was the spilling of the blood of the last passover lamb.  This was not the blood of some ordinary man.  The testimony of the water and the Spirit confirmed by the Father is about the real power of the Son’s blood.

When Jesus died, He committed his spirit to the Father. [Lk. 23:46]  When his side was pierced on the cross, the wound flowed with blood and water. [Jn. 19:34]  The blood of Christ does not stand alone and is not presented alone; it does not testify to itself without sufficient witnesses to confirm its efficacy and power.  This is by the Father’s design and only confirms the truth of Christ’s blood, and the signs are there for all to see.  If man’s testimony alone does not suffice, the testimony of the Spirit and the water confirmed by the Father should.  Father, thank You for the clear confirmation of the validity of Christ’s blood, and make this clear to those who have yet to believe.