1 John 5:6 – 8: Water and Blood; Obedience and Love

I John 5:6-8 “This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by 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.”

When we testify in a courtroom, it is important that we tell the truth. This is why we are required to take an oath before we get on the stand! John tells us here that the Holy Spirit is truth. The Spirit tells us the truth about Jesus Christ, and we don’t have to question or doubt what the Holy Spirit tells us, because the Spirit is truth.

So, exactly what does the Spirit testify to? It testifies that Jesus Christ came by water and blood. This can be a little confusing, for the language of John’s day doesn’t always translate well into our language today. But John was probably referring to Jesus’ baptism and His death.

Water Baptism

When we think of Christ’s baptism, we can remember that Jesus lived a life of obedience. Baptism did not suddenly turn Jesus into the Messiah – He was the Messiah from birth. He was baptized because that is how all believers identify themselves, and He wanted to set an example of obedience. We must strive to follow His example, not only in baptism, but in all things.

When we think of Christ’s death, we remember His great love for us, and His sacrifice on the cross. Because of what He did, we can live as children of God, as heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. These two things sum up the Christian life: believing in Jesus and what He did for us, and living a life of obedience to God.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your Son’s death, which allows me to truly live. Thank You for His life, which provided the example of how to live.
Amen

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.