Introduction.
During this special season, I thought it would be a grand idea to focus on a portion of the Bible that emphasizes the power of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This Blog, in particular, concentrates on the Spirit, Water, and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Among hundreds of other things, the fact that the three persons of the Triune Godhead always agree is one of my favorite things about the Holy Trinity. There is a powerful unity that is indivisible. In this Blog, our attention zooms in on the three in heaven and earth that attest to Jesus' faithful fulfillment of the law’s physical and spiritual requirements as the atoning sacrifice for sin.
3 Bear Record in Heaven and 3 Bear Witness on Earth.
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.**
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.**
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. I John 5:6 to 10 KJV. **Bold and underline added for emphasis.
Additional Scriptural Support for the Spirit, Water, and Blood.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:12 to 15 NKJV
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:23, 24 NKJV
Revelatory Explanation.
Verses 6 to 9 of 1st John, the 5th Chapter, are scriptural proof that Jesus was the qualified agent for our redemption. God has a master plan for humanity’s rescue from sin. Jesus met those qualifications. According to God’s statutes and precepts, a physical sacrifice was required. This means that the sacrifice for sin has to be made of flesh and blood and without blemish. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice.
How the Spirit, Water, and Blood Bear Witness.
As we return to verse 6, we see that Jesus came by water, blood, and the Spirit. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in water [the Jordan River], where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. See SSS Jesus came into the earth realm through the virgin birth, at which time blood was shed. Mary’s water broke before and/or during Jesus’ birth, showing He came by water. Blood was shed through either the placenta, the cutting of the umbilical cord, or both. Jesus Himself was made of blood and water. He was not only flesh and blood, but Jesus was also conceived of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus truly came by blood and water, as I John 5:6 recounts. When the soldier pierced Jesus in the side, out came blood and water. And Jesus’ blood was shed before, during, and after His death. They say that the garment that was used to bury Jesus in the tomb [the Talmud] had Jesus’ blood on it. All of this says Jesus came through the water, the blood, and the Spirit.
Recap of How the Spirit, Water, and Blood Bear Witness to the Authenticity of Jesus’ Human, Yet Divine State.
The Holy Spirit:
- Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. See Matthew 1:18.
- The Holy Spirit bore witness at Jesus’ baptism by appearing and resting upon Jesus like a dove. See Mark 1:9 to 11.
The Water:
- Jesus’ virgin birth testifies to His manhood and divinity. See Luke 1:27
- Mary’s water broke before and/or during Jesus’ birth into the earth realm. See Matthew 1:18 to 2:15.
- Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan before starting His ministry on earth. See Matthew 3:13
The Blood:
- A crown of thorns was placed on Jesus’ head and blood ran down his face. See Matthew 27:29
- Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the cross on Calvary’s Hill. See Matthew 17:23:35 and Mark 15:21 to 27.
We have the full picture by looking at the blood and water (in the above paragraph) from both the physical (Jesus’ birth as a human being, while maintaining His divinity and coming through the water breaking) and the spiritual (Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River). Jesus was totally qualified to be the atoning sacrifice for sin.
This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”. II Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
The Old Testament is a symbol of what was to come. It was and is a type, shadow, and sign of what will happen. For the former always reveals the latter. The Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun because it was already introduced to us as a precursor of the signs that reveal, in other words, “cause revelation.”
Additional Supporting Scriptures on Jesus as the Perfect Sacrifice.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:14, 15 KJV
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: I Peter 1:18, 19 KJV
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:12 to 14 NKJV
What the Holy Spirit, Water, and Blood Represent: Signs and Symbols.
Symbols of the Holy Spirit: He represents a lot, but we’ll start with “truth.” You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He is also the textbook example of patience, peace, guidance, comfort, empowerment, and more.
The Holy Spirit Is and Represents:
- Truth
- Comforter
- Gentleness
- Guide
- Restrainer
- Teacher
The Water is a Sign Of: Cleansing. Water is used to wash and clean. Water’s symbol is H2O. That stands for 1 part Hydrogen and 2 parts Oxygen. We need oxygen to live, so it’s also a sign of life. Jesus cleansed us, gave us new life, and eternal life. Through Jesus’ life on earth, and His death, burial, and resurrection, we have eternal life and life more abundantly before we leave earth.
Water Represents:
- Washing dirt off
- Cleansed from sin
- New Life
- Eternal Life
The Blood is a Sign Of: Blood represents life, death, guilt, and redemption. We all know that there’s life in the blood. If a person loses too much blood, they can die. Depending on the circumstances, some people lose blood when they die. Forensic staff use blood to determine the guilt of a suspect. Guilt or innocence can be determined by blood. And Jesus redeemed us from sin and the curse as the perfect sacrificial Lamb. Blood transfusions can cause healing and health for those suffering from blood loss or a low blood count.
Blood Represents:
- Healing
- Life and Death
- Sacrifice
- Testifies on our behalf
Revelation and Explication of Verse 8.
The earth bears witness to the record in heaven because this plan of Salvation was first conceived in the mind of God. God is a Spirit. He is the Author of Salvation. The Plan of Redemption whereby Jesus comes to earth and rescues us from sin and eternal separation from God was not a last-minute, happenstance. This was first planned and done in the spirit realm [God is a Spirit], and then the earth bore witness to the birth of Jesus. Heaven already knew who He was, but people on earth needed to see Jesus as God in flesh, the holy Son of God, with eternal weight as a King, and the High Priest for our souls give His life as a ransom for all mankind. This is all connected to sin’s penalty, which requires a debt payment. Jesus is totally God and totally man. Other words, Jesus was the embodiment of God on earth. Jesus always was and is the second Person in the Triune Godhead. See Romans 6:23 and Hebrews 9:21 to 23.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 KJV
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Hebrews 9:21 to 23 KJV
Flesh and blood can’t give you this revelation about Jesus being the Son of God. It can only be divinely given. Remember when Jesus said to Peter, upon this rock I’ll build my church and the gates of hell? Only the Holy Spirit can give divine revelation and interpretation. See I Corinthians 2:9 to 16 and Ephesians 1:17 to 19.
Summary.
Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of Redemption: kinsman redeemer, blood sacrifice, sacrifice without blemish, and lived out God’s true intention of the law by exhibiting God’s love, mercy, and kindness. Thereby making Him the fulfillment of the law. Because of all this, the animal sacrifices are no longer needed. Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin.
Blessings,
Tanda
Attribution:
Blog Cover Image: Jesus praying with John the Baptist. Obtained on 4/18/2025. Retrieved from: https://bible.art/p/yfxR2pItnxbxTBg5QoDV/jesus-praying-with-john-the-baptist-next
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