Washing in the Blood and the Water

Jesus is dead on the cross. Just to be sure, one soldier pierced His side; blood and water flowed. John writes to the truth of this testimony. John swears an oath to this – the fluids pour out.

Why was John so adamant? Medically, it appears to be a ruptured heart, as the spear pierced deeply. But is there more to this story?

Jesus was heard to cry out; “It is finished.” This is a special season where the bodies must be removed from the cross and buried before sunset. In keeping with religious practices of the day, a body must not be left on the cross. The body must come down.

If the criminal isn’t dead, to hurry the process, legs are broken. It helps rush the inevitable. At this point though, Jesus has already died. None of His bones were broken which was in keeping with earlier writings, where John wrote in verse 19:26; None of His bones would be broken.

Still, just to be sure, a spear was thrust into Jesus’ side from which blood and water flowed, showing the truth of that. John saw it. He wrote about it. He was emphatic about the sentences he wrote, stating it testifies to the truth of what he saw.

For a historical testimony – Jesus actually died. A genuine corpse hung on the cross – that’s the written proof of the death of Jesus. Jesus physically died and John swore to the truth of that. He writes, so you too will believe. When he wrote about the blood and the water, this is the medical verification of the truth of Jesus’ death. Blood poured from the heart. Water poured from the sac around the heart, which is what happens in a death of this kind, where fluid collects around the heart after death.

When pierced, John doesn’t use a diagnosis of broken heart or sac of water. We don’t want to proffer an idea that isn’t biblical. The bible doesn’t state a ruptured heart but shows the symbolism of the moment. Instead, what flows from the rupture.

The bible speaks a lot to the blood of Jesus. Blood means life and atonement, right from when Adam and Eve sinned and blood was shed to clothe them. Further along, blood was painted on doorposts to protect the Israelites during the exodus movement. The temple had rivers of blood; blood which poured out for 1500 years.

God was showing sin costs a life; a price must be paid. Bulls and goats could cover but were never able to make a full payment. The pierced side changed that. 1500 years of ineffective washing away of sin until the perfect sacrifice.

Earlier, John had stated; “Behold the Lamb who takes away the sin (John 1:29). At the cross the Lamb is slain. John sees in that moment, the one and only, final sacrifice. The moment every sin is paid in full.

During old testament days millions of animals were sacrificed. Generation after generation and yet none took away sin permanently for it was impossible to take away sin until finally; one Man, one death and then the sacrifices could stop. For that was the moment every sin is paid in full.

The blood deals with your guilt. Your wrong is covered by that one sacrifice – that’s the first river from the side of Christ. And the water? The water is more than forgiveness (for that’s what the blood bought). It’s the transformation into the new life.   

Water flows for your new nature. Blood flows for your guilt. Blood pays the debt for what you’ve done. Water brings new life as it renews the heart. The heart of stone turned into a heart of flesh. One cancels and one releases. You need both.

You can’t preach on the blood only, for one comes with the other; justification and regeneration. Blood first then water. Guilt dealt with then cleansing and new life. Both are gifts. Both flow from the open wound at His side.

And then what happens? Sin is forgiven but we are tired from the battle. The water is the renewal; the remaking from the inside, not to white-knuckle it on our own but to go through to our rest with Him who will not leave the job half done. The second river is for you; refreshment and new life – a new heart.

Blood and water are a theme running throughout the bible and once you’re aware of it you will see it. In Eden, rivers flowed. Sin comes and man was thrown out of the garden. In accepting the living water, man was brought back into paradise. The wounded side at the cross brings that flow into your life.

Eve, Adam’s bride, came from Adam’s side. Jesus’s open side is the bride purchased; washed in blood and water. The wounded side is the birthplace. The wounded side is the bride. When the priest came to the temple, he had to wash in both blood and water – a forerunner pointing the way to God. That is the miracle of the death of Jesus. Both together – sacrifice and cleansing in one.

Let the blood cover your guilt this day and let the water wash you clean. Only His wound can do it. Both came from His side. This is grace poured out for you. We take the bread and the blood; His body and His life-force.

God used that wound to open hearts from death to grace, forgiveness and love. Cancelled debt isn’t enough. You need the bill paid to be washed clean – a stream that cancels debt and washes at the same time. Crushed by guilt and exhausted by work – from one wound both sides are taken care of.

You don’t need to stay guilty, to strain for cleanliness. Blood without water means striving to stay clean and pure. You need both for your record to be cleansed, for the washing away in forgiveness. John’s eyewitness testimony fulfilled scripture and needs no embellishment. So, let us take now of the bread and the cup, for you are forgiven and washed clean, made new and whole.