Afterwords -- the water and the blood
"These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:14)
"But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." (John 19:34)
October 12, 2023
Dear friends,
When we get blood on our clothing, it stains the fabric red, and sometimes it's difficult to get it clean again. We'd much rather spill water on our clothes than blood. Medically, when the blood of another person is spattered on us we may face the risk of a transmitted disease. In the Old Testament the blood of people, and of animals killed, rendered people unclean before the Lord. Blood was considered to be defiling.
The exception to this was the sprinkling of sacrificial blood from a pure and holy offering before God. This would render a worshiper clean and holy before God (e.g., Ex 24:8). This is why the Scripture says, "they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The blood (red) makes the person clean (white) like water would. Or rather, like no water on earth could.
As I have been reading the gospel of John, I noticed how many references there are to water, and how Jesus' work was related in some way to water. Here's a summary of those passages:
ch 1 -- John baptizing in the river Jordan; and Jesus' baptism.
ch 2 -- Six stone water pots, water turned to wine.
ch 3 -- being born of water and the Spirit.
ch 4 -- the woman at the well of Jacob; living waters.
ch 5 -- healing beside the pool of Bethesda.
ch 6 -- Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee.
ch 7 -- Jesus gives living water, "Come to me and drink".
ch 9 -- blind man washing in pool of Siloam; sight restored.
ch 13 -- water in a basin to wash disciples' feet.
John's final observation is in 19:34... "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." (See also 1 Jn 5:6-8.)
Whatever medical meaning this last verse may have relating to Christ's death, one thing seems apparent to me -- John understands the bloody death of Jesus to be in fact the water that heals us. Christ's death brings new life, washes away uncleanness, quenches deepest thirst, and gives eternal life. The blood of Jesus does not stain or defile but renders us alive and clean in God's sight.
Sometimes people say that Christianity focuses too much on the death of Christ, that it is a "bloody" religion. Yet, Christ's death, violent and unjust as it was (on one level), was the means by which God reconciled us to himself forever. As brutal and bloody was the death dealt out to God's Son upon the cross, yet it was he himself who purposefully laid down his life (John 10:17-18 -- his life was not taken from him). So, from a human perspective the cross appeared to be meaningless bloodshed. But from God's perspective, and in his predetermined plan (Acts 2:23), it was blood shed as a holy sacrifice for unholy sinners. His blood cleanses us.
Related to that, water is life. Over 70% of the earth's surface is covered with oceans and seas. Through the marvel of evaporation, temperature change, and condensation our earth is watered by rain. God has blessed us with fresh water in lakes, rivers, groundwaters, and springs. We delight in seeing waterfalls and fountains. We drink water and bathe in it. We can only live about three days without water. I believe the Lord would have us think often about these images from his creation, so that we might always have before us redemption truths about the life-giving, thirst-quenching, guilt-cleansing power of Christ's death...
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates... And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." (Revelation 22:14, 17)
MISCELLANEOUS.
-- John Piper explains the great work of God in creating rain.
-- "Embodiment is the end of all the ways of God. There is no pallid, anemic 'beyond' for the soul. We look for a real city." (S. Lewis Johnson)
-- "Genuine morality demands not just mercy but the reality of punishment." (Hannah Meyers on Hamas and Israel)
-- "Time is a form of existence given us by grace." (Abraham Kuyper) Read "Time and Eternity" excerpts.
-- Bible reading guides uploaded, now through 1 & 2 Samuel.
-- How to pray Biblical virtues for your children and grandchildren. 31 Ways here.
FINAL QUOTE.
"One drop of Christ's blood is worth more than heaven and earth." (Martin Luther)
That's it for this week!
Sandy
Image credit. Photo above by Rohit Morwani on Unsplash. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.