The apostle John wrote, "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. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. 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." (1 John 5:6-9.)

Some believe these words in John’s epistle to be the most difficult of all the passages. In both the Greek and English, John’s writings have a simplicity to style and ease of meaning. But even here these are simple and great truths found elsewhere in the New Testament. There are three that bear record in heaven and three on earth.

The main difficulties here are as follows: 1) the insertion of a passage, verse 7, that is doubted by many conservative scholars, and 2) what is meant by Jesus coming by water and blood. I want to discuss the second of these and the role of the three that bear witness on earth---water, blood and Spirit.

Why did John say, "This is He that came by water and blood"? When and in what way did Jesus "come" this way? Our minds almost immediately go to the scene of the cross when Jesus was dying. When the soldier pierced his side, blood and water flowed out. (John 19:34.) However, this is at the end of his life on earth. This water would simply be the water around the heart that flowed out when the heart was pierced. The order, blood and water, is also different from what John later recorded.

Jesus began his public ministry after being baptized by John in the River Jordan. On that occasion, the Spirit of God in the form of a dove descended upon Him. When John the Baptist saw this, he knew that this One was the Messiah, the Son of God. (John 1:32-34.) Jesus came by water in that he began his ministry by being immersed in water. His mission was completed by his death on the cross. There he shed his blood for mankind. The order in which John named water and blood marks the beginning and ending of Jesus’ work on earth for our redemption.

This water and blood that John named must be something significant. Jesus came by water and blood. In addition, these three on earth, water, blood and the Spirit, form a "trinity" like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in heaven. There is a bond that cannot be broken. They agree in one. Removing one of the three would be equivalent to trying to remove one of the members of the Godhead. These three---water, blood and Spirit, testify concerning God’s Son. This is John’s point. They bear record that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus’ ministry began with his baptism by John and ended with his death on the cross for man’s redemption. The Holy Spirit was involved from start to finish. Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. The dove represented the coming of the Spirit of God upon Him. He gave the Spirit to his apostles to give them power to accomplish mighty deeds. The Spirit was involved in every miracle, in every step along the way of inspiration, in every conversion, in his dwelling in the lives of believers, in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. There is no time or place where the Spirit of God did not work.

The Bible tells us the manner in which the Savior came into the world. We know that he lived in eternity with the Father before his birth.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness. . . And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5, 14.)

Isaiah foretold the manner of Jesus’ birth 750 years before it occurred. He wrote, "A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel." (Isa. 7:14.) Matthew recorded the fulfillment this way: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matt. 1:18-23.)

Jesus’ birth was not by the will of man. His birth cannot be explained in physical terms alone. His birth was an incarnation of a Divine Being. I am aware that earthly rulers and kings have often claimed that they were likewise born of a virgin. Many who wanted the worship of men as if one were a god made such claims. But the proof of such a birth is the life that follows. Only the life of Jesus demonstrates the truthfulness of the claim that he was born of the Spirit of God. It bears the marks of a divine life.

Concerning Jesus’ unique birth, we have: 1) the words of prophets years before his birth, 2) the word of angels, 3) the word of inspired writers like Matthew, Luke and John, 4) the agreement of Mary and Joseph, 5) the Word of God. The Holy Spirit bore witness concerning his birth. The Holy Spirit caused his unique birth. The Holy Spirit guided the writers to reveal the manner of Jesus’ birth. The Holy Spirit is an inseparable part of the "Trinity" in heaven, as well as an indispensable member of the three that bear record on earth. The special manner of Jesus’ birth is demanded by who he is. If he were just a man, then it would have been unnecessary and impossible.

John the Baptist immersed Jews in the Jordan River. His baptism was one of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mark 1:4.) John’s work was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus and for entrance into His Kingdom. During this time of John immersing many Jews, Jesus came unto him requesting baptism.

If ever there was an occasion to refuse to baptize someone, this was it. Jesus’ life was free from sin. He had no sins to wash away; none to confess; none to turn away from. Yet, at Jesus’ insistence, John baptized him to fulfill all righteousness. When Jesus came forth from the water, he saw the heavens rent open and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. A voice from heaven said, This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. (Matt. 3:13-17.)

Jesus came in the likeness of an Old Testament priest cleansing himself before beginning his service for the people. He began as an obedient child following the desires of his father. He, along with John, acted to "fulfill all righteousness." He wanted to demonstrate his obedience and submission to God. He Jesus submitted to being immersed in water when he had no sins, how much more do we need to obey the Gospel. Jesus came by water, but not by water only.

The Hebrew writer said, "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Heb. 9:22.)

"He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:27-28.)

"Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will." (Heb. 13:20-21.)

"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, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (1 Peter 1:18-20.)

Blood came forth from all the wounds of Jesus. Five distinct wounds from the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus are: the penetration of the thorns into his head, the perforation of the hands and feet by the nails, the laceration of the back with the whip, the contusion or bleeding under the skin caused by the blows to his face, and the incision by the soldier’s spear into his side.

"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:35.) Jesus died just before the soldier pierced his side. Jesus came by blood in that he came to die and ended his ministry by this sacrifice. Jesus is described as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8.)

The Spirit, water and blood played a special role in the life of Jesus. But these three on earth still work to unite lost man to God. It is not by water only, but by Spirit, water and blood.

Our new birth of the Spirit. Recall the discussion of Jesus with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus could not understand anything but a physical birth. Jesus said, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6.)

When John wrote about the Word becoming flesh, he also noted something special about second birth. He said, "He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13.)

Just as Jesus’ birth was not of the flesh, nor of the will of man, ours is a birth of the Spirit. It is a work of God upon and in the heart of man. A good analogy is the germination of seed planted in the ground. A farmer prepares the soil and plants the seed. However, there is one thing that he does not do. He cannot make the seed germinate and spring forth. How that happens, he knows not. (Mark 4:27.) The rebirth of man’s spirit is a work of the Spirit of God. Man cannot enter there; he should not seek to manipulate or control such with his puny power. Conversion involves more than water, more than blood and water; it includes the Spirit, water and blood.

Our new birth of water. This simply means our immersion in water, as Jesus experienced it by being immersed in the Jordan.

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3-7.)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15-16.)

"And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16.)

"The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 3:21.)

Cleansed by the blood. Paul described the process of the second birth to the Romans. He used a remarkable phrase when referring to what happens when one is baptized. The phrase is: "Baptized into His death."

"Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3.)

This probably refers to two things: 1) the symbolism of the death, burial and resurrection, 2) the blood which cleanses us in baptism was shed in His death.

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:22.) The washing of the body refers to baptism; the sprinkling of the heart is the cleansing by the blood of Jesus. The Hebrew writer explained that Moses sprinkled the book of the Law, the furniture, and the people with blood. Everything used under the Law of Moses was sanctified by sprinkling it with blood. We are made pure by the blood of Christ.

His blood continues to cleanse us after baptism. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7.)

There are three that bear record on earth: the water, blood and the Spirit. These three are prominent in Jesus’ life and in our own redemption.