Water and Blood

Easter 6 – May 5, 2024

Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17

Water and blood – It is one of the themes in the Johanine books of the Bible. If you remember, it is only in the Gospel of John we are told that a centurion stabs Jesus in the side after it is discovered that he had died. From that wound came water and blood. Why John mentions this while none of the other gospel writers do and what he meant by it has been debated by scholars for centuries. While these scholars argue for their own explanation I suppose more than one of them could be true. We do know that this fact is important because in the Gospel of John we are told, “He who saw this has testified so that you may also believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth” (John 19:35).

Most scholars begin by understanding the water as a reference to baptism and the blood to the atoning death of Jesus. But which baptism, Jesus’ or ours? Does the blood represent Jesus' death or is it in reference to the blood of Jesus in the Eucharistic meal? Or is the answer all of the above? Some strengthen their explanation by pointing to the water that Jesus turned into wine at the beginning of John’s gospel. There it is water turned into wine – a foretaste of the feast to come – which becomes Jesus’ blood at the last supper. There is also another possible explanation that has nothing to do with the above. That John included this story in the gospel to dispel the heretical Docetist argument that Jesus was not truly human he only looked human. By telling us that water and blood flowed from Jesus’ side after he died is proof that he was actually flesh and blood. That is why the emphasis on it being true. 

Although, it may not matter what John meant by including this fact about Jesus’ death that no one else had – for us the meaning can be all of them. That is what makes the Bible a living book. The Holy Spirit uses the words to guide our lives. It certainly is a reminder of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and an example of how we are to respond to Jesus’ gift. That response, for John, is love. To love God and our neighbors. John wants us to understand that we have been changed. Our old sinful self has been destroyed in the waters of baptism and we have been clothed in God’s forgiving love. Which means that we are unable to do anything else except to love others as God loves us. 

John also reminds us that we have not chosen God – God chose us. Left to ourselves we would not be able to live out the command of love. Since we have been chosen for the task we are able to do it. We do not do that task alone. We do it together as the Body of Christ – the blood and water of the world. That is, we are called to bring God’s saving love into the world for all people. Since we are chosen we also have been equipped with all that we need to fulfill our task. Those gifts are the things that God has freely given to you – yourselves, your time, and your possessions. All gifts of a loving God who gave his only son for your life and now calls you into love for God, each other, and your neighbor.

Christ has Risen! Alleluia!