“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” (1 John 5:6 KJV).
What in the world can a person do about sin? Nothing! Jesus was the only One that could do anything about it, and He has already finished the job. Now what does the Scripture mean here when it says that Jesus came by water and that He came by blood? We need to find the answer from God’s Word.
Ephesians 5:26: “That He might sanctify and cleans it with the washing of the water by the word.” That is referring to Christ, as mentioned in the previous verse.
Notice that the word is linked to washing or cleansing. Water is linked to washing and cleansing. Jesus is the Word, and He came because of the Word. The Old Testament prophets prophesied about the Word that God put in the earth. Look further at John 15:3. Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
We can conclude from our Master’s words that the Word is what cleans you up. The Word is what fixes you up. Now just in case you still don’t get that, let’s look at Psalm 119:9. The question is asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
We have seen the Word is the cleansing agent that cleanses us from the effects of sin, and makes our path straight. When the Scripture uses the term water, it is referring to the Word.
So then we can understand 1 John 5 when it says this is he who came by water. Jesus came by the cleansing agent. He came by that cleansing agent that cleans us up, grows us up, turns our life around, and sets our feet on solid ground.
Jesus came not only by water, but he also came by blood. The one to save mankind would have to have blood untainted by sin. Only Jesus could do that. He was the only one who had sinless blood. And He got the job done.
It was His blood that was shed on that cross that washed our sin away.
So, yes, He came by the water—the washing of water by the Word of God. And He came by blood—the blood that saves us, heals us, preserves us, keeps us with a sound mind, and delivers us from all danger.
We are clean through the Word of God, and we are saved by the Blood of Jesus!
Scripture References: Isaiah 53:5; 1 John 5:1-21
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).