Nov 26 – THREE WITNESSES !

“And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:8)

Here Apostle Paul talks about three things that bear witness – Spirit, Water and Blood. All these bear witness about purification, through which one may become eligible to enter into the presence of God.

In the days of Old Testament, if someone were to enter into the presence of King, he needs to do many rituals to purify himself. The Scripture mentions about three types of purification. In the Book of Numbers, chapter 19, we read about purification by water, which indicates bodily cleansing.

Purification by blood, indicates the cleansing of the inner man, or the cleansing of the soul. For the inner man to establish a relationship with God, it is essential that the soul should be cleansed.

The Scripture also talks about the third type of purification, which is by the Spirit. We read in Isaiah 4:4, When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning…”

When Lord Jesus ministered on earth, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…(John 13:5). Even today, Water signifies Baptism, which is the covenant that we make with our Lord.

After washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus shed out His blood on the Cross of Calvary. And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Thereafter on the day of Pentecost, the power of the Holy Spirit was poured out on all those who were assembled in the upper room. All the three types of purification, by Water, by Blood and by The Spirit, are all important and essential for the children of God.

If Jesus had not offered himself and shed His blood on the Cross, as an atonement for our sins, none of us would be worthy to receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts. That is why in the Old Testament, we read only about occasional visitation of the Holy Spirit, and not about permanently residing in the hearts of people.

But we are cleansed and become eligible to receive the Holy Spirit within us, because of the precious blood that Jesus Christ, shed on the cross. It is only because Jesus poured out His Blood for us, that we receive His life in us. And the God who is in Spirit, anoints us with His Holy Spirit. What a glorious experience to have the Life of Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit, within us! Dear children of God, commit yourselves to purification.

Verse for further meditation: “…for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9,10).