1 John 5:5 – 8 “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
Nothing in Jesus’s life was ever wasted or unnecessary. Even though we have very few details about Jesus’s life between the time He was in the temple at age thirteen and the time He began His ministry, we can rest assured that God was using those silent years to prepare Jesus for three years of intense activity. During those three years, Jesus discipled many who would later go and change the world. At the beginning of Jesus’s ministry, He went to His cousin, John the Baptist, who was baptizing at one of the fords of the Jordan River.
Matthew describes the scene in Matthew 3:13 – 17 “At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened,d and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Why did Jesus have to be baptized? Couldn’t God have sent the Holy Spirit in some other form? John was baptizing people as a sign that they had repented of their sins and were dying to sin and starting new lives of righteousness. Jesus submitted Himself to baptism as an act of obedience to His Heavenly Father and as a sign to believers that we must die to sin before we can begin a new spiritual life. It is the water of baptism that is referred to in 1 John 5:6. The blood referred to is the blood Jesus shed on the cross at Calvary when He died for the sins of the world. The Spirit referred to is the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Jesus when John baptized Him.
Here John is emphasizing that there are three reliable witnesses in heaven and three reliable witnesses on earth. Why three witnesses? The Biblical principle of witnesses was established in Deuteronomy 19:15 “A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Throughout the rest of the Bible, people are constantly called upon to act as witnesses. Three witnesses was considered a minimum if a man was to be sentenced to death. There are three heavenly witnesses and three earthly witnesses – twice as many as might be needed. But since Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, it is fitting to have witnesses from both heaven and earth.
God is never going to contradict Himself. Some Christians want to neglect studying the Old Testament, forgetting that this was all the Bible that Jesus had. Throughout the Old Testament, God was trying to prepare mankind for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. But even when Jesus came and fulfilled innumerable prophecies, many religious leaders attempted to argue rather than asking God for guidance and enlightenment.
The testimonies are sure and God’s Word is certain. God’s Word is settled in heaven forever. The question for us is simple: will we believe?
PRAYER: Father God, we believe. Help our unbelief! Open our eyes that we might see what You are trying to teach us. And help all who read this experience Your unfailing love. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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