[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III



Water and Blood



On the Cross, when one of the soldiers pierced the Lord Jesus’ side with a spear, "immediately blood and water came out" (John.19: 34). What is the Divine wisdom thereof?
From His side blood came out to give us the meaning of redemption. But how do we receive this redemption?
We receive it through water in baptism,

. Therefore, the emergence of both water and Blood from the side of Christ showed us the means of redemption. We receive the Blood of Christ which purifies us from every sin through water. How beautiful it is when, in the Eucharist, we blend the Blood with water!
St. John the Beloved, who witnessed the incident of the coming out of the blood and water, clarified this subject when he said: "And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood,. and these three agree as one" (1John.5: 8). This verse explains the redemption, we receive.
Redemption was given to us by Blood (the Blood of Christ) and we receive the merit of this Blood through the birth of water and the Spirit. Therefore the three elements: Blood, water and the Spirit, gather in baptism.