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John 13:8-10
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me…

Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

and immediately blood and water flowed out
The flow of blood and water has been interpreted both medically and theologically. Medically, it suggests the rupture of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, indicating that Jesus was truly dead. Theologically, the blood and water symbolize the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism, representing purification and the new covenant. This imagery connects to 1John 5:6-8, which speaks of the Spirit, the water, and the blood as witnesses. The immediate flow signifies the completeness and finality of Jesus' sacrificial death, fulfilling His mission to atone for sin.

• The verse opens with a contrast to what the execution squad had planned: rather than breaking Jesus’ legs (John 19:31-33), a different action is taken.

• This preserves the prophetic picture of the Passover lamb: “You must not break any of its bones” (Exodus 12:46). John will later note that “Not one of His bones will be broken” (John 19:36; cf.Psalm 34:20).

• The shift underscores God’s sovereign control; human plans yield to divine prophecy even amid brutality.

• Roman soldiers were experts in crucifixion; their task was to make certain a victim was dead before leaving the site (Mark 15:44-45).

• That “one” soldier steps forward adds eyewitness specificity, preparing the way for John’s sworn testimony in verse 35.

• Individual responsibility for the act highlights that Jesus’ death was a historical event, not a myth or collective legend.

• The deliberate thrust fulfillsZechariah 12:10: “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced,” a prophecy John himself cites two verses later (John 19:37).

• Physically, the spear insured death—no mere swoon or faint. Spiritually, the piercing reveals the cost of redemption, echoingIsaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions.”

• The side wound also recalls Eve taken from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:21-22); from the opened side of the second Adam flows the life of a new people.

• The adverb points to an unmistakable, observable result. There was no lag time that could be dismissed or explained away.

• John emphasizes speed because eyewitness detail strengthens the certainty of Jesus’ actual death, grounding later resurrection appearances in fact rather than rumor.

• John records two distinct streams. Physically, this matches the separation of blood and clear fluid that follows a fatal chest wound, confirming death.

• Theologically:

– Blood speaks of atonement (Hebrews 9:22;Ephesians 1:7).

– Water speaks of cleansing and new life (Ezekiel 36:25-27;John 7:38).

• Together they picture the complete salvation Jesus provides: forgiveness and purification. John writes later, “This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ” (1 John 5:6).

• The flow is “out”—grace moves outward from the Savior to all who will believe.

John 19:34 presents a literal, prophetic, and deeply theological moment. A lone soldier’s spear insured Jesus’ death, fulfilling Scripture to the letter. The immediate flow of blood and water verified that the sacrifice was real and simultaneously illustrated the twin blessings of His cross—atoning blood for forgiveness and cleansing water for new life.

And forthwith came there out blood and water.--"Various physiological explanations have been given of this fact, such as--(1) that the lance pierced the pericardium, which contained a small quantity of watery lymph, which immediately flowed out; and also the heart, from which the blood flowed, the actual death taking place at this moment; (2) that the physical death of Christ resulted from rupture of the heart, and that the cavities of the heart and the surrounding-vessels contained a watery fluid; (3) that decomposition of the blood in the corpse had taken place, the solid matter being separated from the fluid, so that it would appear to be blood mixed with water. (Comp. Notes on1John 5:5-6.)

Whatever solution we adopt, it is clear that death had taken place some time previously (John 19:30), and that, while we cannot say which physical explanation is the true one, there is within the region of natural occurrences quite sufficient to account for the impression on the mind of St. John which he records here. We have to think of the disciple whom Jesus loved looking at the crucified and pierced body of his Lord, and remembering the picture in later years, and telling that there flowed from that pierced side both blood and water.

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