Irrefutable witnesses
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. 1 John 5:7-9 CSB
From the text, John provides irrefutable witnesses. In verses 7 and 8, there are three components all testifying of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who physically died on the cross in order that believers can experience victory over sin and be deemed as conquerors over it: “the Spirit, the water (Jesus being baptized at the beginning of His ministry), and the blood (His crucifixion on the cross; the ‘end’ of His ministry).” According to the Mosaic Law, one witness is not enough. “A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15). All three work together “in agreement” to disprove the false teachers claims that Jesus Christ was not physically present on earth. Jesus, being fully man and fully God is a key pivotal truth that every believer must ascribe to. Not only that, but it is also a truth that is encouraging, for believers have a Savior who can empathize with every aspect of humanity, as seen in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” John, like all the apostles and hundreds of people that saw Jesus after His death, testified of Christ being physically present. In Jewish law during this time, a witness’ testimony was always necessary in any legal case and was taken very seriously. John states here that “if we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that He has given about His Son.” If human testimony is so highly valued, then John is saying here, how much MORE valuable is God’s testimony, the Creator of all things, the One who is Truth and is perfect. Therefore, we can claim that the Word of God that provides us of the testimony of the ministry of Jesus Christ assures us that His saving death and resurrection are the ultimate proof that change lives.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
