Verse
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross — not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
Thought
Jesus was God with us every step of his human life. The Holy Spirit is confirmation of this. He was conceived by the Spirit. The Spirit was present at his baptism. The Spirit led him with power into and out of his temptation in the wilderness. The Spirit was upon him as he entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from the Isaiah scroll. The Spirit led him in his ministry and he had the Spirit’s influence without limit. The Spirit led him to rejoice and praise God.
The Spirit filled him as he debated his accusers and the Spirit empowered his resurrection from the dead. On Jesus’ ascension into heaven, he poured out the Spirit on the day of Pentecost upon his disciples and gave the gift of the Spirit’s indwelling to each person baptized and he poured out his Spirit upon us when we became his followers. Jesus is revealed as God’s Son at his baptism, but he was God’s Son at his conception in the womb of Mary.
He was also God’s Son in ministry and proclaimed God’s Son at the Transfiguration. He was God’s Son before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod. He was recognized as God’s Son on the Cross. And he was clearly identified as God’s Son with power by his resurrection from the dead. So John reminds us that the three witnesses show Jesus as God’s Son: the water (his baptism), the blood (his crucifixion), and the Spirit (present at every step of the journey). The Spirit confirms the testimony of God, eye witnesses, Jesus’ self-declaration, and Jesus’ earthly ministry!
Prayer
O Father, I believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Father, I believe that you have confirmed his identity as God with us and the Spirit has demonstrated his identity through every significant event in his life. I believe, Almighty God, in Jesus Christ, your Son, my Savior, Israel’s Messiah and the world’s Lord. In his name I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
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