Testimony for Jesus, the Son of God

1 John 5:6-8

John asks and answers his own questions in 1 John 5:5: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” But why should we believe Jesus is the Son of God? John goes on in the next three verses to speak of the various testimonies that witness to the fact Jesus really 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” (1 John 5:6-8). This testimony consists of three triads of witnesses.

✎ Testimony of Water and Blood

Jesus Christ is “He who came by water and blood” (5:6a). The identification of “water” and “blood” has been the subject of much debate over the centuries. Could this be referring to the water and blood associated with His birth by the virgin Mary? It is highly unlikely. The emphasis is Jesus “came”.  He was not born of water and blood. Some have held that it is the testimony of Christ’s death on the cross when water and blood flowed out of the wound inflicted in His side by the spear of the Roman soldier (John 19:34,35). Another common view which was promoted by John Calvin is the water represents the baptism of the believer, and the blood represents the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps the best idea is to associate the water with the baptism of Jesus where God and the Holy Spirit testified that he was the Son of God. And the blood represents the testimony of the cross.

✎ Testimony of the Spirit

These two events are not the only witnesses. “And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth” (5:6b). The Holy Spirit is identified in this context as the “Spirit of Truth” (also see John 14:17). Because He is the Spirit of truth, He is a reliable witness and His testimony is sure.

✎ Testimony in Heaven

The first witness who is in heaven is “the Father” (5:7a). Three times God the Father testified from Heaven that Jesus was His Son. First, God said at Jesus baptism, “this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Next God spoke from Heaven at the Transfiguration of Jesus. He said of Jesus to the three disciples, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt. 17:5b). Again, during the last week of Jesus life God spoke of Him from Heaven while Jesus was in the Temple (John 12:27-32).

The second witness in Heaven is “the Word” (5:7b). This is in reference to Jesus (John 1:1). The greatest testimony of all concerning Jesus was His resurrection from the dead and His subsequent ascension up to Heaven to be at the right hand of God. Some might object to having Jesus being His own witness, however He said, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going” (John 8:14).

The final witness in heaven is “the Holy Spirit” (5:7c). The Holy Spirit is associated with the conception of Jesus in Mary’s virgin womb (Mark 1:12; Luke 4:10). The Holy Spirit came from Heaven at Christ’s baptism in the form of a dove. The Spirit was with Jesus during His early ministry. Peter explained, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

The unity of these three witnesses is attested to by John: “these three are one” (5:7d).

✎ Testimony on Earth

In contrast and in conjunction with the testimony of the three in Heaven “there are three that bear witness on earth” (5:8a). The first of the three on earth is “the Spirit” (5:8b). John the Baptist knew by the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism that He was the Son of God. “And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:32-34). Since Spirit here in verse eight is on earth in contrast with the Holy Spirit in verse seven who is in heaven, John may be pointing to the work of the Holy Spirit who was sent to the apostles to guide them to all truth and remembrance (John 15:26; 16:13-15). We continue to have their Holy Spirit revealed testimony through the Gospel and the rest of the New Testament.

The second in this threefold witness on earth is “the water” (5:8c) of Christ’s baptism. Jesus was baptized by John after He answered him “permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15a).

The final testimony on earth was “the blood” (5:8d) of Christ which was shed on the cross. The miracles of the crucifixion bear testimony as to who He was. Many Old Testament Messianic prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus’ death on the cross. The miracles attested to who He was, such as, the three hours of darkness, the earthquake, the ripping down the middle of the veil of the Temple, and the resurrection of the saints from the dead. Add to this the testimony of Jesus’ seven sayings upon the cross. So powerful was this evidence of this witness that the Centurion said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).

“And these three agree as one” (5:8e). The tri-fold witnesses are in unity as to who Jesus is, the Son of the living God. Why did John emphasize three witnesses three times? The Old Testament required as proof to true testimony two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15; 17:6,7; Num. 35:30; 1 Tim. 5:19). This is a legal maxim indicating the greater level of trustworthiness of a testimony.

Can it be collaborated by other witnesses? In truth there are more than three witnesses. In his Gospel John mentions five reliable witnesses (John 5:21-47). These are given to prove that readers of John’s first epistle have enough evidence from these nine witnesses to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

– Daniel R. Vess