"If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son... God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
By water and blood, Jesus testifies to the world.
"By water and blood" points us toward the cross, where the lance pierces the side of Christ and water and blood rush forth, and the passion reveals the truth of God's love identified in Christ his Son.
The gift of Christmas finds its completion on the cross, where Jesus gives himself away; Jesus once again becomes defenseless love and the wood of the manger that held his vulnerable body wrapped in swaddling clothes becomes the wood of the cross that now holds his body tenderly in a caress of gratitude, where the straw on which is head slept so peacefully now becomes the crown of thorns that gives peace to us all.
The gift of christmas begins to be understood as a gift that remains true in all times and in all places. Here is the one gift that can never be set aside to collect dust. It remains a gift that gives continually.
It remains a gift of testimony that is greater than human testimony.
On the cross, as water and blood rushed forth, and the testimony echoes forth, God answers the cry of humanity, "Lord, if you wish you can make me clean?. "
Jesus stretched out his hand and said "I do will it. Be made clean."
The testimony for the ages, "I do will it. Be made clean."
Clean we have been made, washed in blood of the lamb, we now can enjoy eternal delight. May we keep ourselves washed clean...
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