John 19:33-34 (NRSV)
Read John 19:33-34 on biblegateway.com
Verse 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Verse 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
Devotion
During the crucifixion, the water mixed with blood from the side of Jesus becomes the source of healing leprosy as well as healing the hunger for war and revenge. All of the biblical images of rivers and healing waters are gathered into this single verse. The water mixed with blood becomes the river of Eden, the water flowing from the rock in the wilderness (Exodus 17:1-7) and the great river of healing water flowing from the temple foreseen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47:1-12). The new creation is begun. Jesus' body is the temple, and in his crucifixion the Spirit is unleashed into the world.
Earlier, in John 7:38-39, Jesus promised that rivers of living water would flow from his heart and/or the heart of the believer. (In the Greek one can read the verse both ways.) We stand as believers at the foot of the cross.
From his body flows the source of our communion drink and the water of baptismal bath. Blood and water mingle together as the promise of life and healing—for all.
Prayer
Dear God, send your Holy Spirit to help us walk in the way of the cross of Christ, who shed his lifeblood to heal and renew all.
Amen.