3. The blood was the expression of the death of Jesus. As it is written:-" When they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And, he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe." (John 19:33-3533But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. (John 19:33‑35).)
Here is presented to us what and whence the blood is. This was in our Lord's mind when speaking to the Jews, as is recorded in chapter vi., and which, though he saw and understood it all, neither could the Jews receive, nor could the disciples understand. But oh, what a tale of love! such love as many waters could not quench; such love as was stronger than death, does this foreknowledge on Jesus’ part tell us of. The separation of the liquid blood into blood and water, showed death to have taken place: it is never so save after death. Some think the water here was that which fills the vessel in which " the heart " is placed, the breaking of which, they say, is what produces a broken heart; if so, then also, whether broken by the convulsions of sorrow, or pierced by the spear, death must have taken place. I would only add, that I doubt not but that this fact had a further typical meaning. For not only is Jesus on the cross pouring forth His blood unto death, in atonement, our only resource, but there also I get not only that which cleanses me from all charge of guilt-the blood; but also that Spirit which is righteousness, and which seems typified by the water-even the Holy Ghost, which coming consequent upon Christ's death, is the pledge to those that have it of their being accepted in the beloved; partakers of the divine nature; and who makes the rivers of living water to flow out of their bellies even while in this life.