From His side, a river flowed,
Blood and water, love bestowed.
Symbol of a sacrifice divine,
God's love for us, forever enshrined.
Son of God, yet humble in heart,
To the Father's will, He did impart.
Unto death, His obedience did span,
A lesson of humility for every woman and man.
In our journey, as we tread,
By His example, we are led.
Humility and obedience, our guide,
In His footsteps, we confide.
God's promises, a beacon bright,
Guiding us through the darkest night.
Faithful to fulfill, He stands,
Holding us in His mighty hands.
Even when adversity is nigh,
Our faith in Him, we amplify.
Bold and steadfast, we remain,
In His love, we are sustained.
Witness to the truth of Christ we bear,
His love and grace, we openly share.
In our lives, His truth resounds,
In His love, we are profoundly found.
REFLECTION:
An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. (John 19:35)
The piercing of Jesus’ side, from which flowed blood and water, symbolizes the outpouring of God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus for humanity’s salvation. Despite being the Son of God, Jesus humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey.
Let us trust in God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them. Even in the face of adversity, we should be steadfast and bold in our faith, and bear witness to the truth of Christ in our own lives.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We come before You, acknowledging the symbol of Your love and sacrifice. The piercing of Your side, from which flowed blood and water, is a powerful reminder of the depth of Your love and the extent of Your sacrifice for our salvation.
Despite being the Son of God, You humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey. Help us to follow Your example, to submit to the Father's will with a humble heart, and to obey His commandments faithfully.
We trust in Your promises, knowing that You are faithful to fulfill them. Even in the face of adversity, help us to be steadfast and bold in our faith. May we bear witness to the truth of Your love and sacrifice in our own lives.
In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
III: The Book of Glory
THE BLOOD AND WATER
John 19:31-37
Gospel | John 19:31-37
Gospel Acclamation
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
31 Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. 36 For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. 37 And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.
Background:
John 19:31-37 is a passage from the New Testament of the Bible, specifically from the Gospel of John. This passage describes the events that took place after Jesus’ crucifixion.
On the day of Preparation for the Sabbath, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. Therefore, they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. This was in accordance with Jewish law, which prohibited bodies from remaining on the cross during the Sabbath.
The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with Jesus. However, when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.
These events fulfilled the Scriptures that said, “Not one of His bones shall be broken” and "They will look on Him whom they have pierced". The account of the piercing of Jesus’ side is unique to the Gospel of John.
This passage underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the events of Jesus’ death and affirms the truth of Jesus’ messiahship. It also emphasizes the importance of witness and testimony in establishing faith.
Learning Lessons:
John 19:31-37 offers several spiritual lessons:
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The events surrounding Jesus’ death were not random, but fulfilled specific Old Testament prophecies. This teaches us about the sovereignty of God and the reliability of His Word.
The Importance of Witness: The account emphasizes the role of witness and testimony in establishing faith. It reminds us to bear witness to the truth of Christ in our own lives.
God’s Love and Sacrifice: The piercing of Jesus’ side, from which flowed blood and water, symbolizes the outpouring of God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus for humanity’s salvation.
Humility and Obedience: Despite being the Son of God, Jesus humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey.
Trust in God’s Promises: Even in death, Jesus was protected by God, fulfilling the promise that not one of His bones would be broken. This encourages us to trust in God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them.
Boldness in Faith: Despite the circumstances, the disciples remained bold in their faith. This teaches us to be steadfast and bold in our faith, even in the face of adversity.
Let’s pray and seek God’s wisdom to apply these lessons in our daily lives. (Conversation with Copilot)
