{"id":4723,"date":"2022-01-24T19:07:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T19:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/?p=4723"},"modified":"2022-01-24T19:07:07","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T19:07:07","slug":"blood-and-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/blood-and-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Blood and Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

31\u00a0<\/sup>Since it was\u00a0the day of Preparation, and\u00a0so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was\u00a0a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.<\/span>\u00a032\u00a0<\/sup>So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other\u00a0who had been crucified with him.<\/span>\u00a033\u00a0<\/sup>But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.<\/span>\u00a034\u00a0<\/sup>But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out\u00a0blood and water.<\/span>\u00a035\u00a0<\/sup>He who saw it has borne witness\u2014his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth\u2014that you also may believe.<\/span>\u00a036\u00a0<\/sup>For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled:\u00a0\u201cNot one of his bones\u00a0will be broken.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>37\u00a0<\/sup>And again another Scripture says, \u201cThey will look on him whom they have pierced.\u201d<\/em> (John 19:31-37)<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n

As we continue back in the gospel of John this Lord\u2019s Day, we remember that we last left off in this same passage, but focusing on the bones of Jesus and the fact that they did not break his legs, for not a bone in His body was broken. Today we resume with this same passage, concerning ourselves with the blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of our Savior.<\/span><\/p>\n

Natural or Supernatural?<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c…one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.\u201d When you read all the commentaries on this passage, you will find many and varied different opinions as to how blood and water flowed from Jesus\u2019 side, for it is not a normal experience to have water coming out from someone\u2019s side. There are many, including Charles Spurgeon who believe that Christ was literally pierced in His heart, through his side. Some have talked about how there is a sac of fluid that would have been pierced to bring out the blood and water. There are others who believe Jesus was pierced lower on His side, where also there could have been a fluid build up from the amount of injury His body received and hanging in the position that He was.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are others who believe that this flow of blood and water was simply a miracle. They believe it was supernatural rather than finding a natural explanation. Spurgeon believed it was a veil we ought not to look behind, that how the blood and water came from His body was too tender of a detail for us to speculate about.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for me I would just say that I believe it was from a real bodily function that was providentially ordained to take place and be seen for typological reasons in redemption. I am essentially just confessing what Christians believe about every natural occurrence and that is that God tells each one to happen. So I believe there are two categories which we should understand the blood and the water within. One is within the providential death narrative of Jesus, and the other is the theological purposes of the flow of blood and water, which God preserved to us in His Word to show to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Providence<\/b><\/p>\n

He Indeed Died<\/em><\/p>\n

So as far as the significance of this passage in relation to the death narrative, we first note that we are clearly shown that Jesus did indeed die here on the cross. Now this may seem like a given to us, but there have been some who have denied that Jesus died here on the cross, so as to deny that Jesus rose from the dead. And we are reminded by C. H. Spurgeon, \u201cIf our Lord did not die, then no sacrifice has been presented, the resurrection is not a fact, and there is no foundation of hope for men.\u201d So as important as anything in the work of Jesus, is the validation of His death on the cross. For this there was ample witness there who have testified that He died, who watched the soldiers witness His death and declare His death by seeing no need to break His legs, and then piercing His side for good measure where the blood and water come forth – the soldiers, the apostle John, the mother of Jesus and the other women.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was indeed a man, yet not a mere man<\/em><\/p>\n

In the fact that our Savior indeed died, and in that when He was pierced, He shed blood, also shows us that indeed He was truly man. Yet also, in the fact of such an amazing and wonderful display of blood and water, it shows us that He was not a mere man, but that He was also truly the Son of God. This is what John says in verse 34 and 35, \u201c<\/span>But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.<\/span> He who saw it has borne witness\u2014his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth\u2014that you also may believe.\u201d<\/span> The fact that the apostle John was emphatic about insuring His readers that He indeed witnessed the flow of blood and water shows us that no matter what genuine bodily functions may have been at play, it was indeed a marvelous display of blood and water, a unique flow from our Lord\u2019s side, a display which John seems to believe would be quite convincing to persuade someone that Jesus was the Son of God. Indeed he says as much when he says \u201cthat you also may believe.\u201d Jesus\u2019 death, and the short time His body remained on the cross after He breathed His life, was wholly unique and different from any other man, because He was not just any other man. And this information is for us, that we may believe.<\/span><\/p>\n

God was in charge<\/em><\/p>\n

As we have noted a number of times throughout the arrest and trial of Jesus, we are reminded once again that throughout his arrest, trial, and death, Jesus was the one in charge even though it does not look that way to one who looks without faith. This is one of the themes John has shown us, that Jesus came to do the will of the Father and to do all that the Father gave Him to do. And here in this passage, it should\u2019ve been, from a human perspective, that Jesus\u2019 legs were broken with the others crucified with Him. That was the request of the Jewish leaders, those were the orders from Pilate, that was the normal practice I\u2019m sure the Roman soldiers enjoyed doing. If his legs would\u2019ve been broken, like the Jews and Caesar called for to be done, then the Scripture would\u2019ve been broken. But here, because God directs all things, instead of Scripture being broken, two Scriptures were fulfilled – the prophecy of the bones and the prophecy of looking upon Him whom they pierced. It seemed random and unexpected that a soldier would thrust his spear through the side of one hanging dead on a cross. And so we are once again reminded that everything took place according to the predestined plan and hand of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Typological\/Theological<\/b><\/p>\n

As I have pointed out many times throughout John\u2019s gospel, I would once again remind you that John is writing a distinctly theological work, or a theological account of the ministry and work of Jesus Christ. John is called \u201cThe Theologian\u201d by some. This means that when John mentions details like the flow of blood and water it is not an incidental detail. He has a theological purpose for doing so. And so it is this that we will now consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blood and water<\/em><\/p>\n

The Bible is a book that is filled with blood and water. It\u2019s everywhere. We could spend days just going through everything the Bible says about blood and water. So suffice it to say that while not every instance of blood and water throughout the Bible relates to Christ in the same way as other instances, this theme of blood and water throughout the Bible is building toward Christ, as all the Scriptures point to Him. The better we know our Bibles, the more that it will jump off the page at us when John mentions blood and water coming from the side of Jesus, and is emphatic that he indeed saw it and it is true. If you read your Bible from start to finish and you\u2019re tracking along, noting major themes, and then you read from John that blood and water ran out of Jesus\u2019 side, it will be a major climatic revealing moment in the story. So I want to point you to just a few places so you can begin to see this.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Hebrews chapter 9 there is a discussion of blood and covenants and of Christ\u2019s blood being greater than the blood of bulls and goats, for through Christ\u2019s blood an eternal redemption is secured. And in this is also a discussion of purification, the purification rites of the Old Testament, and how Christ purifies us and our conscience before God.<\/span><\/p>\n

For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took\u00a0the blood of calves and goats,\u00a0with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,<\/span>\u00a020\u00a0<\/sup>saying,\u00a0\u201cThis is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.\u201d<\/span>\u00a021\u00a0<\/sup>And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both\u00a0the tent and all the vessels used in worship.<\/span>\u00a022\u00a0<\/sup>Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Heb. 9:19-22)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

So specifically notice verse 19 there. The Hebrew writer reminds of the sprinkling of blood and water from Moses, and if you remember the things we\u2019ve talked about in semi-recent weeks, notice also the scarlet and the hyssop. So note here in Hebrews 9 the discussion of the necessity of the shedding of blood for sacrifice and forgiveness of sins, and the use of water for purification. This is a theme built throughout Scripture to lead us to Christ. One such place is Numbers chapter 19. We\u2019re not going to read right now, but you can go look through it later. The whole chapter is about purification laws which involved all kinds of washings with water, and also blood sacrifices. So there you will see blood and water working together so to speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

One other such place is Leviticus 14, which I will read a few verses from. Leviticus 14 is discussing laws for cleansing lepers, which was without doubt, highly typological.<\/span><\/p>\n

the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live[a<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0clean birds and\u00a0cedarwood and\u00a0scarlet yarn and\u00a0hyssop.<\/span>\u00a05\u00a0<\/sup>And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh[b<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0water.<\/span>\u00a06\u00a0<\/sup>He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.<\/span>\u00a07\u00a0<\/sup>And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. (Lev. 14:4-7)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

So again, there we have blood and water working together, and the water being used for purification and cleansing from uncleanness. There are obviously tons of other places throughout the Bible we could go to see the development of these themes. But summarize: what\u2019s the main use of blood throughout the Old Testament? To get blood you have to have a sacrifice. Blood comes from a sacrifice and water purifies, cleanses, and washes away.<\/span><\/p>\n

The blood of Jesus shows us that He died and that He is our sacrifice for sins. Remember, He was crucified on Passover week, showing Himself to be our Passover Lamb. The blood of bulls and goats could never do, but Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sins. But to be sure we didn\u2019t miss this, it was not just blood that flowed from His side, but blood and water together came from His pierced side. We are shown by His blood that He is our sacrifice, and by the water that He cleanses and purifies us from all sin and all unrighteousness and all uncleanness. In the blood and water we see sacrifice and washing. Jesus Christ is what all those Old Covenant laws of purification were preparing the people for, and they point us to Christ as we look back on them today. It is only in Jesus Christ that you have a sacrifice and atonement for sins, and it is only in Him that you can be washed and cleansed from your filth.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is in this way, with this faith that we must come to the cross of Christ and behold Jesus there. We must come as unclean lepers of sin. We must come with all our dirt and filth of sin and impurities, and bring them to Christ, that His blood may atone for them, and that we might be washed in the water from His side. We must not come to see Christ crucified but stand a far distance off, speculating from afar, refusing to bring our sins and filth and come near to His side, so as not to be splattered with the blood and water from His side. We must come near to Christ, bringing all of our abominations and filth, that we may have it all splattered with the flow of blood and water from His side, that we may be forgiven and cleansed. We must have the blood and water splattered on us as Moses did for the Old Covenant people after reading the law, as Christ\u2019s blood is the blood of the New Covenant for us.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the blood and water from the side of Christ, Christ is our sacrifice and our water for washing. Along these lines, Matthew Henry says that the blood and water represents justification and sanctification. And I see that as consistent with the biblical typological pattern. Blood comes from the sacrifice that makes atonement for our sin – that justifies us, and water is for washing, which is sanctification. The only way to be freely and fully justified before God is in Jesus Christ and through His blood and sacrifice alone. And we believe that, but there are times where we may tempted to say yes that\u2019s true, but then look elsewhere to grow in our Christian life. The cross of Jesus Christ is not just that which justifies us and then we move on and away from it as we grow in our walk. Rather, Christ and Him crucified is the foundation of life for the believer, not just to raise us from the dead and justify us, but also to nourish the one raised, to grow us, to strengthen us, to sanctify us. To move on to eating meat is not to move away from the cross of Jesus Christ on to something else, but rather it is to move deeper into the cross of Christ, to understand it more exhaustively and to have it applied to every area of our lives. It is to behold Christ crucified more and more to be more and more conformed into the image of Christ, since we become like what we behold. It is to grow in our affection and worship of Christ, the more we stay near to His side and the more we have continually washed and cleansed by Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus Christ died giving life. None else could do this. Even after He died, as blood and water flowed from His side, He was a fountain of life for the world. I love what C. H. Spurgeon says here and remember Spurgeon believed Christ was pierced in His heart from the side, he says, \u201cOh, the kindness of the heart of Christ, that did not only for a blow return a kiss, but for a spear-thrust returned life and healing!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is precisely the gospel – that we are the ones who have pierced through His side. We are the ones who have persecuted and reviled Him. We are the ones who rebelled and cherished Him not. We are the ones who afflicted Him. And yet, for His people, He did not such thing in return. As we sinned against Him, He took those sins and He bore them in His body on the cross, that He might be the sacrifice for them, and that He might return not our sins to us, but His blood, and water for washing.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a legend that says the soldier that pierced Jesus\u2019 side was blind, and as He pierced Him, the blood and water splattered back on his face, and immediately healed his blindness, and so that soldier believed. Isn\u2019t that a great illustration of those of us who pierced Him. We were blinded by our sin and ignorance and persecuted Him, and yet Christ is so filled with compassion and mercy toward sinners that even as we are in the act of piercing Him, it is mercy and forgiveness and healing that splashes back upon us and we are changed, to behold this Christ whom we have pierced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus is the fountain of life. He is a fountain of mercy toward sinners. He is the rock in the wilderness that was struck by the staff of Moses, and out of it came water for the refreshing of Israel. Here Christ was dead, like a rock, on the cross, and He was struck in His side with a spear and out comes water for the refreshing and nourishing of His people. Should we be refreshed and nourished we would go to the side of Christ. Like Moses and Israel back then with the rock, so us with Christ, though we cherished Him not, and had not the proper thankfulness in our hearts, it was nothing but mercy and life and refreshing that flowed out from Him toward us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is the fountain of life. He is also the true temple. Jesus Christ is the temple of Ezekiel\u2019s vision in Ezekiel 47, where Ezekiel is shown that out of the temple is flowing a stream of water, and the further this stream goes, the deeper it goes. And farther out it goes refreshing the plants and the refreshing the world providing life and sustenance and growth and nourishing the trees which leaves are for the healing of the nations. Here at Calvary, the true temple is held up on a cross for all to see, and as He is pierced in His side, it began a flow of the water of life that would not be stopped and has not stopped to this day. It is a flow that has come to us in 21st century midwest America. It is a flow that came from our pagan ancestors who were worshiping false gods. It is a flow that will continue to every generation until all the world receives nourishment and life from this stream from our Savior\u2019s side. The passage that John mentions that was fulfilled that they will look upon him whom they pierced is from Zechariah 12. Immediately following that in Zechariah 13:1 it says, \u201cOn that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.\u201d The spear that went into Jesus\u2019 side that began the flow of blood and water was the opening of a fountain that has not yet been shut. It still flows with life and healing for all who would come unto Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last Adam<\/em><\/p>\n

I cannot help but mention something more, another picture and fulfillment to give you. One of the themes John shows us a little bit of in his gospel is that Jesus is the last Adam, or the truer and greater Adam. He is the true Son of God. When Adam was in the garden, God put Adam into a deep sleep – which is a picture of death. So God put Adam to death, and then God cut open Adam\u2019s side to take out a rib from which God would create a bride and a wife for Adam. From His side God created woman – Eve. Then God woke Adam – which is a picture of resurrection\u2026Likewise when Jesus died, His flesh, His side too was cut open and out flowed blood and water, sacrifice and washing, justification and sanctification from which a new bride, a new woman would be formed, a bride for God\u2019s own Son, a bride Christ, The Church. The Church, the bride of Christ, is formed from the side of her husband, from the pierced side of Christ.<\/span> It is a new creation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

So, look and behold this Christ, take Him as your husband, for life comes from His side. As we come to Christ and Him crucified and behold Him there, and behold His pierced side, and we see His piercing in faith, that means we will see, as Isaiah saw, that, \u201c…<\/span>he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Should we be healed, should we be brought peace, we would see that and behold that He was pierced for our transgressions, and it is those wounds, that open and gushing side that brings us healing. How great of a storyteller is God is that the thing that brings healing and life to sinners is the wounds and death of One who never sinned! How can this be? How can we begin to comprehend such a thing as this? And that is just part of the design, that we have received mercy that we cannot comprehend. What do you do then? You are humbled before Him. You bow before Him and you worship Him. His flesh was cut open so that ours may be healed. There is nothing more we can do but humbly bow before Him and worship there.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more that we stay near to His side and behold Him there as a fountain of life for sinners, the more that we will become like Him. Christ was cut and bled mercy. He was pierced and out flowed compassion. He was struck and responded with grace. Those are things that don\u2019t naturally flow out of us when we are stabbed in the back or pierced by a friend. But the more that the blood and water of Christ flows to us and nourishes us and gives us new life, the more that that can also flow back out of us to others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about in your own life: someone jabs with a side glance or a side comment that stings a little. Do you return jab for jab? Boys and girls, with your own siblings, what do you do when your brother or sister says something mean to you, or hurts you? We are not to be evil or mean in return, but do what is right. What about with your spouse, they jab you and cut you open and hurt and wound you greatly? How do you respond? I think we\u2019ve all found out that compassion and love don\u2019t naturally flow out of us. But the nearer we stay to the side of Christ and are filled by the Fountain of Life Himself, the more He can change us. The more He can fill us with grace to not react and respond in the flesh, but to do so with unexplainable kindness and grace. Men, I would that each of you be stronger and meaner than five grizzly bears toward the enemy, but that you would be so near to Christ that He would fill you with such love and compassion and tenderness toward your spouse, and your children, and our brothers and sisters that we could take all kinds of jabs and blows like a man, and not react in kind, like an immature child. But that we would react with all the manliness of Christ that He displayed toward us when He was treated with such shame and humiliation and suffering. Christ has done so for you, let us always strive to be likewise pierced and flowing with compassion toward one another. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Click HERE for sermon audio<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

31\u00a0Since it was\u00a0the day of Preparation, and\u00a0so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was\u00a0a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.\u00a032\u00a0So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":4726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1582],"tags":[214,274,334,1669,355,483,557,562,678,679,687,699,765,1671,1646,1099,1670,1660,1161,1172,1321],"class_list":{"0":"post-4723","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sermon","8":"tag-blood","9":"tag-christ","10":"tag-cross","11":"tag-crucified","12":"tag-death","13":"tag-father","14":"tag-god","15":"tag-gospel","16":"tag-jenkins","17":"tag-jesus","18":"tag-john","19":"tag-joshua","20":"tag-lord","21":"tag-pierce","22":"tag-roman","23":"tag-savior","24":"tag-side","25":"tag-soldier","26":"tag-son","27":"tag-spirit","28":"tag-water","29":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/01\/MM9568-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4714,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-theology-of-bones\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":0},"title":"A Theology of Bones","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"January 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Since it was\u00a0the day of Preparation, and\u00a0so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was\u00a0a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.\u00a032\u00a0So the soldiers came and broke the legs of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/01\/cross.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/01\/cross.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/01\/cross.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/01\/cross.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4667,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-place-of-a-skull\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":1},"title":"The Place of a Skull","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"December 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.\u00a0So they took Jesus,\u00a017\u00a0and\u00a0he went out,\u00a0bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.\u00a018\u00a0There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. (John\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/12\/giovanni-lanfranco-david-dragging-goliath-s-head_u-l-q1hecbm0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4039,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/who-is-jesus-christ-john-710-24\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":2},"title":"Who is Jesus Christ? John 7:10-24","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 10\u00a0But after\u00a0his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.\u00a011\u00a0The Jews\u00a0were looking for him at the feast, and saying, \u201cWhere is he?\u201d\u00a012\u00a0And there was much\u00a0muttering about him among the people.\u00a0While some said, \u201cHe is a good man,\u201d others said, \u201cNo,\u00a0he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/03\/tom-archer.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5901,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/boiling-a-goat-in-its-mothers-milk\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":3},"title":"Boiling a Goat in its Mother’s Milk","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"July 31, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio \u201cFor six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield,\u00a011\u00a0but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/07\/patrick-fore-uwq9fWZ4ThE-unsplash.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3696,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/testimony-concerning-the-son-of-god-1-john-56-12\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":4},"title":"Testimony Concerning the Son of God: 1 John 5:6-12","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"January 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 6\u00a0This is he who came\u00a0by water and blood\u2014Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And\u00a0the Spirit is the one who testifies, because\u00a0the Spirit is the truth.\u00a07\u00a0For there are three that testify:8\u00a0the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.\u00a09\u00a0If\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Church History"","block_context":{"text":"Church History","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/church-history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/01\/great-gray-workshop1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/01\/great-gray-workshop1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/01\/great-gray-workshop1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/01\/great-gray-workshop1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5383,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/circumcision-and-consecration\/","url_meta":{"origin":4723,"position":5},"title":"Circumcision and Consecration","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio And the\u00a0Lord\u00a0said to Moses and Aaron, \u201cThis is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it,\u00a044\u00a0but every slave[a]\u00a0that is\u00a0bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him.\u00a045\u00a0No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it.\u00a046\u00a0It shall be eaten in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/LSW_CROY_M_1993_1809-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/LSW_CROY_M_1993_1809-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/LSW_CROY_M_1993_1809-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/LSW_CROY_M_1993_1809-001.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/11\/LSW_CROY_M_1993_1809-001.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}