He that came by water and blood - The miraculous deluge.
But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already
dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened
his side: and immediately there came out blood and water. (John 19:33-34)
This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only
but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the
truth. (1 John 5:6)
The image of the Divine Mercy recalls the blood and water which gushed
forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us. It was after his death,
as his lifeless and inanimate body hung upon the Cross, that his holy side
and Sacred Heart were opened by a lance, which released upon the earth
the flood of God’s mercy.
Hypovolemic shock and pericardial effusion
There is some biblical evidence to suggest that our Savior had entered into
hypovolemic shock after his scourging. Due to the great brutality of the
scourging, in which the sacred flesh of our Savior was so torn that his
skeletal muscles, veins, sinews, and even his bowels were exposed,
our Lord had literally begun to run out of blood in his body. This extreme
blood-loss may well have set him into a state of hypovolemic shock which
would be occasioned by low blood pressure.
Those in this state of shock will experience dizziness and fainting
(and our Lord fell several times as he carried his Cross) as well as
extreme thirst and a desire to drink liquids to replenish all the lost fluids
(and Jesus said I thirst).
What is particularly pertinent to our discussion is that hypovolemic shock
causes a rapid heart-rate which in turn causes a great deal of fluid to
gather in the sack around the heart and the lungs. Thus, some suggest
that the “blood and water” which came forth could have been this
pericardial effusion of fluid.
If such were the case, the blood and water would be mixed together,
flowing out as one. Further, the event would not be a miracle, but
would be a medically and scientifically explainable phenomenon –
something natural.
The miracle
However, St. John refers to the blood and water coming forth not merely as
a natural phenomenon which demonstrates our Lord’s bodily death, but even
further (especially in 1 John 5:6), as a proof of our Savior’s divinity.
Pericardial effusion and hypovolemic shock do very little to prove the divinity
of Jesus, thus the “scientific” and “medical” explanation seems contrary to
the plain sense of the holy and inerrant Scriptures.
Furthermore, a pericardial effusion does not pertain to the flowing of blood
and water, but rather to the pouring forth of various fluids which had built
up around the heart. However, St. John does not say that “fluids” poured
forth, but that there came out blood and water.
And we are to understand that the blood and water came out separately,
not mingled. For, if they had come forth mingled, then the Beloved would
not be able to say blood and water, but only blood or fluid – just as we
do not say that there is “wine and water” consecrated at the Mass, but
only “wine”, since the water is mingled with the wine.
Now, St. John states that there came out blood and water, and this
must needs be miraculous for it was not serum, but rather pure blood
and pure water which came forth so as to be distinguished one from
the other.
It is well worth noting that our Savior himself confirms this interpretation
through his Image of Divine Mercy, in which the blue and the red rays
are clearly distinct.
A total gift
It is further worth noting that this miraculous pouring forth of blood and water
was total and complete. Indeed, the tradition is that our Savior gave forth in
this miraculous deluge all the blood and all the water which was in his body.
There is no reason why this could not be accomplished by a miracle.
Further, this total gift of blood and water symbolized the total gift of himself,
and also the abundance and infinite depths of divine mercy.
The water, the blood, and the Spirit
In his first Epistle, St. John states that the three – the water, the blood, and
the Spirit – give testimony. The Fathers and Doctors recognize a spiritual
meaning to these three.
First, the literal sense. The “water” and “blood” refer, of course, to the blood
and water which poured forth from his sacred side. The “spirit” may refer to
the Holy Spirit, but perhaps more likely refers to the Savior’s breath/spirit
which he gave up on the Cross.
Just as it was by a miracle that all the blood and water of our Lord’s body
immediately gushed forth with great force and yet remained unmingled
and most pure, so too it was by a miraculous last breath that our Savior
cried out in a loud voice as he gave forth his spirit. For, indeed, those
who are dying (especially those dying upon the Cross, which is a
quasi-suffocation) are not naturally able to cry out in such a loud voice.
The spiritual sense follows. The water symbolizes baptism. The blood,
the Eucharist. And the spirit, the sacrament of Penance – for it was this
spirit which Jesus breathed upon his disciples after his resurrection
when he gave them the power to absolve sin.
Oh Blood and Water which gushed forth from
the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us,
I trust in you!
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Hi Vic,
Even though not a single word of that post was written by you; you must have had a reason for posting it. So, my Friend, what point are you trying to make with this post? Just curious.
I know that before you had stated that sometimes you will begin a discussion "just to start an argument." So, is that you intent here? Or, do you have some other reason?
Bill
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