coming of the Son and to His deity that the Father testifies in this passage. John gives three elements of that confirming testimony: the water, the blood, and the Spirit. Some connect the phrase water and blood with Jesus’ death, when “one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34). But there is no reason to assume that John had that incident in mind. It is also difficult to see how the piercing of Jesus’ side was a divine witness to His