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7 April 2012
The spring in the Temple -Extracted from Ezekiel, chapter 47: The prophesy of the Prophet and Priest Ezekiel around 586 B.C.
1 He (hereinafter referred to “the Angel”) brought me back to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream flowed eastwards from under the Temple threshold, for the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar.
2 He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side.
3 The man (hereinafter referred to “the Angel”) went off to the east holding his measuring line and measured off a thousand cubits; he then made me wade across the stream; the water reached my ankles.
4 He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my knees. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my waist.
5 He measured off another thousand; it was now a river which I could not cross; the stream had swollen and was now deep water, a river impossible to cross.
6 He then said, 'Do you see, son of man?' He then took me and brought me back to the bank on the river.
7 Now, when I reached it, I saw an enormous number of trees on each bank of the river.
8 He said, 'This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome.
9 Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows.
10 There will be fishermen on its banks. Fishing nets will be spread from En-Gedi to En-Eglaim. The species of fish will be the same as the fish of the Great Sea.
11 The marshes and lagoons, however, will not become wholesome, but will remain salt.
12 Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.'
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One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water -Extracted from the Gospel of John, Chapter 19:
23 When the soldiers had finished crucifying Jesus they took his clothing and divided it into four shares, one for each soldier. His undergarment was seamless, woven in one piece from neck to hem;
24 so they said to one another, 'Instead of tearing it, let's throw dice to decide who is to have it.' In this way the words of scripture were fulfilled: They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothes. That is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
26 Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved (hereinafter referred to “John the Evangelist, Author of this Gospel”) standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'
27 Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
28 After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed and, so that the scripture should be completely fulfilled, he said: I am thirsty.
29 A jar full of sour wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick, they held it up to his mouth.
30 After Jesus had taken the wine he said, 'It is fulfilled'; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
31 It was the Day of Preparation, and to avoid the bodies' remaining on the cross during the Sabbath - since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity - the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away.
32 Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other.
33 When they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs
34 one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.
35 This is the evidence of one who saw it - true evidence, and he knows that what he says is true - and he gives it so that you may believe as well.
36 Because all this happened to fulfill the words of scripture: Not one bone of his will be broken;
37 and again, in another place scripture says: They will look to the one whom they have pierced.
Church Interpretation:
The soldier pierced the right side of Jesus in order to pierce into His heart, to ensure that He was dead.
Why the right side as the heart is on the left? Obviously, anyone who goes into battle would ensure that his left breast is well protected as it is where his heart is. Thus if the enemy would have a lance to pierce on the left side, it has no practical effect as the left breast is well protected. All Roman soldiers who were well trained in battle, would know well how he needed to kill his opponent by piercing into his heart from the right side to order to have this final and fatal blow either to win or for self-preservation… This solder was using this same technique to pierce our Lord Jesus Christ… And immediately there came out blood and water…
What’s the meaning of these “blood and water” which flowed out from the heart of Jesus?
We have found a good explanation from the Diary of St. Faustina:
The earliest element of the Devotion to the Divine Mercy revealed to St. Faustina was the Image. On February 22nd, 1931 Jesus appeared to her with rays radiating from His heart and said, Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world. (Diary 47)
The two rays denote Blood and Water. the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him. (Diary 299) ———————————————— With the aforesaid, it gives a good understanding of the meaning of “water flowing from the right of the temple” in Ezekiel, chapter 47 stated above. The “water flowed from the Temple” refers to the water and blood from the heart of Jesus Christ which give life to us spiritually and physically. The “Temple” refers to the Body of Jesus Christ. See the Gospel of John, Chapter 2:19-21 extracted below. Extracted from the Gospel of John, Chapter 2: 13 When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. 15 Making a whip out of cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and cattle as well, scattered the money changers' coins, knocked their tables over 16 and said to the dove sellers, 'Take all this out of here and stop using my Father's house as a market.' 17 Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: I am eaten up with zeal for your house. 18 The Jews intervened and said, 'What sign can you show us that you should act like this?' 19 Jesus answered, 'Destroy this Temple, and in three (3) days I will raise it up.' 20 The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six (46) years to build this Temple: are you going to raise it up again in three days?' 21 But he was speaking of the Temple that was his body, 22 and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and what he had said.
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