The one who believes has the Spirit, the water, and the blood literally within himself, bearing witness to the individual that Jesus is the risen and ruling savior of the world.
The hallmark of the Spirit of truth is that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, and true Son of Mary, “for us men and for our salvation,” came in the flesh.
There is absence in that all we have is an empty tomb, but presence because, while the tomb is empty, Christ is alive with a gloriously transformed body and with us!
No persecutor can avail over the victory of Christ for His people. Even if death separates them from this world, it cannot separate them from the love of God and the redemption accomplished through Jesus Christ.
This pericope has law and gospel, as well as principles of Christian ethic. The effective preacher rightly distinguishes them but also confidently preaches them.
The Son is the rock or, put differently, Jesus is the Temple of God and, therefore, our one true hope, no matter the persecutions or hardships we may endure.