The Jordan River is the water Israel crossed into the land,
and the water where the Son stood to fulfill all righteousness.
The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.
When the feet of the priests bearing the ark dipped in the brink,
the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap.
The Jordan was turned back.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan.
A border became a door
—
once under Joshua,
again under a greater Joshua.
It runs from the snows of Hermon down the rift to the Salt Sea, the deep cut between the wilderness and the promised hills. Lot chose the plain of Jordan because it looked like Egypt. Jacob crossed it with a limp and a new name. Moses saw the land from Nebo and did not cross. Joshua did. The ark went in. The people passed on dry ground. Twelve stones from the riverbed were set up so children would ask, What do these stones mean? Elijah struck the water with his mantle and crossed. Elisha struck it again and asked for a double portion. Naaman dipped seven times and came up with the flesh of a child. John baptized in the Jordan, preaching repentance, because the King was at the door. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John. The heavens opened. This is My beloved Son. He will later say a baptism still awaits Him—the death He must be immersed in. The river that cut slaves off from the land is the river where the Servant steps in with sinners. Stones still preach. So does the voice from the open heaven.
- The ark goes first. The people do not force the water. They follow the presence.
- Stones in the bed and stones on the bank are for children who were not there.
- Elijah’s mantle and Elisha’s strike say the same God still parts what He parted.
- Seven dips are obedience in a river the general despised. Flesh is restored anyway.
- Jesus in the Jordan is identification, not a confession of His own sin.
- Beloved Son is spoken over water that once stood in a heap.
- A baptism to be baptized with still lies ahead. The river points at a cross.
- The Cut – Wilderness on one side; the land on the other.
- The Ark – Priests’ feet in the brink; waters in a heap; dry ground.
- The Stones – What do these stones mean? A memorial for children.
- The Mantle – Elijah crosses; Elisha crosses; the company of prophets sees.
- Seven Times – Naaman; the word he almost refused.
- The Baptism – John; repentance; the Son in the water with the people.
- The Voice – Beloved Son; a greater crossing still to come.
- Joshua 3:11, 15-17 – “The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.”… The feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water… the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap… and all Israel was passing over on dry ground.
- Joshua 4:6-7, 20-24 – “When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark.”… So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty.
- 2 Kings 2:8, 14 – Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted… Elisha… struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted.
- 2 Kings 5:10, 14 – “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times.”… So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored.
- Psalm 114:3, 5 – The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back… What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
- Matthew 3:5-6, 13-17 – They were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins… Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him… “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”… “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Mark 1:9-11 – In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
- Luke 12:50 – “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”
- Deuteronomy 34:1-4 – Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo… the Lord showed him all the land… “You shall not go over there.”
- Genesis 13:10-11 – Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered… Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley.
The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.
The waters stood and rose up in a heap. All Israel passed over on dry ground.
What do these stones mean? The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark.
Wash in the Jordan seven times. His flesh was restored.
Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Jordan turned back. I have a baptism to be baptized with.
Do not stand on the east bank and admire the land. Follow the ark in. Tell the children what the stones mean. And when the Beloved stands in the same water, know the greater crossing has begun. He will pass through death so a people can pass into rest.
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