Jesus in the Jordan
Strategic Focus: Jesus in the Jordan
Read:
“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; thEarly in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark ofthe covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. - Joshua 3ey shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Joshua 3
Read:
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17
Reflect:
When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into their long-awaited dream come true, they were on their way to a safe place where the glory of God dwelled.
The priests with the ark of the covenant, which held the glory of God within, went first. They stood in the middle of the Jordan while a million Israelites passed by from one side to the other,
From death to life, From slave to free,
From unbelonging to belonging, From foreigners to residents,
From seeking to finding, and ultimately found.
They passed by the glory of the Lord, and he followed them into their promise.
Fast forward a thousand years. Jesus, YHWH, the Son of God, stood in the middle of the Jordan, where his glory once dwelt. This time, Jesus stood in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit at the moment of his baptism. God the Father spoke from the clouds, and God the Spirit came and landed on him in the form of a dove.
And here we are, a line from the time of the Israelites up until now, we cross the Jordan from death to life, slave to free, from unbelonging to belonging, from seeking to find- ing, to being found.
We stand in the place where the ark once was and find Jesus standing there, arms open wide, as he welcomes us there with an embrace, as he calls us Beloved, one by one!
Pray:
What stands out to you the most as you reflect on these images?
Speak your words out loud to God and listen for his voice.
Write down the words you think Jesus is saying to you as you meet him in the Jordan River.
Sit with these thoughts for five minutes or so. Focus intently on the presence of God within you and all around you.
Read:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Pray:
What do you want to lay down at Jesus’ feet before entering the Promise Land? In other words, what do you need to leave behind that weighs you down and hinders you?
Again, listen to God’s Spirit as he guides you in these thoughts for five minutes or so.
Pray your words to God out loud. Wait quietly and let him speak to you. Listen to his voice as he says to the crowd around you, “This is my Beloved. In this one, I am well pleased.”
Go with God into the rest of your day with his glory shining all around you.