Crossing the Jordan

 Christ in all the scriptures

The miracle of the Jordan    Joshua chapter 3

"Crossing the Jordan", the subject of many a hymn, and of many sermons, but how are we to understand it?  I suppose the one way to introduce it is to ask the question, believer, have you crossed the Jordan yet?  You have definitely left Egypt (spiritually), and crossed the Red Sea (spiritually), but have you crossed the Jordan?  It is not an easy question to answer, for the teaching on this has been somewhat confusing, yet we must understand the beauty of it.

Much of hymnology, and some commentaries would characterise it as physical death, the passing from this life to the next.  However, precious as that would be, when they crossed they were in immediate conflict, and there is no conflict in heaven.

To understand it, we first make some observations of the river Jordan, which plays a vital role in the history of Israel.  "Jordan" in Hebrew, is Yarden, and is derived from the verb Yardah which means to "descend".  Geographers tell us that the Jordan is sourced from the snow capped Mount Hermon, which is 9,200 feet at its peak, and meanders down to the Sea of Galilee which is 680 feet below sea level, and ultimately pours into the Dead Sea which is 1420 feet below sea level.  The picture is clear that the Jordan is permanently descending downward, and ends in the Dead Sea!  If ever there is a picture of fallen humanity this is it!

Picture the scene, 3 million people, plus their animals, standing on the borders of the promised land, and the fast flowing Jordan bars their way!  There is no bridge nor ferries to transport them, and, another factor is that it is the time of harvest when the Jordan overflows its banks.  Yet the Lord demanded His people to cross!

We are about to read of a miracle of mammoth proportions, that has spiritual implications down to the present day.  If the Red Sea speaks of the death of Christ, separating us from our bondage in Egypt, and escape from the pursuing enemy from Egypt; crossing the Jordan speaks of the resurrection of Christ initiating us into a new life, leaving behind years of disobedience and distrust and self will, moving into the realm of obedience and trust to enjoy rest in the promised land.

Notice, they moved from Shittim (the place of Acacia Groves) to the waters edge of the Jordan.  They moved out of their comfort zone.  After 3 days (it was on the third day He rose again) they were summoned to follow the Ark of the Covenant (symbolic of Christ).  They were to follow at a distance of 2000 cubits (approx. 1 kilometre).  No matter the nearness to God they were to remain a little apart for reverence to His holy character.  We have been reconciled to God, but that nearness is not to issue in familiarity,  Also the distance would ensure that all the people could see the Ark to follow it.  They marched in order with the Ark leading them.  The feet of the priests carrying the Ark touched the edge of the fast flowing Jordan, and the waters rose up in a heap, and were stayed; the waters cascading toward the Dead Sea dried up, and the people passed over to the other side.

The narrative says that God performed a gravity defying miracle, heaping up the waters some 18 miles north of Jericho, where Israel were congregated the other side of the river.  He made sure that the cities Adam and Zaretan were unaffected by the spray (the name Adam in this miracle is notable!)  The Ark of the covenant stood in the midst of the dried up Jordan, while the people, every last one of them, passed over on dry land.

Thus the relatively new congregation of Israel were witness to the God of Miracles.  Why would they ever doubt His ability or intention to prosper them.  He was also the God of Covenant Promise, symbolised in the Ark, which led them over.

So what is the crossing of Jordan all about?  God did not redeem Israel from Egypt to have them wandering aimlessly in a wilderness.  He saved them to prosper them, that they would enter into blessing.  The miracle of the Red Sea delivered them from Egypt: the miracle of the Jordan brought them into the promised land.  Out of Egypt, not to a no man's land, but into the promised land.  Spiritually speaking the same is true of all believers today.  Taken from one manner of life into another (better) life.  God did not save us to deny us a good life, He saved us to "walk in newness of life". 

it took Israel 40 years after their redemption to enter into the goodness of the Promised land.  We might well ask, how long has it taken us?  Crossing the Jordan is progress: it meant new challenges, but it is progress.  The New Testament is replete with this principle.  Rather than stagnating in a world of vacuum, we are to enter into the enjoyment of the blessings God has for us.  

This will mean casting off the shackles of the old life, and entering into the freedom of the new.

1st Peter 2v1/2 "Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby".

Hebrews 6v1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection".

Ephesians 4v22/23 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation (manner of life) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts".

This will mean going to war against (not the people of the world) but against our own propensity to live like them

Colossians 3v5/7 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience, in which ye also walked some time when ye lived in them".

Crossing Jordan means entering into the possession of all that we have in Christ, but it will involve putting away the things of the old life.  Each of us must decide what that means for ourselves.

The Jordan is not death, but moving on to a better life. The promised land is not heaven, but heaven on earth!  Believer, are you there yet?  Such progress would revolutionise our churches today!

Remember. the Lord Himself was baptised in the Jordan, and it was from there John the Baptist initiated the revival which issued in thousands being saved in the early church.  The Jordan is very significant in scripture.