The Jordan River

 by Daniel & Michelle Ramsey

The Jordan River is one of the most famous rivers in the world.  While it’s not on the scale of other famous rivers like the great Nile, the vast Amazon, or the mighty Mississippi, the Jordan River has a special wonder of its own.  In fact, some of the greatest events in Biblical history are connected to this small river.

 The Jordan River begins in Northern Israel at the base of Mt Hermon.  It flows south and empties into the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a freshwater lake.  As it exits the lake, it flows further south through the Jordan Valley and terminates into the Dead Sea.  Prior to the 20^thcentury, the river would experience seasonal flooding.  Today however, the water flow is regulated.  The result is that the Jordan River is more like a creek than a river in some places.

 As we said, some of the most memorable events recorded in the Bible are tied to the Jordan River.  We will only mention a few.  It was here that the people of Israel crossed into the Promised Land after their 40-year wilderness journey.  You may recall that the priests carrying the Ark of the testimony were instructed to step into the water.  Only when they did so would the waters recede.  Talk about a step of faith!  The book of Joshua records that they obeyed and the waters did in fact recede, enabling all of Israel to cross over.  The people were then instructed by the Lord to take 12 stones from the river, one stone for each of the 12 tribes.  These 12 stones were to be set up as an eternal memorial of this great event.  So, Israel’s wilderness journey began and ended with a water-crossing miracle.

 Years later, during the time of the Israelite monarchy, the waters of the Jordan were miraculously parted again.  The Book of II Kings records that just prior to the prophet Elijah’s ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire, he and his protégé Elisha approached the River Jordan.  Once there, Elijah removed his mantle, threw it down and the waters of the Jordan parted.  The two then crossed over and Elijah was soon taken into heaven. As he was taken up, his mantle fell to the ground.  Elisha then took his mantle and made his way back home.  When he arrived back at the Jordan River, he threw down Elijah’s mantle and cried out, “Where now is the God of Elijah?”  As they had done previously for Elijah, the waters rolled back and Elisha crossed over. It is recorded that Elisha then went on to perform twice the miracles of his predecessor Elijah.

 In the first century A.D., John the Baptist, the prophet like Elijah, also carried out his preaching and baptizing ministry along the shores of this river.  The synoptic gospels record that prior to beginning his public ministry, Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River.  After persuading John to oversee his baptism, the gospels record that as Jesus was coming out of the waters, the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in bodily form, like a dove.  A voice then came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the beloved, in you I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the Judean wilderness for 40 days.  Afterwards, He began his public ministry to the people of Israel.

 So, while the Jordan may not match the grandeur of some of the earth’s other rivers, it has played a major role in some of the most famous Biblical events!