Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Bennymkje - 1 year ago
    Matt.3:13-15 "The River Jordan"

    "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him./ But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?/And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."

    Jesus who knew no sin would have no need for baptism but his baptism goes beyond the significance of the sacrament carries. According to St Paul crossing the Red sea we are told that, "All our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea"(1 Co.10:1-2). Parting of the sea prepared them for a new beginning, the born again experience to which Jesus alludes ( John 3:5) St Paul also mentions the Spirit of Christ being present at that time. Crossing again under the command of Joshua we have the parting of the River Jordan signaling the entry into the Promised Land. Being born of water equipped an Israelite to be born of the Spirit. Sad commentary of the nation we have here," But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness."So the baptism by Spirit would wait.

    Jesus would nevertheless take baptism by water under the hand of John so he identified it as a testimony to his humanity and before the Law he being the Word become flesh. The voice testified from heaven bearing testimony " And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(3:17)

    The river Jordan serves as the river of time and it is in this context we may examine the resurrection of souls to which this river serves as a symbol. The river parted ( Josh 3:13-16) when the priests stood with the Ark of the Testimony in the midst till the people passed over. We died to the world in order to alive in heavenly places and we became adopted in his Son even before the worlds began. (Ep.1:3-4)



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