Sunday, May 31 Jordan Valley Baptism Site - Qumran- Masada - Dead Sea

JORDAN VALLEY

The Jordan River's name in Hebrew is ֵןְדַרי (Yarden), and it is

derived from ַןֵדר (yarad) meaning "descend" or "flow down".

This makes since because it flows from the Sea of

Galilee to the Dead Sea. Although the actual

distance between these two bodies of water is

less than 70 miles, the Jordan River snakes

along in a winding path that gives the river a

final length of almost 110 miles.

There were some settlements

along the river (notably Beit

Shean in the north and Jericho

in the south), but the area was not generally favorable to settlement. Instead,

much of the area along the Jordan River was covered with dense vegetation

that hid wild animals. It is actually a small stream less than fifty feet wide

most of the year . Much of the water that once fed the Jordan River is now

used for irrigation. The Madaba map, discovered in a sixth century church in

Moab, reflects the condition of the Dead Sea. Notice that the fish travel

down the Jordan River but turn back before the Dead Sea. This portion of

the map also depicts Jericho, the City of Palms.

Seven Sacred Species of the Promised Land from Deuteronomy 8:8:

Olive, Honey (Dates), Pomegranates, Wheat, Barley, Grapes, Figs

Three Major Festivals (coincide with harvests)

Passover (Wheat) remembering flight from Egypt

Pentecost (Barley) remembering the receiving of the Law

Tabernacles (Olives & Dates) remembering God's provision

during 40 years in wilderness

Leaving Tiberias we passed Beit Shean which we visited on Day 3. It is

located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys, essentially

controlling access from the interior to the coast, as well as from Jerusalem to

the Galilee. Like Jericho, Beit Shean was almost continuously occupied throughout history. During the

intertestamental period, the city was renamed Scythopolis. After the Battle of Mt. Gilboa in which Saul and

three of his sons died, the Philistines mocked Israel by hanging their bodies on the wall of Beit Shean.

Bethany Across the Jordan (Qasr el Yahud: Castle of the Jews) is

the recent official name of a baptism site in the Jordan River

Valley. It is the western part of the traditional site where the New

Testament narrative of the baptism of Jesus took place (Matthew

3:13-17). According to other traditions, it is also the place where

the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and Elijah the Prophet

ascended to heaven. The site reopened in 2011 after being closed

for 44 years. The restoration project was approved before the 2000

millennium celebrations but was delayed due to the Second

Intifada and flooding in the region in 2003. It is administered by

the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of

Tourism.

Qumran is located near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea (50 miles north of Masada) and was the site of

a small settlement that existed during the time of Christ. Many (though not all) scholars believe Qumran was

inhabited by a Jewish sect call the Essenes. The Essenes escaped to the desert to prepare for what they expected

to be God's ultimate victory over the usurpers who had taken over the Temple. These high priests of Jerusalem

were feared by the Essenes much more than the Romans. When the Essenes were ultimately attacked by the

Romans, they hid their secret scrolls in storage jars with bowls for lids. The Essenes joined the rebels who

captured Masada where they remained until they were killed by the Romans in 73 A.D.

The Essenes were characterized by their withdrawal from the world, communal life, rejection of foreign

influences, desire for ritual purity, and their expectation of the imminent apocalyptic battle between the Sons of

Light and the Sons of Darkness. Rather than the violent standoff experienced at Masada, the Essenes' rejection

of Roman dominance was characterized by withdrawal.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered near Qumran in 1947 by a Bedouin boy throwing rocks into the cave.

This discovery is known as Qumran the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century and gives the site

its importance. Most likely the Essenes, hearing of the approach of

the Roman armies in 68 A.D., placed their scrolls in pottery jars and

hid them in the nearby caves, intending to return for them later.

These scrolls were copied around 1,000 A.D. and are almost identical

to the oldest known manuscripts possessed at that time, also dated

around 1,000 A.D. http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/featured scrolls

Masoretic Text was made up of Torah, Prophecy and Wisdom books

Harry's Comments: Scripture is inspired and infallible in the original

manuscripts in the original languages... Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

Textual Criticism: comparison of ancient text. Even with the copies we have now there is only about one page

of discrepancy and none of those are over vital doctrinal issues. Dead Sea Scroll discovery was an important

discovery for the authentication of the Book of Isaiah which was under attack... Challenges that the book could

not be true prophecy. The entire book was found intact, 1,2,3 woven together...

Literary Genre: Different genres should be interpreted accordingly. Example: Prose vs Poetry / But not

rejected because miracles cannot be “explained”

Dead Sea Valley is a "shadow dessert" in the heart of

the Great Rift it enjoys less than 50mm of rain per year,

while its neighboring mountains get over 800mm in

average. The clouds form over the Mediterranean Sea

and are blown westbound with the breeze. While

climbing up the Judean Mountain range (average 800m)

they get cooler and the barometric pressure drops, the

outcome is rain. As the breeze carries the clouds onward

they glide down towards the Dead Sea. During the

roughly 1km drop the temperature and pressure increase,

the clouds' capacity of holding water is maximal, and

during their passage above the lowest point on earth no

rain is shed.

EN GEDI:Stream of David... significantly dried up today… translates

literally “spring of the wild boar” and is an oasis in the Judean

Wilderness on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm

climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for

its fragrant plants and date palm groves. En Gedi served as one of the

main places of refuge for David as he fled from Saul. David “dwelt in

strongholds at En Gedi.” 1 Samuel 23:29 Ezekiel 47:1-12 Water Flowing from the Temple 1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. 3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle- deep.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee- deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist- deep.

5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6 And he said to me, “ Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. 9 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” (ESVST)

The Dead Sea remains dead because it has nowhere to go. If the topography through earthquake or other Act of God and enough fresh water were to flow into it then it might be revived as water flows in from Jordan and other streams and out again at the bottom toward the Gulf of Aquaba. Jesus by touching funeral byer at Nain brought life; made clean what was unclean. Someday clean waters may bring life back to the Dead Sea. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, fills dry bones with New Life. John 37:37-39 Rivers of Living Water 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “ If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. ’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (ESVST)

Temple/Tabernacle: And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the

only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, “ This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. ’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known (ESVST) John 1:14-18

Three Temples:

1. Solomon's Temple (Original) 2. Zerrubabaal’s Temple (Rebuilt) 3. Ezekiel' Temple (Eternal)

Three Temples: 1. In the believer' heart 2. Local church 3. Church Universal

Am I a functioning temple? Example of the Ethiopian laborer who was not a believer until he saw the witness of the Ethiopean Christians in the face of Isis threat and claimed Christ.

MASADA

Masada, an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of

the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea, matches

well its Hebrew name, “the stronghold” (Hebrew

metsuda). It covers an area of some 20 acres which rises

1300 feet above the Dead Sea. During the jews’ Great

Revolt against the Romans (67-73 A.D.), Zealots,

encamped on Masada, held off the Romans for three

years, until the Romans managed to ram the walls.

Rather than surrender to the Romans, the zealots

committed suicide. Masada is a shrine and symbol of

modern Israel.

What is worth dying for?

Herod the Great earned his

name for his building

projects.

1. Masada

2. Herodian

3. Temple

4. Caesarea Maritima

5. Jericho:Two Palace

Complexes

Spent one night at the Dead

Sea. Stayed in the beautiful

Daniel Hotel. Mineral

baths that night very

relaxing and a 4 mile walk

with Deena. Enjoyed

floating in Dead Sea the

next day before leaving for

Jerusalem!