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May 17, 2014
Crossing the Jordan
The Fine Art of Opening up a Video Chat
• Discussion Starter – What are Memorial Stones for?
– What are Souvenirs?
– What is the difference?
Finding Pearls
• Moses & Joshua – Joshua 3
• Elijah & Elisha – 2 Kings 2
• John the Baptist & Jesus – Matthew 3
•
Stringing Pearls • Putting them all together
– What is the same in all of these? – Is there a different message in each one? – Is there a common message in all three? – Do these messages apply to us today? – Do they apply to YOU today?
•
On your own (or if we have time)
• : • Baptizing Rituals
– History and Purpose – Why would Jesus need to get baptized?
• Discussion Starter – What are Memorial Stones for?
• Examples in the bible? • Examples in the world?
Lewis & Clark
Built as a monument to the westward expansion of the
United States
– What are Souvenirs? • Popular examples
– What is the difference?
Moses & Joshua
• Joshua 3 • Moses – leader replaced by Joshua • Water stopped flowing so the people could
cross (first the Red Sea, now the Jordan) • First Generation, Current generation
Memorial Souvenir
• Put 12 stones in the middle of the river • Took 12 stones OUT of the river and took
them to the other side
FINALLY. . .
• From wandering in the wilderness to the Promised Land
• 40 years later.
Everything is Sacred
• Right?? • Some things are more sacred than others. • God uses events, places, days to highlight
special truths that should impact our life! (In case we don’t get it, he repeats them)
• Did anything like this event ever happen at this place or on the same day – in another place in the Bible?
Passing the Mantle
2 King 2 Passing the mantle
Crossed Jordan River Parted the Waters
Twice
Memorial Souvenir
John the Baptizer/Jesus
• Matthew 3 • John the Baptist/Jesus • Where? Bethany across
The Jordan • What happened?
Stringing Pearls • Putting them all together
– What is the same in all of these?
– Is there a different message in each one? – Is there a common message in all three? – Do these messages apply to us today? – Do they apply to YOU today?
•
Purpose & History of Baptism
• Purity for worship – Everyone, especially priests
• Women’s monthly menstruation • After being sick or contaiminated (again
for worship sake) • Conversion to jewish religion (the century
before Jesus)
• Hillel & Shammai – debates about which were more important – circumcision or baptism.
• Hillel won. • Maimonides (12th century) – Talmud
Tradition summary
Maimonides
• . . .uncleanness is not mud or filth which water can remove, but it is a matter of scriptural decree and dependent on the intention of the heart.
His summary of Talmudic tradition regarding the tradition and commandments about mikveh
John’s Baptism (and it’s Message)
• Water symbolized cleansing and consecration • Very Jewish • Very ancient
• NOT a new concept
John’s Message
• Similar to other prophets – Israel must repent – Be spiritually renewed – The coming of the Messiah was at hand.
The Baptism of Jesus
• Not a woman . . . • No need for repentance . . • But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so
now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
• ??
Maybe because . . .
• Priests had to be cleansed.
• Jesus is the High Priest.
Could it Be. . . • As an example? To show others – to remind others what
was already known – purity of the heart • God’s response - And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he
went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
To Draw Attention to the Place?
• Jews already associated that place with Joshua and Elijah
• Identifying John the Baptist with Elijah. (Elijah has already come. . . )
To Draw Attention to the Date?
• Joshua – Nisan 10 – before the Passover. • Nisan 10 – when the Lambs are brought in • (what did John the Baptist call him??)
Stringing Pearls • Putting them all together
– What is the same in all of these? – Is there a different message in each one? – Is there a common message in all three? – Do these messages apply to us today? – Do they apply to YOU today?
•
Should I stay or should I go?
Stay in the desert comfortable predictable still able to worship
Venture into the new land Promise of greater things Victory over struggles Reliance on God
• Egypt – Slaves to Sin – Stones - Death & Burial Pyramids
• Desert (Across the Jordan) – No longer slaves to sin, trying to live as free people. – Stones – In the middle of the river, buried
• Promised Land - a place of surrender, still not free people but free from a live of sin and sadness. Serving another king. – Stones as a remembrance.
Stone Soup
What stones have you buried? What stones will you carry with
you as a remembrance?
