Crossing  the  Jordan

 

Crossing the Jordan is for Sanctification

 

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (Josh. 3:5)

 

 

There are two important phases of the Christian’s spiritual progress towards maturity and perfection. The first phase is justification which is effected by faith, repentance and baptism. The Children of Israel had killed the Passover lamb and smeared its blood on the door frame to show their faith. They had left Egypt which symbolizes repentance and turning from sin.

 

Crossing the Red Sea prefigures water baptism (1 Cor. 10:2). God had opened the Red Sea for them to cross. After wandering in the wilderness for forty years they had come to the river Jordan.

 

This is another phase called sanctification which is the process of being made holy. The Children of Israel had to demonstrate greater faith than they had in Egypt in order to cross the Jordan (Josh. 3:11-13).

 

11  Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.

12  Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.

13  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap."

 

 

Crossing the Jordan typifies the Washing of Feet

 

The Ark of the Covenant that symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ led the way in crossing the Jordan. The twelve priests from the twelve tribes of Israel correspond to the twelve apostles who were chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ to represent all the believers in the Church to receive His washing of feet and follow His example. “As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off.” The procedure has a parallel to the Lord Jesus Christ washing the feet of His twelve apostles.

 

 

The Children of Israel cannot cross the Jordan without the soles of feet of the priests resting in the waters; likewise Christians cannot be sanctified and have a part with the Lord Jesus Christ without the washing of feet (Jn. 13:3-17). Just as crossing the Jordan is for sanctification so is the sacrament of washing of feet.

 

 

Crossing  the  Jordan  has  Moral  Teachings  for  the  Church

 

There were twelve priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant that symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” (Jn. 12:32-33) The priests represent ministers of God. They must always lift up the Lord Jesus Christ and preach His atoning sacrifice on the Cross.

 

“Then the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.” (Josh. 3:17)

 

“Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the Ark of the LORD and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.” (Josh. 4:11)

 

 

This illustration shows only the representation of the events and
activities that occurred during the crossing of the Jordan River.

 

 

The priests bore the Ark of the Covenant “until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.” This is a great responsibility. The priests represent the ministers of God who should ensure every soul in the Church must be saved. There were at least two million people that crossed the Jordan, not counting the cattle, domestic animals, wagons, carts, tents and household belongings. The Jordan crossing must have taken the Children of Israel many hours to accomplish.

 

Bearing the Ark of the Covenant symbolizes lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings. Ministers of God must take responsibility to preach and uphold the truth no matter how difficult it is and make sure that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ reaches full maturity and perfection. Just like crossing the Jordan is no easy matter, ministers of God must continue to do divine work and not quit. With guidance and strength given by the Lord Jesus Christ we can all accomplish and finish the work what God has assigned for us to do.

 

May God bless you

 

For Slide Show Presentation please

 

 

 

A sermon based on this article was preached by Paul Wong

to a Congregation in Houston, Texas on February 11, 2006

 

For comments please write first to: arkpw@sbcglobal.net

 

Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the President of ARK International. His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in Houston. The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.

 

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