A river, what can that have to do with anything, water flowing down in a common path seems to not have much significance. The Jordan River is mentioned many times throughout scripture and I’m here to tell you that I don’t think it was an accident.

John 1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

This verse in John is the first I want to look at because we just talked about John the Baptist I thought this would be the perfect place to start. He represents the Old and his job is to preach repentance and to prepare the way of the Kingdom. He’s always hanging out on the East side of the Jordan and the wilderness. The East side of the Jordan I can see represents the Old, before there is fire. Jesus came to baptize us with fire. John came to baptize with water unto repentance. It seems like when you cross the Jordan it’s like crossing through fire. The line between repentance and the Kingdom or the line between water and fire. I will continue with this next verse.

Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted. When he returns of the Jordan he is full of the Spirit and begins to preach and bring the Kingdom. There is other good examples of this in the Old here is a couple:

Deuteronomy 1:1 1These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan

Moses and the Israelites waited in basically the same spot that John baptized at on the East side of the Jordan. If they crossed the Jordan and believed the two spies that said God could do it they were going to walk in power and take over the Promise Land the Kingdom. But they chose to not believe and walked in the desert for 40 years. Interesting, Jesus was tempted 40 days and Israelites walked 40 years. There is something there don’t you think…

Then we have Joshua with the ark of the covenant were the fire of God dwelt and they passed over and when on to take down the first wall in the way – Jericho.

Joshua 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.

One of the coolest comparisons we have is when Elijah goes over the Jordan and passes his mantle to Elisha.

II Kings 2:7-14 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

We see Elijah strangely have to cross the Jordan for some unknown reason and Elisha forcefully follows him even though Elijah is constantly trying to make him not follow. “The violent take the Kingdom by force” Remember that little verse. Ok Elijah’s clothes are torn and his DOUBLE  power rest on Elisha. The veil of the Old temple is torn when Jesus died and the power goes where, to the violent that take it by force. This is a comparison that shows the passing of responsibility and power. Moses the Old dies and his duty gets past to Joshua to cross that Jordan of fire and take the Promise Land. The Old fades with John and gets past to Jesus the New. Elijah rises into the air / Jesus rises into the air and the DOUBLE  power goes to Elisha / the church. Remember Jesus said,”Greater things you will do then I”.  I hope you get my drift. This is great stuff don’t you think!

Oh and the number 50… 50 prophets watched  as Elijah went up. 50 years between Jubilee years. 50 days from Passover to Pentecost.  Hmm,.. again interesting.

Have a wonderful day!