Israel / Jordan · OT & NT
Jordan River
The river of Israel's entry into the Promised Land — and of Jesus' baptism.
Today: Border of Israel and Jordan
The Jordan rises in the foothills of Mount Hermon, flows south through the Sea of Galilee, and empties into the Dead Sea — about 200 miles of winding course in a deep rift valley.
Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground under Joshua. Naaman was healed of leprosy by washing in it seven times. John baptized in its waters, and Jesus came to him there to be baptized — the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and the Father spoke.
Key verses
"And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests that bare the ark of the covenant being before the people; and when they that bare the ark were come unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest), that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan."
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"Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
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"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
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"These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing."
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