Bible Study

1. May 17, 2014
Crossing the Jordan

2. The Fine Art of Opening up a
Video Chat
• Discussion Starter
– What are Memorial Stones for?
– What are Souvenirs?
– What is the difference?

3. Finding Pearls
• Moses & Joshua
– Joshua 3
• Elijah & Elisha
– 2 Kings 2
• John the Baptist & Jesus
– Matthew 3
•

4. 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?
•

5. On your own
(or if we have time)
• :
• Baptizing Rituals
– History and Purpose
– Why would Jesus need to get baptized?

6. • Discussion Starter
– What are Memorial Stones for?
• Examples in the bible?
• Examples in the world?

7. Lewis & Clark

8. Built as a monument to
the westward expansion of the
United States

9. – What are Souvenirs?
• Popular examples
– What is the difference?

10. 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

11. 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

12. FINALLY. . .
• From wandering in the wilderness to the
Promised Land
• 40 years later.

14. 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?

15. Passing the Mantle

16. 2 King 2
Passing the mantle
Crossed Jordan River
Parted the Waters
Twice

17. Memorial Souvenir

18. John the Baptizer/Jesus
• Matthew 3
• John the Baptist/Jesus
• Where? Bethany across
The Jordan
• What happened?

19. 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?
•

21. 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)

22. • Hillel & Shammai – debates about which
were more important – circumcision or
baptism.
• Hillel won.
• Maimonides (12th century) – Talmud
Tradition summary

23. 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

24. John’s Baptism (and it’s Message)
• Water symbolized cleansing and consecration
• Very Jewish
• Very ancient
• NOT a new concept

25. John’s Message
• Similar to other prophets
– Israel must repent
– Be spiritually renewed
– The coming of the Messiah was at hand.

26. 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.”
• ??

27. Maybe because . . .
• Priests had to be cleansed.
• Jesus is the High Priest.

28. 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.”

29. 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. . . )

30. 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??)

31. 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?
•

32. 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

33. • 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.

34. Stone Soup
What stones have you buried?
What stones will you carry with
you as a remembrance?