Many Believers Beyond Jordan

The World Heritage site, confusingly named ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan’ and ‘Al-Maghtas’ (in Arabic). It is thought to be the site of Jesus’ baptism, and also where Joshua ‘crossed the Jordan’.

And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.”
And many believed in Him there.
[John 10:40-42 NKJV]
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The phrase ‘beyond the Jordan’ appears three times in John’s gospel,

• in John 1:28; These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
• 3:26; And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
• and here in 10:40; And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.

On each occasion ‘beyond the Jordan’ is linked with baptism, which is the regeneration or rebirth into the Christlife. In John 1:28, the baptismal location is given as ‘Bethabara beyond the Jordan’, which can be restated as ‘to come down on the other side at the house on the crossing place’. This site on the east of the River Jordan.

Whatever the historical significance of this place might be, spiritually it represents the place Jesus ‘went away’ to ‘and there He stayed.’ It indicates that ‘beyond the Jordan’ is the place where we also want to stay in our spirit life; the place where many believed in Him.

Tuesday 8th June 2021

Launch out in the reckless belief that the redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said — pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all people. Pray on the realisation that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea — “O Lord I have done my best, please hear me.”
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’]