Shall We Gather at the River??

Shall we gather at the river,

Where bright angel feet have trod,

With its crystal tide forever

Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain:

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

This morning finds us on the banks of the Jordan River, in the vicinity of the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, where the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land, and where Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind into heaven.  A lot of Christian history in one small area!

The exact spot of the baptism is lost to the ages.  Two dueling spots are located in this area, one on the Jordanian side called  Beitabara and the other on the Israeli side in the West Bank, called Qaser El Yahud. We visited the Israeli area.

Following the six-day-war in 1967, this baptismal area was located in a military zone, and was off limits to civilians.  As the Israelis began to clear the landmines, the site was opened during the Easter season, and then gradually by appointment. When we went it was open on a regular basis, though the land around the site remains treacherous.

The Jordan River is very narrow and muddy at this site. Much of the water is diverted upstream for irrigation.  It is only feet across in spots. You feel you could almost reach out your hand and touch the soil of the sovereign state of Jordan.  There remains a military presence on both sides of the river.

Here we read Luke 3:1-22. "When everyone was being baptized, Jesus also was baptized.  While he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him in bodily form like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness." Luke 3:21-22. Just as Willis Britt read these words, three perfect white doves flew over the site. It was definitely an "aha" moment!  Not long afterward the baptism, John the Baptist was arrested. This was the signal for Jesus to leave his trade and begin his public ministry.

We went down to the water's edge where we renewed our baptismal vows and were anointed with water from the Jordan River. We were able to collect our own bottles of water to take home.  Once the silt settles from the water, it is amazingly clear.  Many people use it in infant baptisms.

According to Bargil Pixner, there were three stages in the development of the rite of baptism.  First there was baptism of self - ritual cleansing, such as in a mikveh, for ritual purity.  Secondly there developed baptizing by a baptizer as a sign of conversion and repentance in preparation for the kingdom of heaven, and finally Christian baptism, the effective sign of entry into the Kingdom of God.

Why did Jesus need to be baptized?   Because he was sinless, Jesus did not need to be baptized.  His baptism demonstrates to us that he identifies with us, sinners.  It gives Jesus credibility with the followers of John the Baptist. By baptizing Jesus, John gave him his stamp of approval as his successor. The baptism was also a perfect picture of the triune God - the Son, the Father's voice from heaven, and the descending of the Holy Spirit. "God in three persons, blessed Trinity."