Life often presents moments where we need to transition from one season to another. Just as the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into their promised land, we too face our own "crossover" moments.
John 3:16 is the crux of our Christianity. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” But, there are a lot of other 3:16s in the Bible. Just to be clear, the 3:16s were added long after Scripture was canonized, but it is a fascinating study to see the message they give. We have a big God who is able to ordain the 3:16 verses, even though the scriptures were not originally written in chapter and verse.
I love the verse in I Samuel 3:16, “Here I am”. Samuel had been called several times by God and in this moment, Eli, the Priest calls him to find out what God had been saying. It was a hard message to deliver but an important one that shifted the Israelite culture.
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”
I Kings 3:16 introduces the story of two prostitutes who were fighting over one of their surviving babies. King Solomon rendered a remarkable and wise judgement identifying the true mother of the surviving child.
I Corinthians 3:16 pronounces that “all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you”.
Joshua 3:16 is where I want to land today. The picture drawn for us in this passage is revelatory. The Israelites had been in captivity in Egypt for 430 years, freed by God through Moses and then wandered 40 more years in the desert. They are at the cusp of going into the promised land. The Israelites were instructed to consecrate themselves and be prepared because the Lord was going to do amazing things. What are you believing in for your life? What has God promised? Do you need to cross over from fear to faith, from depression to joy, from sickness to health, from bad decisions to healthy choices, from your past to what your promised future is. It’s time to cross over. Consecrate yourself. Pray for yourself, your family, your serve team, and this community. The Israelites were led by priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan. The Ark represented the presence of God. Let God’s presence lead you. He will make the winding road straight. Follow his path and plan.
Joshua was told he would be exalted so that the people knew God was with him as he had been with Moses. Jordan was at flood stage when they crossed. How would you have felt if you were the first priest to step your toes into a flooding Jordan river, carrying the Ark! There’s raging water but then the waters separated. God was doing the work before they touched the water. The water stopped at Adam, north of where they were crossing. God was already working His miraculous plan to get the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Fast forward to Matthew 3:16, “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.” John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness. Jesus comes for water baptism, but not a baptism of repentance. He is prophesying about what the Old Testament said about Him. This passage tells us John prepared the way for Jesus just as Moses did for Joshua. John is baptizing in the Jordan, right where the people crossed over at the time of Joshua. Jesus’ baptism is a profession of his death and burial and resurrection. This is the path and plan for our own baptism, including the Holy Spirit.
This is also not the first time the presence of God was at the Jordan. We find all three of the godhead present at the Jordan at this moment. The Spirit alights and God speaks. God's manifested presence was prophesied at the time of Joshua. The Ark in the Jordan was prophesying Jesus’ coming. Our own bondage breaks in the waters of baptism. Jesus showed us the ultimate picture.
Immediately after this, Jesus goes into the wilderness for forty days. Forty years the Israelites were in the wilderness. Pay attention to this for your own crossover. Follow the math. God is intentional how He treats His word and His people. I don’t think your crossover will be forty years or even forty days. Look at the acceleration between the Israelites and Jesus. He accelerated years to days and I believe He will accelerate His work in you.
In 1 John 3:16 we are told that this is how we know what love is. Jesus laid down His life so we could cross over, so we could live in freedom and have hope. He did this so you can cross over to victory from helplessness and hopelessness. Let God restore the joy of your salvation.
We are committed because of John 3:16. It’s our responsibility to receive and go out and share this truth. Are you looking for a solution? The answer is Jesus. He loves and cares for you so you can be in right standing with God. He paid for your mistakes. He defeated death and the grave for you. As you receive this, remember, your crossing over is not just for you. It is for your neighbor. Invite them one more time.
Jesus is crossing you over. Choose Jesus. Choose life.
