The Baptism of Our Lord January 9, 2022
Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17
The Greater Joshua
v.7 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."
Dear friends in Christ, the ancient nation of Israel had a problem. They had finally completed their 40 years of wilderness wanderings (due to their original refusal to go up into the Promised Land, for which God then punished them by killing the entire generation that refused to go up, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb). Now, they were ready to take up the Lord's cause and go in and claim the land that the Lord God had promised to them and their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, their great leader—the man whom the Lord had chosen to lead them out of bondage in Egypt—who had parted the Red Sea—who had done incredible signs and wonders both before and during the 40 years of wandering—Moses—was dead. He also had been punished by God for an infraction against the Lord's Word, and so though Moses was given a glimpse of the Promised Land—he never entered it.
Joshua, son of Nun, one of the two spies who originally entered the Promised Land 40 years ago and gave a good report, has now been appointed by God to lead the people. But would God be with him as He had been with Moses? How could Joshua ever compare with the mighty Moses? Indeed, he had brought them to the brink of the Promised Land, the Jordan River, which was now in full raging flood. How would the people ever cross safely to occupy the Land at this time? How indeed?
Well, first of all, by not following Joshua per se, but rather by following the Lord who appointed Joshua. After breaking camp at Shittim the people traveled to the Jordan to prepare for the crossing. The people were instructed to set out and move, following the ark of the covenant the Lord God. The ark of the covenant was a special box—roughly 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. It was beautifully carved and inlaid with gold. It contained such amazing things as a jar of manna from their wilderness wanderings, the two tablets of testimony that Moses received from the Lord's hand on Mount Sinai, along with Aaron's staff that budded. The lid of the ark was constructed to resemble two angels with wings outstretched toward one another, which formed a "seat." Indeed, this was known as the "mercy seat" of God and was to be a visible manifestation of His presence among His people.
Where the ark of God went, so followed the people. He went before them in all things to rout their enemies and to protect, lead, and guide them along the way. He was with them and would watch over them.
To give the people confidence in Joshua to lead them, "The Lord said to Joshua, 'Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" What? That sounds crazy! The Jordan was in full flood during this Spring time event. The Jordan had flooded its banks. But now the priests are to bear the ark before the people and step into the Jordan? They would be swept away!
However, God had declared to Joshua, "And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." And as soon as they did so, "the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until the nation finished passing over the Jordan."
This great miracle of the people of Israel crossing over the Jordan river on dry ground should remind you of the miracle that took place following the Exodus from Egypt when Pharaoh chased the Israelites to the Red Sea. At that time, God commanded Moses and the people to cross the Red Sea, which they did, also on dry ground, the waters standing up in a heap on either side of them, which would later come crashing down on the Egyptians to destroy them—thus delivering the people of Israel from their enemies.
So, God is here exalting Joshua, just as He said He would. Joshua is elevated to great status, along with Moses, with a visible sign and wonder proving that as God was with Moses, so God is with Joshua, and therefore is with and for His people. Indeed, God is the one behind all the miracles, of course. The waters of the Jordan were cut off and the people crossed on dry ground as soon as the priests bearing the ark of the covenant dipped their feet in the Jordan river. God went before His people to prepare the way for them—to bring them safely into the Promised Land.
This whole incident is but a foreshadowing, a preparation, for the greater Joshua to come. Joshua's name means the Lord Saves. In the New Testament era, this name is translated as Jesus. Jesus is the greater Joshua who was to come—the visible presence of the Lord come to save His people from their sins. This great task of Jesus began with another important event at the Jordan River—Jesus' Baptism. It was there that the Holy Spirit came and anointed Him—it was there that the Father spoke those beautiful words to exalt and set apart His Son, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).
In the holy incarnation, which we just finished celebrating this past week with the end of Christmas, Jesus has come to dwell among us—to be with us—to take up our sins and bear them to the cross. He began this great work publicly at His Baptism. His Baptism was not one of repentance as He had no need of repentance, being sinless, but was rather "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Jesus became one of us—took up our sin—to pay for it with His life's blood at the cross—thus fulfilling all righteousness—and earning forgiveness for His people. Truly, Jesus is the "the Lord who saves" in the flesh!
Jesus has come to lead you to the Promised Land of heavenly glory with Him, to await the coming consummation of all things when there will be a new heavens and a new earth—and where we will live with Him forever in blessed righteousness and peace. Our sin would keep us from this. Our sin would separate us from God's presence more fully and completely than any flooding river. Yet Jesus entered into the raging flood that was our sin—and He suffered and died for it on the cross—thereby clearing a way before us to enter into His presence.
Now in our Baptism, we too pass through water on the way to life with God. For as St. Paul writes in Romans 6:4, "We were buried therefore with Him [Jesus] by baptism into death, on order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Through our Baptism, whereby Christ's death for sin becomes ours, along with His resurrection life, our sins are completely washed away. Erased by the cleansing tide of Christ's own redeeming blood that is poured out upon us through water and the Word. In its place we are given forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
The full and complete righteousness of Jesus is given to us as free gift through faith in Him. Indeed, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given in Baptism to work and sustain saving faith in our hearts. For the incarnate Lord Jesus continues to be present with His church through Word and Sacrament by which He performs the miracles of salvation today. As the gift of faith and forgiveness is given and worked in your hearts, you may know and trust that the Father's words to Jesus at His baptism, now apply to you in yours, "This is my beloved son/daughter with whom I am well pleased." For you have been delivered by the greater Joshua who has gone before you to save you from your sin and death. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17
The Greater Joshua
v.7 The Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."
Dear friends in Christ, the ancient nation of Israel had a problem. They had finally completed their 40 years of wilderness wanderings (due to their original refusal to go up into the Promised Land, for which God then punished them by killing the entire generation that refused to go up, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb). Now, they were ready to take up the Lord's cause and go in and claim the land that the Lord God had promised to them and their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, their great leader—the man whom the Lord had chosen to lead them out of bondage in Egypt—who had parted the Red Sea—who had done incredible signs and wonders both before and during the 40 years of wandering—Moses—was dead. He also had been punished by God for an infraction against the Lord's Word, and so though Moses was given a glimpse of the Promised Land—he never entered it.
Joshua, son of Nun, one of the two spies who originally entered the Promised Land 40 years ago and gave a good report, has now been appointed by God to lead the people. But would God be with him as He had been with Moses? How could Joshua ever compare with the mighty Moses? Indeed, he had brought them to the brink of the Promised Land, the Jordan River, which was now in full raging flood. How would the people ever cross safely to occupy the Land at this time? How indeed?
Well, first of all, by not following Joshua per se, but rather by following the Lord who appointed Joshua. After breaking camp at Shittim the people traveled to the Jordan to prepare for the crossing. The people were instructed to set out and move, following the ark of the covenant the Lord God. The ark of the covenant was a special box—roughly 4 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. It was beautifully carved and inlaid with gold. It contained such amazing things as a jar of manna from their wilderness wanderings, the two tablets of testimony that Moses received from the Lord's hand on Mount Sinai, along with Aaron's staff that budded. The lid of the ark was constructed to resemble two angels with wings outstretched toward one another, which formed a "seat." Indeed, this was known as the "mercy seat" of God and was to be a visible manifestation of His presence among His people.
Where the ark of God went, so followed the people. He went before them in all things to rout their enemies and to protect, lead, and guide them along the way. He was with them and would watch over them.
To give the people confidence in Joshua to lead them, "The Lord said to Joshua, 'Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" What? That sounds crazy! The Jordan was in full flood during this Spring time event. The Jordan had flooded its banks. But now the priests are to bear the ark before the people and step into the Jordan? They would be swept away!
However, God had declared to Joshua, "And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." And as soon as they did so, "the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until the nation finished passing over the Jordan."
This great miracle of the people of Israel crossing over the Jordan river on dry ground should remind you of the miracle that took place following the Exodus from Egypt when Pharaoh chased the Israelites to the Red Sea. At that time, God commanded Moses and the people to cross the Red Sea, which they did, also on dry ground, the waters standing up in a heap on either side of them, which would later come crashing down on the Egyptians to destroy them—thus delivering the people of Israel from their enemies.
So, God is here exalting Joshua, just as He said He would. Joshua is elevated to great status, along with Moses, with a visible sign and wonder proving that as God was with Moses, so God is with Joshua, and therefore is with and for His people. Indeed, God is the one behind all the miracles, of course. The waters of the Jordan were cut off and the people crossed on dry ground as soon as the priests bearing the ark of the covenant dipped their feet in the Jordan river. God went before His people to prepare the way for them—to bring them safely into the Promised Land.
This whole incident is but a foreshadowing, a preparation, for the greater Joshua to come. Joshua's name means the Lord Saves. In the New Testament era, this name is translated as Jesus. Jesus is the greater Joshua who was to come—the visible presence of the Lord come to save His people from their sins. This great task of Jesus began with another important event at the Jordan River—Jesus' Baptism. It was there that the Holy Spirit came and anointed Him—it was there that the Father spoke those beautiful words to exalt and set apart His Son, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).
In the holy incarnation, which we just finished celebrating this past week with the end of Christmas, Jesus has come to dwell among us—to be with us—to take up our sins and bear them to the cross. He began this great work publicly at His Baptism. His Baptism was not one of repentance as He had no need of repentance, being sinless, but was rather "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Jesus became one of us—took up our sin—to pay for it with His life's blood at the cross—thus fulfilling all righteousness—and earning forgiveness for His people. Truly, Jesus is the "the Lord who saves" in the flesh!
Jesus has come to lead you to the Promised Land of heavenly glory with Him, to await the coming consummation of all things when there will be a new heavens and a new earth—and where we will live with Him forever in blessed righteousness and peace. Our sin would keep us from this. Our sin would separate us from God's presence more fully and completely than any flooding river. Yet Jesus entered into the raging flood that was our sin—and He suffered and died for it on the cross—thereby clearing a way before us to enter into His presence.
Now in our Baptism, we too pass through water on the way to life with God. For as St. Paul writes in Romans 6:4, "We were buried therefore with Him [Jesus] by baptism into death, on order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Through our Baptism, whereby Christ's death for sin becomes ours, along with His resurrection life, our sins are completely washed away. Erased by the cleansing tide of Christ's own redeeming blood that is poured out upon us through water and the Word. In its place we are given forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
The full and complete righteousness of Jesus is given to us as free gift through faith in Him. Indeed, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given in Baptism to work and sustain saving faith in our hearts. For the incarnate Lord Jesus continues to be present with His church through Word and Sacrament by which He performs the miracles of salvation today. As the gift of faith and forgiveness is given and worked in your hearts, you may know and trust that the Father's words to Jesus at His baptism, now apply to you in yours, "This is my beloved son/daughter with whom I am well pleased." For you have been delivered by the greater Joshua who has gone before you to save you from your sin and death. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.