Jordan River |
The Identity of a
river: the Jordan
and Religion
Every river has a story, but no story perhaps as iconic and well known as that of the Jordan, and the baptism of Jesus Christ - one of the defining moments in the Christian church.
Much of the Jordan's renown comes from its history as a religiously significant body of water, namely in the "big three" religions of the world - Christianity, Judaism, and (to a lesser extent) Islam. [1] Each religion places its own importance on the river, from the belief that the Jordan was the river crossed by the Israelites in order to cross into the Promised Land after wandering forty years in the desert, [2] to the idea that John the Baptist performed the baptism of Jesus, figurehead of the Christian faith, in the waters of the river at a later date. [3] Because the importance of the Jordan is most well-documented in the Christian account, our focus here will primarily be centered around the significance of the river as the location of the baptism of Christ, as seen in the video above. (Keep in mind, artistic licenses have been taken there - gauge reactions accordingly.) We will also touch the river's place within the Hebrew Bible.
The Jordan in the Hebrew Bible
Within the Hebrew account, the Jordan river serves a dual purpose - it is both a geographical place, as well as a literary device that is used on more than one occasion to signify the inner transformation of a certain person or group of people. [4] To cross the river was to undergo some amount of personal change, for all of the people involved.
This can be seen in the moment where the Israelites cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land, after walking through the desert for forty years - courtesy of the prophet Elijah. As the story goes, Elijah leads the people of Israel to the Jordan, where he hits the surface of the water with his cloak and it separates (Moses-style) through the power of God. As Elijah crosses the river, he undergoes an inner transformation where his spirit is transferred to his second-in-command, Elisha. Elisha inherits the power of the prophet, and goes on to perform healing miracles and eventually part the waters of the Jordan himself. [5][6]
The Jordan is mentioned as a place more than eighty times in the entirety of the Hebrew Bible [7], with those mentions ending, rather obviously, at the conclusion of the book. This is not, however, the end of the Jordan's story - its shining, and most renowned, moment has yet to come.
The Jordan in the Hebrew Bible
Within the Hebrew account, the Jordan river serves a dual purpose - it is both a geographical place, as well as a literary device that is used on more than one occasion to signify the inner transformation of a certain person or group of people. [4] To cross the river was to undergo some amount of personal change, for all of the people involved.
This can be seen in the moment where the Israelites cross over the Jordan into the Promised Land, after walking through the desert for forty years - courtesy of the prophet Elijah. As the story goes, Elijah leads the people of Israel to the Jordan, where he hits the surface of the water with his cloak and it separates (Moses-style) through the power of God. As Elijah crosses the river, he undergoes an inner transformation where his spirit is transferred to his second-in-command, Elisha. Elisha inherits the power of the prophet, and goes on to perform healing miracles and eventually part the waters of the Jordan himself. [5][6]
The Jordan is mentioned as a place more than eighty times in the entirety of the Hebrew Bible [7], with those mentions ending, rather obviously, at the conclusion of the book. This is not, however, the end of the Jordan's story - its shining, and most renowned, moment has yet to come.
The Jordan in Christianity: the Baptism of Jesus Christ and Beyond
In the Christian New Testament, as opposed to the Hebrew Bible, there are only eleven explicit references to the Jordan River, and almost all of them have to do with John the Baptist and the baptism of Christ. [8] His baptism marked the official beginning of his public ministry, which lasted for around three years. It was one of the first times that the divinity of Jesus was shown to a large group of people, with the gospels describing a dove descending from the clouds, and voice from heaven as saying "You are beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [8]
Soon after Christianity became widely accepted within the Roman Empire, the baptism of Christ was far and away one of the most popular subjects and scenes in art, as it was seen as "nature's witness" to divine action here on earth. [9] The baptism became immensely important within Christendom as a whole, with particular reverence payed to it within the Catholic church. Thus began the rite of baptism, which can be found in a great number of Christian sects today, though each tends to put their own flare on the methodology. [10] Customs can differ in the age of the person being baptized (some sects believe in baptizing as an infant, others wait till the age where the decision to be baptized is self-made), to the amount of water used (baptisms can be a simple sprinkling of water over the person's head, or can be full-on submersion into a body of water). However the baptism is conducted, the meaning is generally the same across the board - the person being baptized has decided that they want to be made new in Christ, and is ready to become a follower of Jesus. [11]
In the Christian New Testament, as opposed to the Hebrew Bible, there are only eleven explicit references to the Jordan River, and almost all of them have to do with John the Baptist and the baptism of Christ. [8] His baptism marked the official beginning of his public ministry, which lasted for around three years. It was one of the first times that the divinity of Jesus was shown to a large group of people, with the gospels describing a dove descending from the clouds, and voice from heaven as saying "You are beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." [8]
Soon after Christianity became widely accepted within the Roman Empire, the baptism of Christ was far and away one of the most popular subjects and scenes in art, as it was seen as "nature's witness" to divine action here on earth. [9] The baptism became immensely important within Christendom as a whole, with particular reverence payed to it within the Catholic church. Thus began the rite of baptism, which can be found in a great number of Christian sects today, though each tends to put their own flare on the methodology. [10] Customs can differ in the age of the person being baptized (some sects believe in baptizing as an infant, others wait till the age where the decision to be baptized is self-made), to the amount of water used (baptisms can be a simple sprinkling of water over the person's head, or can be full-on submersion into a body of water). However the baptism is conducted, the meaning is generally the same across the board - the person being baptized has decided that they want to be made new in Christ, and is ready to become a follower of Jesus. [11]
The Jordan: Home of Christian Holy Water
For those of you who might be Catholic, or know a bit about the Catholic faith, you might be familiar with the practice of utilizing holy water as a means of cleansing yourself. (Of course, this practice can also be found in other denominations of Christianity - and in other religions - as well, but we'll just focus on Catholicism for now) Holy water is simply water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy, and has a variety of different uses. [12] Most commonly, holy water is used to cleanse a person before their baptism, as a way of blessing oneself prior to entering a holy place, and as a means to ward off evil. [13] (An interesting look at the use of holy water and other sacred items to fend off spirits found here.)
But where does this practice of holy water come from? What are its origins? Can you guess? The mythical origin for the practice of holy water is, yes, the Jordan River. [14] The belief is this: when Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, he, in his perfection, "made holy the nature of water." From that point on, the water flowing in the Jordan river was considered some of the holiest water on the planet. [15] It is for this reason that, when persons of great importance are baptized, they tend to be baptized with water drawn from the Jordan. It is also the reason that thousands of people from thousands of different countries across the world come to be cleansed and baptized in the waters of the river. [16] On the more negative side, the holiness of the river stands in stark contrast to the current environmental turmoil that faces the Jordan each and every day. You can learn more about the heart of the issues over on Kellen's page, but to sum up: the Jordan has been the victim of numerous environmental attacks - from being dammed up to having all sorts of waste dumped into the water each and every day. [17] This situation provides an interesting contrast between what is supposed to be one of the most holy bodies of water in the world, and its double identity as one of the world's most polluted bodies of water. For the faithful, the condition of the river is nothing short of appalling. There have been attempts to push for a cleaner river, but any movement that builds up any momentum eventually runs into a brick wall - the precarious political situation that surrounds it.
For those of you who might be Catholic, or know a bit about the Catholic faith, you might be familiar with the practice of utilizing holy water as a means of cleansing yourself. (Of course, this practice can also be found in other denominations of Christianity - and in other religions - as well, but we'll just focus on Catholicism for now) Holy water is simply water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy, and has a variety of different uses. [12] Most commonly, holy water is used to cleanse a person before their baptism, as a way of blessing oneself prior to entering a holy place, and as a means to ward off evil. [13] (An interesting look at the use of holy water and other sacred items to fend off spirits found here.)
But where does this practice of holy water come from? What are its origins? Can you guess? The mythical origin for the practice of holy water is, yes, the Jordan River. [14] The belief is this: when Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, he, in his perfection, "made holy the nature of water." From that point on, the water flowing in the Jordan river was considered some of the holiest water on the planet. [15] It is for this reason that, when persons of great importance are baptized, they tend to be baptized with water drawn from the Jordan. It is also the reason that thousands of people from thousands of different countries across the world come to be cleansed and baptized in the waters of the river. [16] On the more negative side, the holiness of the river stands in stark contrast to the current environmental turmoil that faces the Jordan each and every day. You can learn more about the heart of the issues over on Kellen's page, but to sum up: the Jordan has been the victim of numerous environmental attacks - from being dammed up to having all sorts of waste dumped into the water each and every day. [17] This situation provides an interesting contrast between what is supposed to be one of the most holy bodies of water in the world, and its double identity as one of the world's most polluted bodies of water. For the faithful, the condition of the river is nothing short of appalling. There have been attempts to push for a cleaner river, but any movement that builds up any momentum eventually runs into a brick wall - the precarious political situation that surrounds it.
Baptisms Alongside Bombs
The Jordan finds itself in one of the most highly contested areas in the world, the tumultuous Middle East. It runs through the countries of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine - all countries that have been a hotbed for both religious and political turmoil in the modern age. [18] Even though the river is holy and very important to many, many people - both living in that area and across the world - that doesn't protect it from the driving machines of war and politics. There have been instances where the countries that parts of the Jordan flow through have fenced off their land, making it unavailable to outsiders, and sometimes even people from their own country. [19] The Jordan, as with many other places in the Middle East, has become a territory battle, with each individual country laying claim to their parts of the river, and taking measures to block everyone else out. This sometimes includes laying land mines into the earth alongside the river, making it nearly impossible for anyone, regardless of their intentions, to get in. [20] It would appear that, in this instance, the importance of sacredness takes a back seat to the more pressing issues of political situations and religious turmoil. To get more of the full picture of the political complications surrounding the Jordan, take a look over on Branden's page.
The Jordan finds itself in one of the most highly contested areas in the world, the tumultuous Middle East. It runs through the countries of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine - all countries that have been a hotbed for both religious and political turmoil in the modern age. [18] Even though the river is holy and very important to many, many people - both living in that area and across the world - that doesn't protect it from the driving machines of war and politics. There have been instances where the countries that parts of the Jordan flow through have fenced off their land, making it unavailable to outsiders, and sometimes even people from their own country. [19] The Jordan, as with many other places in the Middle East, has become a territory battle, with each individual country laying claim to their parts of the river, and taking measures to block everyone else out. This sometimes includes laying land mines into the earth alongside the river, making it nearly impossible for anyone, regardless of their intentions, to get in. [20] It would appear that, in this instance, the importance of sacredness takes a back seat to the more pressing issues of political situations and religious turmoil. To get more of the full picture of the political complications surrounding the Jordan, take a look over on Branden's page.
Looking to the Future: Conclusions
The Jordan river has been around for thousands of years, having a profound impact on the region through which it flows, and on the people who live there. For a long while, it was a life-giving body of water, being a wonderful natural resource for the people of the Middle East. Gary Beckman, professor of Near Eastern Studies that the University of Michigan, describes that area as being a victim of "resource poverty", with its hot and dry climate. The Jordan was one of the natural resources that could be found in the area, and it was cherished as such. Things are much different today, with the water supply of the Jordan teetering on the edge of collapse - while whatever water is left appears to be polluted almost beyond repair.
So where does this leave one of the most holy bodies of water? What does its future hold? The answer, plain and simple, is that we simply don't know. The situation in the Middle East shifts one way or the other every day, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. And while war and political strife rages around it, little can be done to address the critical environmental situation surrounding the river. Will there be any reverence showed to a place that is spiritually significant in some way to Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike? We don't know. All that we can do now is hope for the best.
The Jordan river has been around for thousands of years, having a profound impact on the region through which it flows, and on the people who live there. For a long while, it was a life-giving body of water, being a wonderful natural resource for the people of the Middle East. Gary Beckman, professor of Near Eastern Studies that the University of Michigan, describes that area as being a victim of "resource poverty", with its hot and dry climate. The Jordan was one of the natural resources that could be found in the area, and it was cherished as such. Things are much different today, with the water supply of the Jordan teetering on the edge of collapse - while whatever water is left appears to be polluted almost beyond repair.
So where does this leave one of the most holy bodies of water? What does its future hold? The answer, plain and simple, is that we simply don't know. The situation in the Middle East shifts one way or the other every day, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. And while war and political strife rages around it, little can be done to address the critical environmental situation surrounding the river. Will there be any reverence showed to a place that is spiritually significant in some way to Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike? We don't know. All that we can do now is hope for the best.
1. Belt, Don. "Parting the Waters." National Geographic Magazine 1 Apr. 2010. Print.
2. De Châtel, Francesca. "Baptized in the Jordan: Restoring a Holy River." Origins 7.12 (2014). Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
3. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984.
4 & 5. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
6. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984
7. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
8. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984.
9. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
10 & 11. "What You Need to Know about Holy Water." Editorial. 2003: 2. Web.
12 &13. "What You Need to Know about Holy Water." Editorial. 2003: 4-5. Web.
14. Glueck, Nelson. The River Jordan: Being an Illustrated Account of Earth's Most Storied River. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1946. Print.
15, 16, 17. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
18, 19, 20. De Châtel, Francesca. "Baptized in the Jordan: Restoring a Holy River." Origins 7.12 (2014). Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
2. De Châtel, Francesca. "Baptized in the Jordan: Restoring a Holy River." Origins 7.12 (2014). Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
3. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984.
4 & 5. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
6. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984
7. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
8. Life Application Study Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1984.
9. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
10 & 11. "What You Need to Know about Holy Water." Editorial. 2003: 2. Web.
12 &13. "What You Need to Know about Holy Water." Editorial. 2003: 4-5. Web.
14. Glueck, Nelson. The River Jordan: Being an Illustrated Account of Earth's Most Storied River. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1946. Print.
15, 16, 17. Peppard, Christiana Z. "Troubling Waters: The Jordan River between Religious Imagination and Environmental Degradation." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (2013): 109-19. Print.
18, 19, 20. De Châtel, Francesca. "Baptized in the Jordan: Restoring a Holy River." Origins 7.12 (2014). Web. 20 Mar. 2015.