CHAPTER FIVE: JOHN AND JESUS AT THE JORDAN

When Jesus awoke numerous of those staying at the oasis had already packed up and left, either heading home from being with John the previous day, or heading down the slope into the water to be baptized by John. Jesus looked up into a sky in which there was not a single cloud, but there was a bird circling high overhead, so high that one could not tell what sort of bird it was. It did not have the long wings of a bird of prey, a vulture or an eagle, but it was hard to tell what sort of bird it was.

Rising and going over to the spring, Jesus dusted himself off and washed his hands and face, and then proceeded to unwrap the few figs and olives he had left in his little bag around his waist. Filling his wineskin with water, he said a brief morning prayer to G-d for guidance for the day, but his senses were all tingling, telling him something very significant indeed was going to happen on this day. Jesus had decided that he would wade across the river and observe John’s practice from the far shore, where John’s disciples stood. He would engage several of them in conversation and learn what he could from them. What he had already heard had led him to understand why the authorities might well come and object to what John was doing — offering forgiveness for sins quite apart from requiring any sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem.

If people could come and repent of their sins and be baptized and be reconciled with G-d and his people without making the long journey to Jerusalem and spending much of their savings on an unblemished animal, one can see how some would view this as a threat to both the Temple economy and the priests’ authority, especially that of the high priest. Prophets had often operated on the margins of society and been seen as a threat to the ruling figures, priests and kings. And considering the way John was dressing and preaching, it seemed clear, having presented himself in Elijah’s garb, he should have expected the sort of response from authorities that Elijah got. But John was not hiding at the Salt Sea, nor running to Mt. Horeb. He was standing in the Jordan in plain sight, inviting one and all to come, repent, and be baptized in preparation for the judgment of God that was bound to fall on a wayward people.

It took Jesus nearly an hour to wade through the crowds and then across the Jordan, a little upstream from where John was baptizing so as not to disturb John. Jesus had memories of visiting Elizabeth and Zechariah and John as a boy. John was Jesus’ elder, and he remembered John as restless and full of energy, and full of righteous indignation as well at the spiritual state of Israel. The land needed purifying, the people in the land needed purifying, and at the time of their visit, John was already contemplating joining those at the Salt Sea who were repeatedly cleansing themselves as they awaited the eschatological judgment to fall on Israel and perhaps particularly on Zion because of Herod’s opulent temple. Jesus remembered Zechariah telling him about the day he was inspired to prophesy about his own son, the prophet to be. He had said that the prophecy had affirmed:

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our G-d,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

John’s mission then was to prepare for what would come after him, to let G-d’s people know they needed to repent in order that they could be cleansed and saved. But who was this ‘him’ to come after John, or what was this ‘rising sun’ coming from heaven to guide people in the paths of peace? Zechariah could not say but even as a boy Jesus remembered and thought about his mother’s words–‘you have come from G-d’. Now, it was imperative that he go to John, perhaps even talk to John, see what John thought about Jesus’ destiny.

By the third hour of the morning, Jesus was standing on the far side of the Jordan thankful that his cloak was still wet from the crossing as it was a blisteringly hot day already. He had introduced himself to the man standing next to him as John’s cousin, Jesus, and the man had embraced him and told him his name was Andrew from Bet-saida–a fisherman from the northwest shore of the Kinneret who had become a follower of John.

“It has been simply amazing to watch what has happened over the last several weeks. The crowds have gotten larger and larger, coming from both Galilee and Judea and even places like Perea and Nabatea and Idumea. The word has spread like wildfire that G-d is preparing to do something major for his people and that everyone had best prepare for it, whatever it is. They must renew their commitment to their G-d, and receive forgiveness of sins” said Andrew with enthusiasm, his tanned face beaming with the confidence of having seen remarkable things already.

“I tell you now, that John is not in any way currying favor with the authorities indeed he has been warning them most severely of all about the coming judgment they face. And I can also tell you they are none too pleased to hear all this. There is talk about John being taken captive, but at this point there are simply too many supporters of John around to allow that to happen here if the authorities have any sense at all.”

“Tell me about the baptisms,” said Jesus, “it seems to be something different then just the regular ritual ablutions, something more than going into the mikva.”

“Yes,” said Andrew, “that’s right. It’s something like the initiation rite of the Salt Sea community, a one time rite of passage, in this case a once for all rite of repentance and forgiveness of sins. But it only prepares the people for the coming judgment and mercy of G-d. It does not convey either of these things. It is a prophetic sign act, a warning.”

“The immersion is a symbol of death and burial of the old self, cleansing from one’s past. And there is something else interesting. The sacred Scripture which the Essenes at the Salt Sea took as their theme was from Isaiah–“the voice of one crying: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our G-d.'” John has taken this as his own theme, his own calling. Only he disagreed with the Essenes on the interpretation of the text. He believed he was to call one and all to prepare, not just holy people prepared to retreat from society and purify themselves, but everyone— even Gentiles, even Gentile soldiers! And look at what has happened” said Andrew as he stretched out his hand in the direct of John and the throng that surrounded him.

“The young, the old, the well off, the poor, Jews, the Herodians, the priests, men women. G-d is doing something dramatic in our day. Could messiah be soon coming? Is John the Elijah like prophet foretold in Malachi that prepares for the Day of G-d? This is what I think, and many other of John’s disciples as well. John makes clear he is not the messiah, but he knows he is preparing for something momentous to happen, for some great intervention of our G-d. Let us move over closer so we can hear his words, as he has stopped baptizing for a moment and is speaking to some of those standing on the far shore.”

Jesus walked slowly, picking his way through the disciples, many of whom stood mesmerized by the sight of so many people entering the Jordan. Andrew led him to a good spot where they could both hear, where there was a path down to the water, down to a little sandbar next to the river. Jesus noticed how all eyes were focused on John who cut a remarkable figure in the blazing sun. He looked for all the world like a wild man, his hair unkempt, his frame gaunt, his garment animal skins. There were even reports that he had taken to eating the insects of the desert— locusts with a little help of wild honey to lubricate the eating! There could hardly be a sharper contrast between him and some of the Pharisees and Herodians on the far shore in their immaculate robes and appearance. John had begun to exhort again in a loud voice…

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones G-d can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“Look,” whispered Andrew to Jesus, “It’s tax collectors and soldiers right there in the water with John, he’s telling them how to amend their lives. What they must do before G-d’s judgment falls on them. After baptizing those immediately around him, one after another, then John said, speaking once more in a deep, clear voice

“I baptize you with water, but the one more powerful than I will come, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with G-d’s Spirit and fire!” Andrew turned to Jesus and said “He keeps deflecting attention away from himself, keeps denying he is G-d’s Sent One. But it is so clear he is indeed G-d’s prophet preparing for that great terrible Day of the Lord. It is confusing, but it is also breathtaking, to be living on the edge of the End of Days!”

Jesus was silent for a while, reflecting, as John had gone back to his baptizing. Andrew looked at Jesus but he could see Jesus needed to be left to his own thoughts. After several more minutes, Jesus suddenly stepped into the Jordan and started wading towards John. John could not see him coming as his back was turned. Yet still Jesus silently, slowly, steadily made his way toward John. Now standing in water up to his waist Jesus reached out and touched the prophet saying gently “John”.

Hearing the voice, John jerked and turned around abruptly, and with a shock of recognition, he was about to speak when Jesus said “baptize me John”.

Looking incredulous, John replied “it is you who should baptize me for you have come from G-d!”

“Still, let it be so, to fulfill all righteousness” replied Jesus. And so John paused and then assented. Placing his hand on Jesus’s back, he held his two hands in his other hand, and lowered Jesus fully into the water and then lifted him back out again.

Looking up, Jesus’ eyes got wide as there had formed a single cloud above in the sky which was suddenly rent in two, with a loud thunder clap. But Jesus was later to tell his disciples he heard not thunder but a voice from heaven say “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” but that was not all, because Jesus also was to tell them he received power from on high on that day, the mighty Spirit of G-d falling upon him and remaining on him. In fact it was only after the Spirit had fallen on him that he heard the voice from heaven speak to him. All of Jesus’ senses had been heightened by the Spirit coming upon him, and he could hear the voice of G-d so much more clearly thereafter, and indeed felt much more empowered, much more equipped thereafter. The experience at the Jordan had been the confirmation he needed not merely of who he was but of the fact that it was indeed time for him to begin his calling, his ministry.

But as suddenly as Jesus had come to John, he just as quickly left, exiting the Jordan on the Judean side of the river, and walking rapidly away so as to draw no further attention to himself. It was as if he had an urgent errand to run, a pressing task to complete. Andrew, who had seen the whole encounter was left pondering, muttering to himself as he stroked his chin beard: “I wonder who that man really was whom John said should have baptized him?”