Day 03 - Negev: Ein Gedi, Qumran, Lower Jordan, Shabbat Dinner

Today our travels took us to Ein Gedi (where we experienced living water in the desert) and Qumran (where God miraculously protected his Word for centuries) but I was especially struck by the teaching at Bethany beyond the Jordan (the location where Jesus was baptized). The first thing you notice about this place is how very ordinary, if not all together disappointing it presents: just a few feet wide, muddy water, and thousands of flies – you certainly wouldn’t think of it as the “Mighty Jordan.” However, the history of this spot is unbelievable. It is the place where Moses passes the baton of leadership to Joshua and then dies (Deut. 34, Josh 1). Joshua (whose name means "God Saves") crosses the Jordan and leads the Children of Israel to take the Promised Land. It is where Elijah passes the baton of leadership to Elisha and then is taken up in a whirlwind to heaven (2 Kings 2). Elisha (whose name means "God’s Salvation") crosses the Jordan back into Israel and performs twice as many miracles as Elijah. And then we read in John 1 how John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and passes the baton to him. Jesus (whose name means "God Saves") crosses the Jordan to begin a three-year ministry to bring salvation to the world (John 3:16). To top it all off, as we were leaving the site, we literally saw a white dove a few feet above the spot where Jesus was baptized!

Kevin Pike