Jordan River
Where Israel crossed into Canaan, Naaman was cleansed, and Jesus was immersed.
First mentioned in the Bible
After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him. Look! Also, a voice from the heavens said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”— Matthew 3:16-17
Background
The Jordan River stretches about 250 kilometers from Mount Hermon through the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. When Joshua led Israel across, the waters were cut off. Elisha commanded Naaman to wash seven times and his leprosy was cleansed. John the Baptizer performed immersions in the Jordan; Jesus was also immersed, the heavens opened, Jehovah's active force descended like a dove, and a voice said 'This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.'
Related Scriptures (New World Translation)
After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him. Look! Also, a voice from the heavens said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”— Matthew 3:16-17
Appears in these Bible journeys
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