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WALKING WITH PG 17 AND POWER IDENTITY 2 PART — ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER JORDAN THE OF BANKS THE —ON transition for God’s people. been a symbolic place of place asymbolic been The Jordan has always has Jordan The +

IDENTITY AND POWER PG 18 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 19 God’s people this far, out of the land of of land the of out far, this people God’s brought had He (34:1-3). of land the of peak the to climbed strength, his of last the With 31:1-3). (Deuteronomy protégé, his to leadership of mantle the passed Moses man, old an As 22:1). (Numbers Canaan the of the in camped the Moses, of days the In impact. and purpose, power, of transitions transition— of aplace been always has This JORDANTHE RIVER Plains of Moab of Plains Jordan River Jordan gain some context for the lesson. the for context some gain ANCHOR TEXT: Mount Nebo Mount , preparing to conquer conquer to , preparing on the eastern bank bank eastern the on Read Mark 1:9-11 Mark Read to and surveyed surveyed and for to enter into his new season of of season new his into enter to Elisha for again River Jordan the split He (2:11-12), fire of achariot in up take to heavens the split had God Once 2:6-13). Kings (2 him after who would as the Lord’s serve representative man the be to Elisha choosing together, God of prophets the all called Elijah prophet great the ministry, of life faithful a After river. this beside place took transition another road, the down just and later, years 1,000 Nearly 3:14-17). (Joshua promise of land the into Jordan the through lead would Joshua mountain, the on died Moses After wilderness. the into and of the Kingdom began (:21-23). 3:21-23). (Luke began Kingdom the of mission Christ’s and ended preparation of ministry John’s when moment the marking baptized, be to came Himself Jesus Then 1:4). (Mark heart Father’s the to back turn to desire their of expression an as baptized be and repent to Israel of people the called John Sea, Dead the of north miles afew only Jordan, the At river. same this beside Baptist the John encounter we and years, 1,000 another almost forward Fast dry land. on Israel to over crossed Elisha cloak, (2:13-14).ministry predecessor’s his Wearing

in God’s plan of redemption. of plan God’s in transitions major represented Jordan the of waters the through passing case, each In 4:5-6). (Malachi earlier years 400 prophesied as arrival, ’s the announce would who messenger the 11:14), (Matthew come” to was who Elijah “the was Baptist the John words, own Jesus’ In

IDENTITY AND POWER PG 20 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 21 Jordan River to be baptized. be to River Jordan muddy waters of the Southern the to flock Today, people many Jordan Baptismal Site + declaration. This was the , the the God, of Son the was This declaration. John’s confirmed Father The 1:10). (Mark pleased” well Iam you with Ilove; whom Son, my are “You forth, sounded God of voice the and power in Him on descended Spirit Holy the as Jesus’ over again opened they Elijah, receive to Jordan the over up opened had heavens the as Just 1:29)! (John world” the of sin the away takes who God of Lamb the “Look, announced, Baptist the John banks, same these On . and wonders, signs, many as twice perform to Elisha enabled Lord the request, his Granting 2:9). (2 Kings Elijah to granted had God blessing the twice for asked Elisha River, Jordan the of banks the On 18:36-40). Kings (1 God from away heart Israel’s drawing were who prophets false the defeat to heaven from fire down calling Elijah remember us of Many 6:20). (Joshua walls down brought He Joshua, with chains; broke Lord the Moses, With victory. of place asettled into them brought He Joshua through but formation, identity of aseason into people His delivered God them, guide to Moses Using aspear. with them lead would Joshua but staff, ashepherd’s with Israel led Moses power. of increase an it with brought transition Jesus—the to Baptist the John from Elisha, to Elijah from Joshua, to Moses River—from Jordan the by place took ministry in atransition time Every PURPOSE, AND IMPACT. AND PURPOSE, POWER, OF TRANSITIONS OFPLACE TRANSITION— ALWAYS HAS THIS A BEEN conquering, from slavery to victory. to slavery from conquering, to wandering from acceptance, to insecurity from transition the make can we Christ, in rooted firmly identity our With us. around all people the to minister to power likeness, Jesus’ into us transforms that power grow, to lives—power our in Spirit Holy the of power the experience to begin we Then are. we where right us meets God that knowing in freedom find we us, redeem to done has He what and is Jesus who in identity our anchor we When imperfections. our of spite in us with pleased is He us, for cross the on death all-sufficient Jesus’ of because And us. loves God but that, only Not us Himself. chose He children; His We are 8:38-39). (Romans Jesus Christ in God of love the from us separate can Nothing solid. rock is identity new our Son, His through grace of gift God’s receive we once But insecurity. of out lives our live we Too often, 8:14-17). (Romans God of children the as identity new our of source the is Jesus with relationship own our Son, only-begotten His over declaration a unique were baptism Christ’s at spoken words Father’s the Although resurrection. and death, life, His with identify we baptism, through Jesus in faith our express publicly we When Christ. in identity true our know needs—to us of one every what That’s is. He who of declaration afirm with ministry His launched Jesus Here, identity. of aplace is River Jordan the that discover to We come forever. God holy their to them reconcile and sinners save to come had who Messiah,

IDENTITY AND POWER PG 22 WALKING WITH JESUS PG 23 FROM WANDERING CONQUERING... TO FROM INSECURITY TO ACCEPTANCE, TO FROM INSECURITY FROM SLAVERY TO VICTORY.

IDENTITY AND POWER PG 24 DIVE DEEPER

1 The Jordan River is a place of transition 4 Jesus’ public ministry began after the (of power, purpose, and impact). What Father affirmed His identity. What are some influential moments in your would change today if you lived in the life that have shaped your heart, your confidence of what God says about you? direction, and your faith? 5 It was at Jesus’ baptism that the Father 2 Reread Mark 1:9-11. Which part of God’s declared His identity with stunning encouragement do you need most in your clarity. Have you trusted in Christ and life right now? Explain why. (You’re a been baptized? If you have, what was the child of God, God loves you, and God is impact of that moment for you? If not, pleased with you.) what is holding you back from making that commitment? 3 How have you been defined by the thoughts and opinions of others? How are you learning to receive your identity from God? PG 25 PG 26 EXTRA INFO

Today, the Jordan’s flow is regulated by a series of dams. In the days of the , however, this river was more than 12 feet deep, and during flood season it could swell to a mile in width! Nothing less than a was required for anyone—especially a nation of 2 million people—to cross this river WALKING WITH JESUS IDENTITY AND POWER on dry land.

The Jordan River runs through a steep valley in a geological fault line that separates Asia from Africa. The physical division that separates these continental plates is most clearly seen where the Jordan River ends—at the , the shores of which are the lowest land on earth, standing at about 1,300 feet below sea level. Not only has the Jordan River marked major transitions in Biblical times, it also marks the boundary from one part of the world to another.

When Christ was baptized in Mark 1:10, the Greek word, schízō, is used to describe the heavens opening. This same word is later used in :38 to describe the curtain in the temple being torn in two. Here, Mark is connecting Jesus’ baptism to His death to reveal the completeness of His atoning sacrifice in reconciling a holy God to sinful people who turn to Him in faith.

Ancient Hebrew rabbis sometimes utilized a practice called “stringing pearls,” where a teacher would weave different segments of Scripture together to make a point. In Mark 1:11, God the Father appeared to be doing something similar as He declared Jesus’ identity. By stringing together quotations from the , the Prophets, and the Writings—“You are my Son” from Psalm 2:7, “whom I love” from Genesis 22:2, and “with you well pleased” from 42:1—God was revealing how the three major sections of the Old Testament all point to Jesus as the Messiah.