2 Kings 5:1-14
The story of Naaman and his dipping seven times in the Jordan River to be cured of his leprosy is one of the most famous Old Testament stories, heard by all way back in Sunday school. Naaman was a Syrian general who had the favor of God resting on him, having been used to deliver his nation. He also owned an Israeli slave girl whom the Bible leaves nameless, who tells the leprosy-stricken Naaman that there is a man of God in Israel who can help him (2 Kings 5:3).
The man of God is Elisha, who tells Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times, “and thou shalt be clean” (verse 10). The Jordan River is the same place that Jesus will be baptized over 900 years later, marking the beginning of His earthly ministry. It is also the river that Israel crossed when going into the Promised Land. It holds a significant place in Biblical history as the beginning point, or the entrance to a new land. Just as Israel began to possess Canaan at Jordan, Jesus began to do His Father’s work at Jordan. For Naaman, it would represent the beginning of a new life of physical health.
For the believer, our Jordan River comes at Calvary, the moment that we meet Christ as our Savior. We give Him our life, allowing it to be crucified with all of its old lusts and affections. He gives us His eternal life, and we walk a new walk with Him every day. For Naaman to dip seven times is no coincidental use of numerology. Seven is God’s number of completion and perfection, thus, Naaman’s seventh time down represents Christ’s finished work at the cross. Elisha is pointing us forward to the healing virtues of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Every sickness and sin that plagues the family of man can be taken care of at our spiritual Jordan, Calvary. Just as the waters of that river washed over the sores of Naaman’s body, the blood of Jesus will wash over the wounds of a life spent in sin. We are made clean by His blood, through no effort of our own.
Naaman is typical of the world searching for redemption through any other means than through Jesus Christ and His finished work. He is first upset that Elisha does not come out to him and lay hands on the wounds, claiming healing in the name of the Lord. He wants a deliverance that looks spectacular, rather than one that is effective. Some are more concerned at how their religion looks to the outside than whether or not there are any tangible results.
Next, Naaman asks if the rivers of Damascus, namely Abana or Pharpar are not better and cleaner than the dirty, insignificant Jordan River. This complaint is a type of the sinner attempting to purify themselves through the “clean” means of this world’s self-help philosophies, psychiatric means, etc. Jesus’ cross is a bloody place that kills our old man. Sometimes we forget just how costly that His cross was, and we lean towards our own abilities to heal ourselves.
Fortunately, Naaman’s desire to be healed is stronger than his objections to the fashion in which he is to be healed. His faith is what takes him into the dirty waters of the Jordan, for as his servant points out, “What does he have to lose”? What do you have to lose by allowing the purifying waters of Calvary to wash over your soul? The end result is cleanliness in the presence of your Father, and there is no greater reward!
The story of Naaman and his dipping seven times in the Jordan River to be cured of his leprosy is one of the most famous Old Testament stories, heard by all way back in Sunday school. Naaman was a Syrian general who had the favor of God resting on him, having been used to deliver his nation. He also owned an Israeli slave girl whom the Bible leaves nameless, who tells the leprosy-stricken Naaman that there is a man of God in Israel who can help him (2 Kings 5:3).
The man of God is Elisha, who tells Naaman to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times, “and thou shalt be clean” (verse 10). The Jordan River is the same place that Jesus will be baptized over 900 years later, marking the beginning of His earthly ministry. It is also the river that Israel crossed when going into the Promised Land. It holds a significant place in Biblical history as the beginning point, or the entrance to a new land. Just as Israel began to possess Canaan at Jordan, Jesus began to do His Father’s work at Jordan. For Naaman, it would represent the beginning of a new life of physical health.
For the believer, our Jordan River comes at Calvary, the moment that we meet Christ as our Savior. We give Him our life, allowing it to be crucified with all of its old lusts and affections. He gives us His eternal life, and we walk a new walk with Him every day. For Naaman to dip seven times is no coincidental use of numerology. Seven is God’s number of completion and perfection, thus, Naaman’s seventh time down represents Christ’s finished work at the cross. Elisha is pointing us forward to the healing virtues of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Every sickness and sin that plagues the family of man can be taken care of at our spiritual Jordan, Calvary. Just as the waters of that river washed over the sores of Naaman’s body, the blood of Jesus will wash over the wounds of a life spent in sin. We are made clean by His blood, through no effort of our own.
Naaman is typical of the world searching for redemption through any other means than through Jesus Christ and His finished work. He is first upset that Elisha does not come out to him and lay hands on the wounds, claiming healing in the name of the Lord. He wants a deliverance that looks spectacular, rather than one that is effective. Some are more concerned at how their religion looks to the outside than whether or not there are any tangible results.
Next, Naaman asks if the rivers of Damascus, namely Abana or Pharpar are not better and cleaner than the dirty, insignificant Jordan River. This complaint is a type of the sinner attempting to purify themselves through the “clean” means of this world’s self-help philosophies, psychiatric means, etc. Jesus’ cross is a bloody place that kills our old man. Sometimes we forget just how costly that His cross was, and we lean towards our own abilities to heal ourselves.
Fortunately, Naaman’s desire to be healed is stronger than his objections to the fashion in which he is to be healed. His faith is what takes him into the dirty waters of the Jordan, for as his servant points out, “What does he have to lose”? What do you have to lose by allowing the purifying waters of Calvary to wash over your soul? The end result is cleanliness in the presence of your Father, and there is no greater reward!
No comments:
Post a Comment