Symbolically comparing Joshua to Jesus

I love the word of God. Just when you think you have a story down pat God shows you a little more. If you have been in children’s Sunday School growing up than you are sure to have heard about Joshua. Now God has connected some dots for me symbolically comparing Joshua to Jesus, and I wanted to share it with you. 
This is one of those did you know moments. I even looked up to make sure it was in the Strong’s Concordance which stated: 2424 Iēsoús – Jesus, the transliteration of the Hebrew term, 3091 /Lṓt ("Yehoshua"/Jehoshua, contracted to "Joshua") which means "Yahweh saves" (or "Yahweh is salvation").

In the Greek speaking world we know Jesus as the Messiah. However in Hebrew Jesus’s name is Joshua. This proclaiming Jesus the same as Joshua the one they called Conqueror of Palestine (The name Palestine, as a geographical term, is of later origin and is derived from : The story of the Conquest is told in Joshua 1 to 12). It is no wonder the Romans grew nervous and crucified him.

If you feel that the comparison of Jesus and Joshua is a little much then look at it this way. When the book of Mark begins did you pay attention where it occurs? At the Jordan River where Mark introduces this new Joshua. Recall then what happen when the ark of the covenant enters the Jordan River, or when Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan. Then what happened when Jesus enters the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist. It wasn’t the waters that part. Mark 1, verse 10: “And just as Jesus was coming out of the water he saw the heavens torn apart”. So, then what happens? Just when you think you know what Mark is going to do next, he takes an unexpected turn. Rather than going from 40 years in the wilderness across the Jordan into the promise-land like Joshua, Jesus does the opposite as if he were in reverse. He goes from Jordan into the wilderness for 40 days . Then we would expect like Elisha, Jesus would be crossing back over Jordan to get back to promise-land. No, instead he suddenly appears in Galilee without any crossing told, and he proclaims the time has come, the Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news.

Now Jesus may be the new Joshua, but I think Mark wants us to be sure and to understand that this Joshua is different. Instead of taking the land by force, he takes it by teaching and love. Instead of declaring holy war on the citizens of Jericho, he tells the story of a citizen of Samaria on the road to Jericho who binds up the wounds of ones left dead in a ditch. Instead of taking up the sword against the pagan rulers, he heals the slave of a Roman soldier and forgives his Roman crucifiers. Instead of cleansing Israel of all foreigners, all foreigners are invited to join into this fellowship of this new Joshua.

In other words, Mark is telling us that this new Joshua is the old Joshua in reverse. Which is why I think Jesus crosses the Jordan not from East to West as Joshua did, but West to East. And why it's not the river that parts, but the sky that parts.

To cross the Jordan with Jesus, that is to be baptized with him (Oh Look Here!!! Opportunity to Preach Acts 2:38), is to be a disciple of the one who leads people from oppression to justice, from slavery to freedom, from the wilderness to the promised land which He has gone to prepare for us. Is that not an awesome word. This of course is not for the children as I began studying next weeks lesson for childrens church, but this was just for me. I feel like this comparison is symbolic much like when we compare Father Abraham to God the Father.



 

Most often I always attach a song with my entries.