A Fresh Start at the River | October 27th, 2026

Joshua 3:14-17
14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

Luke 3:3
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins

John chose the Jordan River deliberately. It was the place where Israel first crossed into the promised land, and now it became the place where God called his people back to a fresh beginning. This is the heart of the gospel. God is not a God of dead ends. He is a God of new beginnings. Salvation is described in Scripture as being born again for a reason. Whatever has marked your past, whatever crooked roads you have walked, God's grace is sufficient to straighten them. Come to the river. Confess. Repent. Receive the fresh start only Christ can give.