Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

Understanding Biblical Symbolism


Home
Preface
5 Planes of Existence
Introduction
Five Planes of Manifestation

A to Z

Related Information

BIBLE VERSES

JORDAN

A symbol of the “river of Life,” the spiritual life-essence flowing from above and traversing the lower planes.

“Under the Jordan we have to understand the Word of God who became flesh and tabernacled among us, Jesus who gives us as our inheritance the humanity which He assumed.” – Origen, Comm. on John, Bk. VI. § 25.

For he (the Logos) is Ocean—“birth-causing of gods, and birth-causing of men”—flowing and ebbing for now up and now down. When Ocean flows down, it is the birth-causing of men; and when he flows up it is the birth-causing of gods. For from water alone, that is Spirit, is begotten the spiritual man, not the fleshly. This is the Great Jordan, which flowing downwards and preventing the sons of Israel from going forth out of Egypt, or from the intercourse below, was turned back by Jesus and made to flow upwards (Naassene Document). – Hippolytus, Philosophumena.

This refers to the Divine Life or Spirit (water) descending into Matter, and again ascending therefrom. The descending process is Involution which perfects the Archetypal Man, and causes the birth of human souls on the mental plane. The ascending process is Evolution, which causes the birth of the higher qualities (gods) and souls made perfect through the power of the indwelling Christ (Jesus). “Egypt,” etc., signifies the lower nature in which the egos are immersed, until the flow of the Divine Life is reversed by the Spirit (Jesus) and through Evolution rises to the buddhic plane (Jerusalem above) carrying with it the souls of humanity, raising them from death unto the life eternal.

“In all we think and feel, and do, and suffer, we are like the water that comes down from above, seeking to get back to where we came from. Despite all hindrances and setbacks, we are one and all making towards the ocean of perfect unity in Christ, whence our full humanity, now knowing itself divine, shall be lifted up and glorified eternally by the Holy Spirit of God.” – R. J. Campbell, Serm., Our Quest for God.

 

See Also

ARCHETYPAL MAN
EGYPT, (lower)
EVOLUTION
EXODUS
GODS, DEITIES
INCARNATION (Souls)INVOLUTION
ISRAELITES
JERUSALEM
JESUS (Son of God)
LOGOS
MATTER
OCEAN
RIVER OF LIFE
WATER (Higher)
WORD OF GOD