THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Jesus gathered twelve significant stones from the Jordan River and placed them on the opposite bank; in their stead, he positioned ‘another twelve stones ... in the midst of the Jordan.’ What is the purpose behind selecting twelve stones at once and replacing them with another set? As I previously mentioned, he aims to liberate fallen humanity; more profoundly, he desires to illustrate his effort to elevate humanity from despair and lift them toward heavenly realms. He retrieved stones that had never basked in the light of the sun, which had never been illuminated; they were drawn forth from the depths to the surface of the earth. Why did he specifically select twelve stones? It is because through the twelve apostles, the Lord intended to emancipate humanity from its mortal condition.
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Observe that he removed the stones from the depths so they could be exposed to the light and serve as a testament for future generations as they journeyed across the Jordan. This purpose is indicated by the words, ‘when your children shall ask you in days to come, saying, What do these stones mean?’ ("When your son asks you… saying, ‘What are these stones? - Tell him that we crossed the Jordan on dry ground, when the Lord made the waters to stand up in a heap") (Num. 4:6-7). The stones that were extracted were positioned as a sign for coming generations; yet why were others placed in their stead? He removed those from the deep that had been submerged and returned to the deep a symbol of salvation. The stones that were set down serve as a testament, while the stones that were taken signify permanence. It is crucial to explore the reasons behind the placement and the removal of these stones. Christ both takes and gives. He entered this world: He assumed our humanity and bestowed upon us His divine authority. Through the apostles, he returned twelve stones to the river, representing a token of salvation and a promise for the future. When someone gives an item for a purpose, it typically serves as a pledge for what is to come. Since this name (Jesus) was to be honored for Him in ages to come, as he prepared to be baptized by John, he established a promise of His future arrival and set aside the stones he collected, namely the patriarchs he raised at that time; the stones he replaced are the apostles he provided for them: ‘Instead of your fathers, you will have sons’ ("instead of your fathers shall be thy sons") (Psalms 44:17). Thus, Joshua crossed the Jordan, marking this moment as the beginning of the conquest of the Promised Land. Until he crossed the Jordan, he did not inherit the land that had been promised; until Christ entered the waters of Jordan, he did not commence the proclamation of the Kingdom. The Jordan signifies the start of earthly possession; the Jordan is the inception of inheriting the heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, the prophet declares, I will remember Thee, O Lord, “from the land of Jordan” (Psalms 41:7), a perpetual remembrance. Thus, Jesus, who crossed over and divided the Jordan, displayed the Ark before him.