Visiting Bethany Beyond the Jordan: Where Jesus was Baptized

Bethany Beyond the Jordan was a spiritual acquisition my lapsed Catholic aforesaid was not expecting. It reminded maine that immoderate your spiritual constructs, the teachings of Jesus are of kindness, acceptance, and love. 

St John the Baptist Church and the Jordan River

Since I’m nary longer a practicing Catholic, I wasn’t successful the “this is simply a large deal” benignant of thinking.

Well, the ineffable vigor of this Holy Land instantly snuck into my nonchalant position and grounded maine down into a spiritual experience.

Being astatine the spot wherever Jesus was baptized by St John the Baptist (the sanction of the schoolhouse I attended) was rather monumental and moving.

In a beingness of question experiences done 50+ countries, this is 1 that volition beryllium with precocious explanation clarity astatine the apical of my representation box. It is simply a hidden gem of Jordan – no, marque that the Middle East – no, marque that the World.

If you’re readying connected visiting Bethany Beyond the Jordan, and not definite however to sojourn this monumental place, past support speechmaking to find retired everything you request to know!

What is Bethany Beyond the Jordan?

The spot Jesus was baptized

Al-Maghtas, different known arsenic Bethany Beyond the Jordan, has been a spot of pilgrimage for Christians since St John the Baptist conducted his ministry and baptized Jesus of Nazareth. It was besides the location of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

This pristine wilderness is located connected the eastbound broadside of the Jordan River, astir 9km / 5.5 miles northbound of the Dead Sea and adjacent Mt Nebo wherever Moses showed the Israelites the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-16).

The Baptism Archeological Park is besides a nationalist parkland and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site successful 2015. 

St John’s Cave area

There are 2 areas successful this archaeological site:

1. Tell Al-Kharrar, besides known arsenic Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill)
2. The country of the churches of Saint John the Baptist adjacent the Jordan River.

These 2 areas are connected by a watercourse called Wadi Kharrar, which is wherever it is believed Jesus was baptized. I committedness you, determination is simply a ineffable vigor here!

The History of Jesus’ Baptismal Site (and however it went missing!!)

Can you judge this unthinkable humanities tract benignant of went missing for a fewer centuries? It was lone rediscovered successful 1994, pursuing an Israel-Jordan bid treaty.

Its believed it went missing backmost erstwhile the ruling powerfulness changed astir the 14th century, and the country returned to the power of section tribes. East of the Jordan stream it was nary longer a harmless spot to sojourn and truthful the pilgrims stopped coming.

With the find of the (nearby) Madaba Map successful 1897, pilgrims started to instrumentality hoping to find clues to the determination of the baptismal site.

The tract erstwhile again became a no-go country with the 2 World Wars and the Palestinian – Israeli conflict.

One of the churches successful this area

Once the 1994 Peace Treaty was signed, and the country which was afloat of mines began the process of de-mining, which opened the mode for archaeological investigations.

Archeologists uncovered a wealthiness of sites that see Byzantine churches, baptismal pools from the Roman and Byzantine periods, caves of monks and hermits, and lodges for pilgrims.

The overwhelming biblical, archeological, and humanities grounds has led galore spiritual leaders passim the satellite to admit this determination arsenic the authentic tract of Jesus’ baptism.

Our usher spoke often, and with profound respect, arsenic to however this country and its archaeological discoveries are protected and managed by the Kingdom of Jordan, a predominantly Muslim country.

I retrieve feeling a akin awe attending ANZAC Day successful Gallipoli, Turkey. I was humbled and successful awe of however overmuch the Turkish radical bash to assistance america grant our fallen soldiers who invaded their land.

There is much honor, love, and forgiveness successful this satellite than you realize.

How to sojourn Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Baptism Archeological Park)

The tranquil way to the Baptismal Site

The Baptism Archeological Park is open year-round from 8:00am – 4:00pm and charges a humble introduction interest of 12 JDs for Jordanians, which includes a 1 hr guided circuit (choose from 7 antithetic languages) and a compulsory shuttle autobus ride. Tours depart astir each 30 minutes.

The summons bureau is astatine the Visitors’ Centre, which has plentifulness of parking.

All backstage cars are prohibited wrong the archaeological portion truthful an electrical minibus brings visitors to their prime of 3 antithetic sites: Tell Mar Elias, the Baptism Pools, and John the Baptist’s Church.

Alternatively, you can locomotion the 2.5 km from the Visitor Centre to Tell Mar Elias, past on the southbound slope of the Wadi Kharrar for another 2 km to John the Baptist’s Church and the Jordan River. Our usher said this was precise beautiful.

Be alert that this country is located close adjacent the Dead Sea, successful different words, the lowest constituent connected earth, astatine implicit 350m beneath oversea level. This means a dry, blistery situation with small shade!

We visited during wintertime truthful had pleasant temperatures. Allow for 2-3 hours to circuit the site.

Our circuit guide, Rustom Mkhjian

Things to See astatine Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas)

We had a backstage circuit with Rustom Mkhjian, the Director General of Bethany Beyond the Jordan.

He enthusiastically shared with america the past of this area, pointing retired notable sites arsenic we toured, and however they showed grounds that this was the existent tract of Jesus’ baptism.

We visited aboriginal successful the greeting and had the spot to ourselves. I americium truthful grateful arsenic our acquisition was that of a profoundly peaceful meditative spot cleanable for contemplation, exploration, and learning.

There were a fewer radical arriving arsenic we left, but the reports I’ve work of Bethany Beyond the Jordan is that it is simply a peaceful acquisition without chaotic crowds.

We started our circuit astatine Elijah Hill and past proceeded to the baptismal tract and past down to the stream Jordan.

But archetypal fto maine commencement with the astir moving experience.

Baptismal Site of Jesus astatine Bethany Beyond the Jordan

Where Jesus was baptized. Note it’s shaped similar a cross

Jesus’ baptismal tract is believed to beryllium successful the springs of Wadi al-Kharrar, which flows to the Jordan River. They presume the River Jordan was excessively unsafe and murky to execute baptisms.

In the New Testament, it’s mentioned successful (John 10:31-40) that Jesus came present aft being threatened with stoning successful Jerusalem.

We took a autobus from Elijah Hill down to the baptismal area, wherever we followed a meandering and tranquil covered walking trail.

I was instantly flooded by a quiet, all-knowing spiritual energy, feeling the ineffable tract earlier I saw it.

The crumbling remains of churches and chapels present signify (based connected book and pilgrim accounts) that this was the spot. Notice successful the photograph supra however the baptismal excavation is shaped similar a cross.

As we were determination aboriginal earlier the crowds and connected a backstage tour, Rustom allowed america to locomotion down the past steps to the archetypal h2o level and bless ourselves with it.

Amazing experience

Being astatine the beforehand of the line, I was stressed I was going to messiness this up, but thankfully, I remembered to marque the motion of the cross. My years of religion attendance not wholly mislaid connected me.

It was lone aboriginal that it deed maine however monumental it was to beryllium astatine the spot wherever 1 of the astir well-known, influential, and historically important figures of each quality past was baptized.

Even an atheist would respect the magnitude of a infinitesimal similar that.

I privation I spent little clip grappling with my telephone to seizure the essence and much clip lasting silently to soak it each up. I urge taking your clip successful quiescent reflection successful this spot.

Really deliberation astir Jesus’ existent connection of kindness, acceptance, tolerance and love. He was a person to ALL.

As our usher Ruston kept reminding us, “It’s up to each of america to physique bridges of emotion and peace.”

Elijah’s Hill (Tell Mar Elias)

Elijah Hill

Tell Mar Elias, or Elijah’s Hill, is wherever it is said the prophet Elijah roseate into the heavens connected a fiery chariot successful the 9th period BC.

It is marked by a rebuilt arch representing the 5th to 6th period pilgrim chapel. Pope John Paul II authenticated Bethany Beyond the Jordan present successful 2000.

The tiny elevation has the ruins of 3 churches, 3 caves and 3 baptism pools, accessible by a woody catwalk.

Nearby is simply a 3rd period rectangular supplication hall, 1 of the earliest Christian places of worship ever discovered. Also adjacent is simply a strategy of h2o channels, pools, a well, and a ample cistern with its archetypal plastered interior

The tract and the surrounding country has been a spot wherever galore Prophets person passed through. 

St John’s Cave

St John the Baptist’s Cave

On the occidental broadside of Elijah’s Hill, is simply a tiny cave wherever John lived, and wherever Jesus was known to sojourn him.

This is considered a precise Holy tract and truthful a religion was built astir the cave, which you tin spot the remains of.

Here, you tin besides spot the Rhotorios Monastery with respective churches and different buildings, each wrong a surrounding wall.

The entranceway successful the bluish partition leads to the surviving quarters of the monks. The mosaic level includes a transverse made of diamond shapes and a Greek inscription dating it to the clip of Rhotorious.

It was the archetypal monastery eastbound of the Jordan River connected the aboriginal Christian pilgrimage way betwixt Jerusalem and Mount Nebo.

Another important constituent is that during the play of Islamic rule, monks lived successful the monastery performing their regular duties freely, portraying the benignant of coexistence betwixt Christians and Muslims that is inactive the lawsuit successful modern time Jordan.

Visually the tract is precise akin to however it would person looked successful the clip of Jesus and John.

Church of St John the Baptist

From the baptismal pool, you tin locomotion down to the existent Jordan River. The beingness of respective churches successful this country – for eons – is different portion of grounds utilized to ascertain that this is the ineffable baptismal spot.

Why other would they dedicate truthful galore resources to physique religion aft religion here?

The astir good known is the beauteous domed Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist, built connected Byzantine ruins successful 2003 close adjacent the Jordan River. The Byzantine‐style frescos wrong are stunning, particularly the Jesus Christ 1 connected the ceiling nether the dome.

The wrong of St John the Baptist Church

Jordan River, connected the Israeli – Jordan border

Baptismal font astatine the River Jordan

Walk retired the religion doorway to the occidental slope of the Jordan River. Huge Israeli and Palestinian flags question supra a level astatine the West Bank site, Qasr Al Yahud, different fashionable spot for pilgrims to visit.

Nearby Jericho successful Israel was considered the spot of Jesus’ baptism earlier the uncovering of Bethany Beyond the Jordan.

Israeli broadside of the Jordan

With its thicket of reeds and tamarisk bushes lining the banks and surrounding birdsong, it feels much similar a tropical jungle down present than the desert.

There is not a batch to see, it’s much similar a murky creek than a river. What enamored maine the astir were the gum trees on the river.

The River Jordan – hullo gum tree

Apparently, owed to mines, this is the lone spot successful Jordan wherever you tin get entree the Jordan River. Despite warnings, radical bash execute baptisms successful the river. Instead, determination is simply a font of h2o from the stream wherever pilgrims renew baptismal promises.

Pilgrims to the tract tin petition a spiritual ceremonial astatine either of the 2 caller baptism pools that person been built on Tell Mar Elias, oregon astatine the past Large Baptism Pool midway on the wadi.

Getting to Bethany Beyond the Jordan

John Baptizes Jesus

The tract is astir an hr westbound of Amman, connected the borderline with the Palestinian Territories. You tin get a taxi from Amman, rent a car, oregon instrumentality a minibus to Madaba. Check rental car prices here.

It’s beauteous casual to get a taxi from the Dead Sea oregon Madaba, some are comparatively close.

While successful this area, sojourn the different notable adjacent sites successful the Holy Land: Madaba, Mt Nebo, and the Dead Sea.

Where to enactment adjacent Bethany Beyond the Jordan

View of the Dead Sea from Movenpick Resort

As this country is adjacent Dead Sea, my proposal is to enactment there. It’s a stunning place, it’s adjacent galore of the Holy Land sites, and you get to aquatics successful the Dead Sea.

I loved, loved, loved the Movenpick Resort Dead Sea – fantastic amenities, swimming pools, and views with your ain backstage formation connected the Dead Sea.

FAQs About Bethany Beyond the Jordan

Final Thoughts

I raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools, but I besides got my teaching grade astatine the Catholic University successful Sydney and taught successful Catholic schools.

Although I americium nary longer practicing, connected reflection, I lone privation I soaked it up more.

Many times with my travels, it’s successful looking backmost wherever I consciousness the existent worth of the experience.

I ever wonder, “Why didn’t I clasp this afloat astatine the time?” Do you find that often with yourself?

I deliberation it’s astir apt due to the fact that your 5 senses are taking everything successful astatine once, making it hard to process it each astatine the clip and recognize what it means, oregon however it’s moving you.

That’s wherefore making clip for reflection is truthful invaluable – and our memories are truthful precious. As we say,

“Travel More. Create Better Memories.” (and larn to beryllium a amended human.)

Don’t marque the aforesaid mistakes arsenic me. Put the telephone away, and soak it each in.

More Jordan Travel Tips

Need much inspiration for visiting Jordan? Here are immoderate different adjuvant guides…

• Ancient City of Petra, Jordan: An Incredible Back Door Hike + Helpful guide
• The BEST of Jordan connected a 7 Day Escape Tour By Globus
• Memorable Experiences connected A Visit to Jordan – Yala, Yala
• Outstanding things to bash successful Amman, Jordan
• Things to cognize earlier you question to Jordan

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