Jordan - Land of the Baptism

Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, the Wilderness of John east of the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized, is like no other place on earth. According to Scripture, the heavens opened twice here – first as Elijah was taken up to heaven on a chariot of fire, and second at the baptism of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon him, and His Heavenly Father proclaimed His beloved Son. This is the same wilderness area of “The Crossing,” where Joshua and his people crossed the Jordan after their long Exodus journey, so it is no coincidence that Jesus came to this very place before crossing from east to west to begin his public ministry.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan welcomes pilgrims from around the world. Located just north of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, visitors can walk the pilgrim trails of this protected park, just as the first pilgrims did during the early days of Christianity. Here, the remains of early churches that were built to commemorate the very place of baptism are easily accessible. In addition, new churches and guest houses of varied traditions offer places of worship and rest for individuals and groups alike. For an online tour of the many archaeological sites within the park – offered by the very guide who has led popes, priests, world leaders and other dignitaries – please click here.

As the birthplace of Christianity, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan is of profound importance to believers. However, it is just one of the many Old and New Testament locations in Jordan easily accessible to pilgrims who make the journey.

Follow Your Bible Map To Jordan

Close-up of the famed sixth century “Madaba Map,” the oldest surviving mosaic map of the Holy Land. Visitors to Jordan can see this world heritage map on the floor of the Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba – the City of Mosaics. Madaba was part of the biblical land of Moab, just off the storied King’s Highway. Today, Madaba is within easy driving distance of many biblical locations, including Mount Nebo; the Dead Sea; Lot’s Cave; Amman; and the Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan Baptism Site.

“My experience in Jordan was wonderful. From the food to the accommodations to the holy sites and ancient ruins we visited, my visit wastruly extraordinary. I walked in places I had only read about in the Bible. I stood in the Jordan River. I marveled at the ancient architecture of Petra. I shall not soon forget the warmth and welcome of the Jordanian people or the magnificent beauty of the night sky above Wadi Rum.”

- Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, October 2017

“A highlight of my visit to Jordan was when I stood above an archaeological site at Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan and realized I was staring down at a very large cruciform baptismal font. As I gazed at the massive flight of steps leading down to the font, I imagined what it must have felt like to walk down those steps, clothed in white, trained in the catechism, and ready to be immersed in the water (which flowed directly into the pool from the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized).

The shape of the font helped me remember that when we are baptized we enter death with Christ before we emerge from the waters, raised to new life. Seeing this ancient font so close to the site of Jesus’ baptism and recalling my own baptism helped me remember how very vast is the cloud of witnesses that makes up the Christian faith, past and present.”

- Elizabeth Palmer, The Christian Century Magazine, October 2017