Baptism Site – Al Maghtas in Wadi
Kharrar
“This
happened at Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John [the Baptist] was
baptizing.” This is especially
significant because many biblical scholars believe John to be the most precise
of the gospel writers, using more factual detail in his account of the events in
Jesus’ life (cf. John 5:2 and
19:13). Interestingly, when John
mentions another Bethany in the story of Lazarus (John 11:1-44), he is careful
to distinguish this second Bethany from the first by describing it as “…only
two miles from Jerusalem,” clearly not the baptism site.
A further indication of the authenticity of Al Maghtas as the baptism
site is its identification as both the place of John the Baptist’s ministry
(John 10:40) and the site of Elijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of
fire (2 Kings 2:5-14). Both John
the Baptist and Elijah played the roles of prophet and precursor to the
messianic time, and Matthew (17:10-13) explicitly identifies John with Elijah.
Recent
excavations at Al Maghtas have located Bethany on the east bank of the Jordan
River. Independent archeological
teams and experts confirm this conclusion, and the Roman Catholic Church has
placed Al Maghtas on the list of five official pilgrimage sites in Jordan.
Both St. Jerome and the 4th century historian Eusebius
identify Al Maghtas as an integral part of the early Christian pilgrimage route
between Jerusalem and Mount Nebo. It
also appears on the mosaic map of Madaba.
Among
discoveries in the original settlement at Al Maghtas are seven churches from the
1st century, as well as remains of many Byzantine churches from later
centuries. The Jordanian government
continues to support research and preservation efforts at this immensely
significant.
Click
here to ask our staff any questions.
Jordan Sinai Hotels & Tours
P.O.
Box 1305
Aqaba - Jordan
Tel: 962.3.2018700
Fax: 962.3.2018701
info@jordansinaihotels.com

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