During my trip to Jordan, I visited Al-Maghtas, a site many believe marks the location of the baptism of Jesus of Nazareth. This UNESCO World Heritage site that straddles the border of Jordan and Israel is worth a visit, regardless of your religious faith.
My Visit To Al-Maghtas, The Jesus Baptism Site In Jordan
As I explained when visiting the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, I’m much less concerned about the actual place of a historical event versus whether the historical event took place. That’s an issue that goes beyond this post, but while I may be overly sentimental when it comes to Christmas music, I’m not nearly as sentimental about “walking on the literal path Jesus walked.”
Nevertheless, this baptism site on the east bank of the Jordan River has been preserved as a holy place since the Byzantine period. Based upon this historical preservation and even the words of scripture in the Gospel according to John (1:28 and 10:40) this is about as good a guess as any as to where the baptism of Jesus took place.
You park quite a ways away and then walk on foot to the baptism site, walking past several Orthodox churches and placards marking papal visits.
Eventually, you’ll reach the site, which is several yards beyond the Jordan River. An ancient pool marks the spot. It was a cold rainy day during my visit.
If you proceed further, you will come to the Jordan River itself, where Christian pilgrims routinely are baptized.
You’ll notice, if you stay for more than a few minutes, that large tour groups come and go, so it will be very crowded for a few minutes:
then empty out:
There was a large German tour group present during our visit of mostly older folks. When it was discovered that I spoke German, several asked me to take pictures for them. Some even had film cameras!
The Jordan River marks the border between Israel and Jordan and you can literally wade across a few feet into Israel (though that is not recommended and armed soldiers will likely stop you). Baptisms occur on the other side of the river too.
In retrospect, perhaps that was the profound point of this visit. A small sliver of water on the point at which the Prince of Peace, who came to unite the nations, was baptized, marks a dividing line between two worlds, two visions, and two ways of life.
CONCLUSION
The Jesus Baptism Site, also known as Al-Maghtas, is worth a visit. Whether it marks the true site of Jesus’ baptism cannot be definitively ascertained, but if not there it was probably close by. As a border between Israel and Jordan, it also marks a divide between two nations with so much in common and yet worlds apart.
An often overlook of the site’s significance is the presence of the whole Trinity when Jesus came up from the water.
Just booked a trip to Israel on Air France last night in PE on points. Before I had to wait to transfer points from Amex of at least 10 minutes before AF reservation system realized the points were sitting on my account. This time it was completely instant.
I’ve been to the Israeli side there. I believe this same general area of the Jordan is where Ruth would have crossed from Moab and the tribes of Israel would have crossed in relation to Mt. Nebo.
We’ll be in Amman in 3 weeks and are planning to visit the Dead Sea for an afternoon, we’ll probably stop here as well, thx for the review!
Thanks for the post. I didn’t know of this site but I’ll be close and will go visit.
I’ll be there next week. I’ll be in Jordan 3 weeks. Two of those weeks I’ve rented a car. Super cheap car rentals. I used UR points for the car.
Are you in a car there? I read driving can be a challenge with the potholes and speed bumps.
I visited the other side many years ago. What struck me at the time was how small the Jordan was for such an important river.
I have Visited the site and it is a must see for anyone of any faith. Your baptismal site photo looks like mine and my friends- filtered with a flow but I know did no such thing as did we. It is almost like an indescribable glow. My friend and I even went to the Israeli side to see the Jordan River and it was incredible (but way too crowded). If you can visit from both Israel and Jordan, do it. It’s worth it
“When it was discovered that I spoke German” Subtle matthew! I actually did the full german course on duolingo so i can’t speak a lick of german, naturlich.