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Undoubtedly, one of the most important places for Christian religious tourism in Jordan is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which is the place of Jesus’ baptism., by John the Baptist. Its extraordinary symbolism attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, to which are added tourists who simply have an interest in history and culture. On this page we give you information about it, indicating where exactly the place of the baptism of Christ, what to see in the enclosure and how to get to this unique place.
The Place of Jesus’ Baptism it is on the Jordan River, in its final course, about 20 kilometers before its waters flow into the Dead Sea. This proximity makes it easy for many travelers to travel here as an excursion from your resort. However, it is also close to Amman, just 50 km away, so you can still get here from the capital.
It is located in the middle of the countryside, in an area where the Jordan River does not cross any city or town, but serves as a border between Jordan and Israel (Palestinian Territories of the West Bank).
Although not part of the same geographical area, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is often integrated into a religious circuit along with Madaba and Mount Nebo, as they are relatively close to each other: Madaba at 40 km and Mount Nebo, at 30 km.
John the Baptist, or Saint John the Baptist, was a Jewish preacher who promoted the sacrament of baptism as a method of purification. For Christianity, he was a saint and in some branches of this religion he is considered a prophet, because he anticipated and announced the arrival of Jesus. He probably performed his baptisms in nearby Wadi Al Kharrar.
However, that of Jesus Christ would have taken place in this same place, in the waters of the Jordan River, at the request of Jesus himself. This episode is narrated in the Books of the New Gospel, with details that differ, although it is commonly accepted that at the very moment of baptism, the dove of the Holy Spirit descended from heaven to emphasize the presence of God, who would have pronounced the words: “You are my dear son, my favorite” (Matthew 3:17 and John 1:32).
After that, Jesus would have remained 40 days in the desert, tempted by Satan to sin, but protected by the angels not to do so. After that, he met again with John the Baptist, who met several followers (including Peter) and uttered “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Since then, the popularity of Jesus grew enormously in Bethany, as well as in other towns in the area, such as Amman or Madaba.
The Place of Jesus’ Baptism, after these biblical episodes, it maintained its sacred character in later centuries, even at a time when Christianity was a persecuted religion. After becoming the religion of the Roman Empire and especially in times of Byzantine domination, pilgrimages are attested here in the IV-VI centuries, and so it probably remained until the fourteenth century. But later, this tradition was stopped, leaving the place under the control of local tribes.
Already in the late nineteenth century, with the discovery of the mosaic-map of Madaba (dated in the sixth century), interest in the place of the baptism of Jesus He came back strongly. At the beginning of the twentieth century, thanks to the open attitude of the local Bedouin leader Shaykh Salih Yacoub, pilgrims resumed their visits to the place, but again this tradition was stopped for security reasons, following the first conflicts between Arabs and Palestinians.
1994 marks a new milestone in the history of Bethany Beyond the Jordan: the signing of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, which led to the demilitarization and dismantling of mines on the ground. In addition, the border between the two states was fixed precisely here, on the Jordan River.
As a result, archaeological work was expedited and visits to the place of baptism of Jesus were promoted. as a point of pilgrimage and visit for religious tourists. And to this contributed to a large extent the official visits of Popes, such as John Paul II and Francis I, as well as leaders of other branches of Catholicism.
The Place of Jesus’ Baptism It is a large space with different points of interest, the most important being the exact point at which John baptized Christ. Some spaces are archaeological sites with solid evidence about the episodes that occurred there, and in other cases they are modern constructions that give greater context and significance to the place. This is the list of the main places to see:
Bethany Beyond the Jordan it is a secluded place, in the middle of nature, where the Jordan River passes, today with a lower channel but without having experienced any urban pressure. This implies, in turn, that public transport connections are practically non-existent: if a traveler wants to get here, he has to plan his route by private transport.
The only possible option for independent travelers who want to get around by public transport is the tourist route of the bus company JETT, with departures from Amman and combining Bethany Beyond the Jordan with two other places of great religious significance:
Madaba
and Mount Nebo. However, it does not offer departures every day, so it is advisable to inform yourself well before opting for this solution.
In any case, the most comfortable is to use a private vehicle with driver or a taxi from one of the surrounding towns, such as Swemeh. Some hotels and resorts organize bus tours from their own facilities.
And if you plan to come here from other places further away, this is a list of approximate distances:
In the ticket offices of this enclosure information is offered about the place of the baptism of Jesus and the rest of the spaces, with maps and brochures, although it can not be considered a tourist information office as such.
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