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Beyond the Jordan: the baptism site and Mount Nebo · Stop 1 · Day 1
Al-Maghtas: Bethany beyond the Jordan
In the Bible
John was baptizing at Bethany beyond the Jordan, and Jesus was baptized by him. Later Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first baptized, and stayed there.
All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”Tradition
By tradition since Byzantine times, Jesus was baptized here on the east bank; the west bank, Qasr al-Yahud, keeps the same tradition. A hill here is shown as the place of Elijah's ascent.
Here today
Excavated Byzantine churches, pools and hermits' caves along the Kharrar stream, a path to the river, and new churches of several denominations.
Through the eyes of old pilgrims
From thence to the Jordan, where the Lord was baptized by John … There is a place by the river, a little hill upon the further (left) bank, from which Elijah was caught up into heaven.The Bordeaux Pilgrim, 333
And near there, to the east, about two bowshots from the river, is the place where the prophet Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire. There too is the cave of Saint John the Baptist … and that water is very cold and very sweet, and John, the Forerunner of Christ, drank that water when he lived in that holy cave.Abbot Daniel, 1106–1108 · our translation
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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).