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Jordanian archaeologist Rustom Mkhjian says that there is compelling evidence that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in a spot located in Jordan, not Israel. He bases his claim on the fact that John 1:28 says that Jesus was baptized in Bethany, across the River Jordan.
According to a report published by Catholic San Francisco, online edition, the site has attracted many religious pilgrims, included Pope Benedict XVI. The traditional site for Jesus’ baptism in Israel is called Qasr el Yahud. This tradition is based on Matthew, 3:13-17. The site, however, is situated near the international border between Israel and Jordan. For this reason, the Israeli government has opened a substitute site for public baptism at Yardenit by the Sea of Galilee.
Many Christian leaders believe that the authentic baptismal site is in Jordan. Among those Christians who accept the Jordanian site include evangelical Pastor Rick Warren, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.
According to tradition, the site of Jesus’ baptism was also the place where Joshua crossed the Jordan River to conquer Canaan, the place where Elijah and Elisha fled to escape Ahab’s persecution, and the place where Elijah was taken up to heaven on a chariot in a fiery whirlwind,
You can read the article here.
The view that Jesus was baptized in a site located in present day Jordan is based on an alternative reading of John 1:28. The text reads: “These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” Some manuscripts read “Bethabara” instead of “Bethany”. Bethany was a village on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. The location of Bethabara is unknown, but it has been identified as the possible name for the site east of the Jordan River where John baptized.
The precise site of Jesus’ baptism cannot be located geographically because more than one place is given in the New Testament: Bethany (John 1:28), Bethabara (John 1:28 variant reading), and Aenon near Salim (John 3:23).
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 