The Baptism Site “ Bethany beyond the Jordan ” (Al-Maghtas) is considered by the majority of the Christian Churches to be the location where John the Baptist baptised Jesus.
The river rises on the slopes of Mount Hermon , on the border between Syria and Lebanon , and flows southward through northern Israel to the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius).
The river holds major significance in Judaism and Christianity since the Bible says that the Israelites crossed it into the Promised Land and that Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist in it.
As the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Jordan River is the source of all holy water in Christianity and has for centuries attracted pilgrims from across the world.
Possibility #1: Jesus was baptized in order to identify with those he came to save. And Jesus knewthat he too must identify himself with this movement towards God” John’s baptism was part of the people’s turning from sin and turning toward God. Jesus wanted to identify with this turning.
The baptism carried out by John was full immersion in the River Jordan. Baptism was not a new idea. There is evidence that a monastic group called the Essenes used baptism at their monastery at Qumran as a type of ritual cleansing. Qumran was in the Jordan wilderness, near the area where John was probably preaching.
The holy waterway of Biblical times has become a polluted , foul-smelling stream. The lower Jordan River is filled with raw sewage and contaminated agricultural runoff from neighbouring communities in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan .
The fear that other kings felt about Israel kept remaining in their hearts, therefore, giving Joshua and Israelites an advantage over them. In conclusion, according to the Bible, God dried up the Jordan and made the people of Israel pass over and enter the Promised Land.
The most common species of fish encountered today is the common carp, which was introduced into the Jordan River and Utah Lake as a source of food after overfishing caused the depletion of native species stocks. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources regularly stocks the river with catfish and rainbow trout.
The Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River was the location for the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.
The pollution of the river is largely a result of raw sewage coming from Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian sources, plus agricultural run-off – largely pesticides and fertilisers – and hormone-enriched effluent from fish farms, according to Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME).
It was John the Baptist who decided to baptize people in the Jordan River . Many scholars think that he might have been influenced by the Essens, who like John , were leading an ascetic life in the wilderness of Qumran or EinGedi. One of their principal religious rituals was a daily immersion in water to regain purity.
Where Jesus Was Baptized , Jordan Vies With Israel For Tourists While UNESCO and the Vatican agree the site is in Jordan , a spot across the Jordan River, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, draws more visitors.
Tests indicated 86 percent of the holy water , commonly used in baptism ceremonies and to wet congregants’ lips, was infected with common bacteria found in fecal matter such as E. coli, enterococci and Campylobacter, which can lead to diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever.
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This item Holy Water Bottle – 4 oz | Holy Water From The Jordan River 180ml with Certificate and House Blessing Card | |
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Price | $250 | $19.40$19.40 |
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Color | white | Clear |