A visit a to the Holy Land invariably includes a visit to the baptismal site at Yardenit on the Jordan River, just south of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. The water there is pure, deep and lovely. Leafy trees line the banks. Wildlife flourishes in and near the waters. And tourist amenities abound, including steps leading into the River Jordan, making access very easy, and available smocks for those desiring to immerse themselves totally. There is even a good restaurant nearby.The only fly in the ointment is that many are convinced there never was a baptismal site at Yardenit before the tourists started coming.
Some thus look to an area downriver near Bethany-Beyond-Jordan, in Jordan. Prior to the Jordanian-Israel peace treaty this was a no-man’s land. Since the peace treaty the Jordanians removed their military installations and have been feverishly excavating the area and encouraging Christians to build churches there. The results so far of the excavations have been discovery of almost two dozen ancient buildings, including the remains of five churches which appear to have been constructed over a 700 year period.In addition a cross shaped baptismal pool was found under one of the churches, which to some is evidence that this is indeed the site where Christ was baptized.
Covering its bases, a few yards away, just across the river, Israel is building its own tourist site out of beautiful Jerusalem stone, replicating much of what has made Yardenit such an attractive destination. And not surprisingly both Israel and Jordan that Christ was baptized on “their” side of the Jordan River. The only fly in this ointment: Just downriver from Yardenit, salty wastewater and emissions from a sewage plant have polluted the Jordan River, including the area at these new tourist baptismal sites. And Israel faces at least one other problem it may wish to address: to get to their new baptismal site you have to drive through miles of minefields.
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