Today was an amazing day. First we drove about an hour away from Amman to the Jordan River to the place called Bethany beyond the Jordan. This river separates Jordan from the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel. We went to the location where John the Baptist baptized Jesus and saw many different churches either built or under construction by various denominations surrounding this significant place, including the largest Catholic Church in the Middle East...it was currently under construction. This was such a cool experience to see where Jesus was baptized and where John the Baptist lived and had his ministry. John is reference in the Bible in Matthew 11:7-14:
“As John’s disciples were
leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out
into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go
out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are
in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you,
and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send
my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. ’Truly I tell
you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the
Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From
the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the
Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept
it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
I actually saw the dry barren desert and the lush
vegetation on the edge of Jordan River in sharp contrast to each other…including
reeds swaying in the wind referenced by Jesus. John was referenced in this
passage by Jesus as the Elijah to come and it was interesting that both John
the Baptist and Elijah had ministries in the same area. Not far from the Baptism
site, meaning less than a mile, scholars and archeologists think Elijah was
caught up to Heaven on a Chariot of Fire. They called this place Elijah’s Hill.
Both prophets had similarities in what God commissioned them to do on earth and
the location in which they ministered! The scriptures come to life so much more
now because I can visualize so many of the places referenced in the Bible. The
tour guide said that lions even ran wild in Jordan up until about 300 years
ago. I didn’t know that! But the Bible said that King David killed a bear and a
lion with his bare hands. So much history, facts and Biblical significance in
this beautiful country!
Cory touching the water at the Jordan River
Rich vegetation at Elijah's Hill near the Jordan River
Largest Catholic Church in the Middle East under construction at Bethany beyond the Jordan
Elijah's Hill where Elijah was caught up to Heaven
From the Bethany beyond the Jordan, we went to the city
of Madaba and had lunch at Haret Jdoudna. This city was known for having a
large Christian population and still does to this day. After lunch, we toured
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church and saw a mosaic showing a map of the Holy
Lands from the 6th Century A.D. It was magnificent. It took over 2
million tiles to create it.
Lunch at Haret Jdoudna...very good Jordanian food!
St. George's Greek Orthodox Church
6th Century Mosaic of Holy Lands
Inside the Church
The next stop on our tour was Mount Nebo. This mountain
top was the place where most scholar’s believe Moses overlooked the Promise
Land of Israel, but could not enter. The Bible says Moses climbed to the top of
this mountain and died and his body was buried in an undisclosed location. At
the top of this mountain I could see the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley and
over into Israel. The views were so majestic…one could literally see for miles
and miles. At the top of Mount Nebo there is a monument, a museum and a monastery
for monks who oversee the site.
On the way up to Mount Nebo, we encountered camels crossing the road
From Mount Nebo overlooking the Promise Land
Mount Nebo
Memorial Stone at Mount Nebo
Evangelical Pastor from India visiting Mount Nebo (Cory knows no stranger, just a friend he hasn't met yet!!!)
After a long day of seeing many significant Biblical
sites, our group went to an amazing hotel near the Dead Sea called Ma’in Hotel.
This hotel is at the base of natural hot springs in a canyon. The water
temperature is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and gets incorporated into the pool
at the hotel. Words cannot describe, no pictures do justice for the beauty of
this place. We ate dinner outside on the patio overlooking the water fall and
once the sunset, I could see the lights of Jerusalem off in the distance.
Ma'in Hotel overlooking landscape from balcony
Hot Springs falling into the pool
View from hotel toward Jerusalem
I truly feel so blessed and honored to be on this trip
and wish each of you could be here with me. Maybe I need to lead a tour of the
Holy Lands with all of you! Now that would be very cool!
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