JESUS IS BAPTIZED AT BETHANY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN

MATTHEW 3:13–17; MARK 1:9–11; LUKE 3:21–22; JOHN 1:29–34

The birth of Jesus brings life-changing news to a sin-ruined world. For that reason the anniversary of his birth deserves all the attention it gets. The day of Jesus’s baptism is no less important, for it is the day Jesus emerges from the water with the proclamation that the Kingdom of God has come. Jesus’s baptism was the day of his consecration into his rabbinic authority. This meant that his interpretation of the Scriptures would be both welcomed in the conversation and considered authoritative.20 In many respects Jesus’s baptism could have occurred anywhere that an appropriate supply of water existed. But it happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan for a reason.21

The Jordan River near the village of Bethany on the other side of the Jordan.

Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, 0.9 miles east of the Jordan River and adjacent to the spring at the head of Wadi Gharrar. On the hill known as Elijah’s Hill is the remains of a Byzantine monastery from the fifth or sixth century.

An accumulation of the most persuasive evidence places the baptism of Jesus in a location northeast of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley. John’s Gospel says that this event happened “at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan” (John 1:28).22 Matthew tells us that John the Baptist was preaching in the Desert of Judea where he addressed crowds that had come from Jerusalem and the region of Judea (Matt. 3:1). All of this suggests that we can seek this Bethany somewhere in the southern reaches of the Jordan Valley on the east side of the river. As early as the fourth century, Christian pilgrims have provided us with reports of a church and monastery dedicated to John the Baptist located opposite Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan River, about four and one-half miles north of the Dead Sea.23

Three earlier events that occurred in this area combine to make this spot a powerful setting for Jesus’s baptism. The first preceded Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land when the multitude of Israelites was encamped on the plains of Moab northeast of the Dead Sea (Num. 22:1). Their presence made the Moabites so nervous that they hired Balaam, who practiced divination, to put a curse on the Israelites. Time after time, Balaam’s curses became blessings. On his fourth attempt as he looked over Jacob’s children, he spoke of one special son of Jacob yet to come:

I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;

a scepter will rise out of Israel.

Numbers 24:17

What Balaam could see in the distant future as he overlooked the southern Jordan Valley was now emerging from the water in the very region this prophecy was made.

This is also the location where Joshua assumed his role as leader of the Israelites. Moses had led the Israelites for decades, but God made it clear that Joshua, not Moses, was to take the people into the Promised Land (Num. 20:12). The Lord commissioned Joshua through Moses as the new leader of the people of Israel—a consecration that occurred near the future location of Jesus’s baptism (Deut. 31:14; 34:9).24

Years later a third significant event occurred near the location of Jesus’s baptism. Following years of faithful service in the school of the prophets, Elijah left Jericho and crossed the Jordan River, where Elisha saw a chariot and horses of fire carry Elijah away in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). A memorial site where Elisha received Elijah’s cloak of authority and saw Elijah’s dramatic departure is at a small hill that lies just east of where Jesus was baptized.25 God had promised the world that before the Messiah’s birth a new Elijah would be born and prepare the way (Mal. 4:5). John was this new Elijah (Matt. 11:14; 17:12). By baptizing Jesus near the hill from which Elijah ascended, John was carrying out his assignment that became part of the message—another reason this event happened where it did.

Neo-Assyrian Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (858–824 BC), portraying an Israelite robe from the time of Elijah. Elijah transferred authority to Elisha through the passing of the robe (i.e., mantle).
© Dr. James C. Martin. The British Museum.

Jesus’s baptism at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan