BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

Israel Opens Site Associated with Jesus’ Baptism

Bible and archaeology news

In Israel, one of the two sites traditionally associated with the baptism of Jesus has been opened for daily visits by the public—something that hasn’t occurred here since 1967. The site, which is located in the West Bank along the Jordan River, is believed by some to be the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus—the other is across the river at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which is located in Jordanian territory.

In order to open the site to regular visits, it was first necessary to remove the land mines in the area that had been a militarized zone since the 1967 Mideast War. Israel is hoping that the opening of this site will draw more Christian tourists and pilgrims to the country.
 

 
Other than Israel, no country has as many Biblical sites and associations as Jordan: Mount Nebo, from where Moses gazed at the Promised Land; Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John baptized Jesus; Lot’s Cave, where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; and many more. Travel with us on our journey into the past in our free eBook Exploring Jordan.