Located on the east bank of the Jordan River is Al-Maghtas, an archaeological World Heritage site that has been revered since the Byzantine era as the original location of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:13 states, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John”.
Al-Maghtas, meaning “baptism” or “immersion”, has been a site of religious pilgrimage for nearly 2000 years. Archaeological explorations of the area have uncovered the remains of a monastery in an area known locally as Jabal Mar-Elias, with further discoveries closer to the river itself, including several churches, baptism ponds, and even possible evidence of a community living in the area.
BONUS: You’ll have less tourists to worry about when you visit!
When you walk along the banks of the stream known as Wadi Kharrar, don’t be surprised if you start connecting with this amazingly historical site, which includes the monastic mound of Jabal Mar-Elias and the baptism site of Jesus. But also expect to be hit by the heat; this desert biblical location is one of the hottest and most humid places on earth due to its depth below sea level!
A Quick Glance at the history of the area
Archaeological studies and excavations at Wadi Kharrar have discovered that the area has been inhabited for around five and half thousand years. Early settlements from around 3500 BC were from people in the Chalcolithic, more commonly known as the Copper Age. Further excavation has uncovered occupation from the Hellenistic period that lead up to the emergence of the Roman Empire.
From the 1st to the 4th centuries Christianity was practiced in the area but was heavily persecuted by the Roman state who’s beliefs in polytheism went against the Christian belief in one god. This religious persecution did little to stem the pilgrimage and worship at the area. In the latter half of the 4th century, Christianity became the prominent and official religion of the Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine era, and the Roman state supported the construction of a monastery on Jabal Mar-Elias, the Arabic name for Mount Elias, the place venerated by Christian scholars as the location of the prophet Elijah’s ascent into heaven.
In the fifth century, the first church erected in commemoration of John the Baptist was erected by the Romans. Due to natural disasters, the church was rebuilt several times over the next few centuries.
The 7th century saw many changes in Jordan, specifically the emergence of the Islamic faith and Muslims into the area. This shift in religious practices effectively forced an end to Christianity in the region and all building work by the Byzantine people was halted. The buildings that did remain were converted for use as Islamic places of worship, with commemoration of the baptism site moving to the west bank of the river in the early 8th century.
Reasons you really should visit the site of Jesus’s Baptism
Along with Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the baptism site of Jesus has been authenticated by all major Christian Church leaders as one of the three holiest sites of Christianity.
John the Baptist was said to have lived here for about 20 years. He resided in a cave on Jabal Mar-Elias.
The site and its surrounding area has been a place where many prophets have passed through for the last two millennia. The Baptism Site was actually a Pilgrimage Station on the early Pilgrimage Trail; evidence of dwellings for the pilgrims have been uncovered by archaeological excavation.
It is an amazingly historical site, preserved closely to how it was 2,000 years go. Just stepping through the Tamarax shrubs in the heat (if you head there in the summer – go early!) will conjure up images of hermits and religious recluses living on the banks of the Jordan in ancient times.
But don’t just go for the history – Al-Maghtas is also a nature reserve with much flora and fauna in and around the Jordan River.
How to get to the site of Jesus’s Baptism
Located along the main road from the Dead Sea towards the airport at the city of Amman, visitors can either park or be dropped off at the visitor center car park. This is where you must buy your ticket to the site (entry fee is 12 JOD and bring cash, as no cards are accepted) and wait for the mandatory bus service that runs approximately every half an hour. After being dropped off by the bus, you’ll then have to walk about 3 km to reach the baptism site.
Opening Hours
Winter Time (Nov.1 – April 1) 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (last entry 3:00 pm)
Summer Time (April 2 – Oct.31) 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (last entry 5:00 pm)