Jordan is a modern country with an ancient culture, a land of
which visitors can walk through the valleys, hills and plains whose names
have become part of human history by virtue of the simple deeds and profound
messages of prophets who walked the land and crossed its rivers during their
lives.
Many of the sites where they are said to have performed miracles or reached
out to ordinary people have been identified, excavated and protected, and
are now more easily accessible to visitors.
The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where
Jesus was baptised, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40)
and from the Byzantine and medieval texts.
The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated,
restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors in early 2000.
The site is located half an hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman.
John 1:28 speaks of Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptising, while
John 10:40 mentioned an incident when Jesus escaped from hostile crowds in
Jerusalem and went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at
first baptised.
The site of this Bethany beyond (east of) the Jordan River is not to be confused
with Bethany near Jerusalem, which was the hometown of Lazarus.
The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route
between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo.
