The Baptism of Jesus

On the remote east side of the Jordan River at a place known as Bethany, John preached a message of repentance, drawing out crowds from the big city of Jerusalem [John 1:28]. In preparation for the coming Messiah, John baptized people for the forgiveness of their sins. Traveling down from Galilee, Jesus, now about 30 years old, came to be baptized by his cousin [Matthew 3:13-17] [Mark 1:9-11] [Luke 3:21-23] [John 1:32-34]. Initially, John hesitated, recognizing Jesus was sinless, and stated that he was unworthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus reassured him that this was the will of the Father.

In connection and agreement with John’s message of repentance for the nation, Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River. As he prayed, Jesus saw the heavens open as God broke into history. This act recalls Isaiah’s reminder of Moses and the salvation he brought through the anointing of the Holy Spirit [Isaiah 63:11-15].

Among all the people, the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in a way that only Jesus and John were aware of. A voice from heaven stated, “This is my Son, whom I love. With him, I am well pleased.” This language resembles Old Testament prophecies [Psalm 2:7] [Isaiah 42:1]. God’s anointing and approval of his Son to this new task fulfilled the inauguration of a new era prophesied by Isaiah [Isaiah 61:1-2]. Christ’s baptism in the murky waters of the Jordan anointed him as Messiah and launched his ministry in Israel.

In the Old Testament, priests began their ministry around 30 with ceremonial washing. Jesus was not merely to be a priest in the order of Aaron but rather the ultimate High Priest in the order of Melchizedek [Psalm 110:4]. As Messiah, Christ fulfilled the demands of the Law, and his baptism signified his consecration to God, making him acceptable for service.

An early tradition preserves Jesus’ baptismal location across from Jericho at Wadi Gharrar in present-day Jordan. This small tributary is fed by a few springs, allowing for baptisms away from the main branch of the once swift-flowing Jordan River. Here, the Byzantines built three churches to commemorate Jesus’ baptism by John. Today, the remains of more than 20 Christian sites have been discovered, including a prayer hall, baptismal pools, and a sophisticated water distribution system. These structures date back to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Several new churches have been constructed, the most prominent being the gold-domed Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist. An alternate location for Bethany Beyond the River may be in the northern territory of Herod Philip near Beth Shan.