It was a fun day walking in Jesus' and Moses' footsteps in my Biblical Jordan tour with CIEE. We began with Bethany to visit Jesus' baptism site. His exact place is controversial since both Israel and Jordan claim he was baptized on their side of the river, but as long as I touched the same water he did, I'm happy. Our tour guide did give several Bible verses that supported Jordan's claim of having the baptismal site on their side. Unfortunately, the river was more like a little stream. It used to be 60 meters in width, I believe, but it's much more narrow now. I could've swam across to the other side (where Israel was) in less than a minute. But it was still a calm and beautiful place to meditate about what took place there.
After the Jordan River, we made our way to Mount Nebo where we saw the Promised Land through Moses' eyes. The sky was hazy and dusty so we couldn't see that far, but it's still a fantastic site to see the vast deserts of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, the Dead Sea, and the West Bank (to name a few). There was also a structure of a serpent around a stick that represented the story when the Israelites sinned so they were bit by snakes. Then Moses put one on a stick for the people who were bitten to look at and get healed. I don't know about you, but I just learned that this structure is the same as the medical symbol due to its healing story.
After Mount Nebo, we went down to Madaba to visit St. George's church. It was a cute little town much more quiet and less crowded than Amman. Inside the church is the famous floor mosaic of a map of Jordan and it's neighbors. After that short visit, we had a nice Jordanian lunch before visiting the mountain in Mkawir where John the Baptist's head was served on a platter due to King Herod Antipus' promise to his stepdaughter's, Salome's, request after performing a dance. We had a little hike up to the top of this mountain where some columns of the king's palace were still standing. Biblical stories are vivid when you're actually at the sites it took place.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures on your most interesting Biblical Jordan tour. The Bible and Holy Scriptures do become real to you when you walk in the footsteps of Jesus and Moses. Whenever anyone mentions these historical Biblical sites that you have seen, you can provide them more details because you have actually been there. We are learning so much about Jordan through your eyes and words. Your blog is greatly appreciated by us and everyone else that has seen it that we talk to here at home.
ReplyDeleteWow! Joleen! What an amazing adventure into the past you are having! I wish our whole Bible study group could go there and experience it all together. It's got to be a life-changing experience. I am so glad you are able to have this time there. Love & Prayers, Ed & Jo
ReplyDeleteThank you for your continuous prayers! It helps to have a church family to look forward to back at home. :)
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