Holy Land Tour - 7th and Final Day
Day 7 - the day we check-out and head back home via Amman. A visit to the Baptismal Site of John the Baptist was included as a detour. This site is on the Jordanian side of the river.
Many claim that the site where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist was north of the Dead Sea and on the Israeli side of the Jordon. There was also an abundance of water
However, in reference to the Bible (Bethany beyond the Jordan) and archaeological discoveries it appears that the site in Jordan was the original one. Furthermore the wilderness & flora, nearness to Qumran where John spent most of his time, and the archaeological ruins shown below strengthens the arguments that the foregoing is the correct site.
Some reference quotes:
Matt 3:13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.NKJV
John 1:26-28
Mark 1:9
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.NKJV
26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.
27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
NIV
Bethany, beyond the the Jordan means the East Bank. Many texts prove this is the place.
Archaeologist and devout Muslim Mohammed Al Waheeb carries three volumes of the New Testament in the back of his car, two in Arabic and one in English, and spends hours pondering the ancient texts in his quest to better understand the story of Jesus' baptism. Here, just east of the Jordan River, Waheeb and his team of archaeologists believe they have identified the site where John the Baptist lived and preached and where Jesus' baptism probably took place--along a little-more-than-a-mile stretch of a spring-fed stream running to the River Jordan.
Below in the distance is the 'small' Church of St John the Baptist with golden dome and the forest through which we would be proceeding to the baptism site.
Note the desert landscape to the south of the lush forest near the Jordan River.
Marble plaque at the site
A baptism taking place at a mordern pool.
Original Baptism pool.
Byzantine ruins in Wadi Kharrar, not far from the Jordan River. A five or ten-minute walk through the "jungle" leads into a clearing marked by a modern pool and the sheltered remains of the 7th-century Church of John the Baptist (ahead). Byzantine stairs, three of them black marble, interspersed with white marble from Asia Minor, lead from the apse to the Spring of John the Baptist (center foreground). A marble fragment inscribed "IOY. BATT." was found in the church wall.
Byzantine ruins in Wadi Kharrar, not far from the Jordan River. A five or ten-minute walk through the "jungle" leads into a clearing marked by a modern pool and the sheltered remains of the 7th-century Church of John the Baptist (ahead). Byzantine stairs, three of them black marble, interspersed with white marble from Asia Minor, lead from the apse to the Spring of John the Baptist (center foreground). A marble fragment inscribed "IOY. BATT." was found in the church wall. 
A closer view of the above.
Note that more of the paving has been uncovered. The steps leading down to the pool (which is dried up possibly because it's summer) is supposed to represent the route Jesus took for his baptism.
Chapels of the Jordan. 
As Wadi Kharrar approaches the Jordan River, the change in the environment is dramatic. The narrow strip leading down to the river is more like our Malaysian's environment than the Middle East - no wonder the Prophet Jeremiah spoke of "the jungle of the Jordan" (Jer. 49:19). Paths from the lunar desert landscape lead into a thicket of reeds and woody tamarisk bushes. The air here is steamy and tropical and filled with the songs of birds and noise from the 14 springs that flow all around.
As Wadi Kharrar approaches the Jordan River, the change in the environment is dramatic. The narrow strip leading down to the river is more like our Malaysian's environment than the Middle East - no wonder the Prophet Jeremiah spoke of "the jungle of the Jordan" (Jer. 49:19). Paths from the lunar desert landscape lead into a thicket of reeds and woody tamarisk bushes. The air here is steamy and tropical and filled with the songs of birds and noise from the 14 springs that flow all around.
The name "Kharrar" for this area may be an imitation of these sounds.
Inside the 7th-century Church of John the Baptist. Beneath a shelter is the altar and mosaic floor, which was originally raised up on an arched vault to protect it from flooding, just as early Christian pilgrims described. 
Floor mosaic fragment in the 7th-century Church of John the Baptist.
Floor mosaic fragment in the 7th-century Church of John the Baptist.
Small baptismal font with steps (not visible) leading down to the Jordan River. Across the river is Israel.
A modern Orthodox church dedicated to St. John the Baptist has been built next to the Jordan River as part of the development of the site. The small church has a golden dome and is painted with Byzantine-style murals inside.
Inside the Churchof St John the Baptist. Murals & Iconstasis inside the new Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist next to the Jordan River, showing the baptism of Jesus that probably happened just outside the church
A modern Orthodox church dedicated to St. John the Baptist has been built next to the Jordan River as part of the development of the site. The small church has a golden dome and is painted with Byzantine-style murals inside.
Inside the Churchof St John the Baptist. Murals & Iconstasis inside the new Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist next to the Jordan River, showing the baptism of Jesus that probably happened just outside the church
Israeli Flag just on the border with the Jordanian on the right.
Stream leading on to the Jordon
The Jordan River.
The Jordan River.
Roger & Johnny - brothers.
Our final stop before proceeding to the Queen Alia Airport.
Traditional Jordanian luncheon - Mansaf. (The lamb is cooked in a broth made with a fermented then dried yogurt- and served on a large platter with a layer of faltbread (markook) topped with rice and then meat, garnished with nuts a green granish and the sauce poured over all)
It was really yummy, befitting our departure from the Holy Land.
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