The Jordan river flows through Israel and the Palestinian territory, north to south. It originates above the Sea of Galilee and runs from there into the Dead Sea, forming the boundary between Israel and Jordan. (See it on a map here.)

John the Baptist taught in the wilderness south and east of Jerusalem, which is a desert. When you travel through this area, it is easy to see that he ate locusts and honey out of necessity—nothing else lives there!

For people to leave their homes to listen to him teach and be baptized would have involved a significant commitment. It would have been a perilous and difficult journey—not a simple task like going across town. People seeking renewal and conversion would have had to invest a lot to visit John.

The Jordan river in the area where John was baptizing is very muddy and murky, and prone to flooding. Compared to many rivers in America, it would seem like a dirty drainage ditch. But when you’ve been walking through the desert for more than a day, it is striking to see flowing water—even if it is muddy. Life is abundant around the river with insects and birds and trees and reeds and frogs. It would have been a blessing to come to such a place in the desert. It truly is living water.

Seeing the muddy Jordan reminds us of the lengths Jesus went to in order to join our humanity. Being divine, he did not need to be baptized, but he consented to it as a manifestation of his self-emptying. And he was not baptized in pristine, crystal-clear water—he was immersed by John in the dirty, muddy water that other sinners entered, looking for salvation.

At any given time, there are many baptisms and rites of renewal going on at the site designated as the place where we commemorate Jesus’ baptism. Pilgrims from all over the world visit this place to remember and pray—this video shows some of them entering the Jordan.

Scripture passages associated with this site:

Mk 1:1-8 (appearance of John the Baptist)