Qasr el Yahud and Bethany Beyond the Jordan

Just a few miles north of the Dead Sea

 and within sight of Jericho is a site called Qasr el Yahud-

on the Palestinian side. 

This area is thought to be a closer spot
 for the baptism of Jesus.

Mark 1:9-12

Also associated with where Elijah

 parted the waters of the Jordan River

 and walked across with Elisha

 just before entering heaven in a chariot of fire.

 2 Kings 2:7-15

Where John the Baptist prepares the way

 and spends his early days in ministry-

 John 1:19-28 and 10:40-42.

The other side of the Jordan River is called 

Bethany Beyond the Jordan,

and it is a bit more "beyond"

 as that is Jordanian territory.

The Jordan side of the Jordan River is one of the

 most important recent discoveries

 in Biblical archaeology.

 Excavations only began here in 1996,

 following Jordan's peace treaty with Israel in 1994. 

They have already uncovered more than 20 churches,

 caves and baptismal pools dating

 from the Roman and Byzantine periods. 

The area known as Wadi Kharrar

 has long been believed to be the

 biblical Bethany beyond the Jordan.

The signs remind you as you enter and leave this spot 

that this is a military zone.

You do not get in the water without permission.

You do not cross the river.

And armed folks along the balcony area

 are able reminders of all of this.

And so are the barbed wire and razor fence lines

 and the signs for the active mine fields.

A modern time reminder that the Holy Land

 has ALWAYS been a land of unrest.

But, we live and hope in the ONE-

 who brings true peace- Jesus.