Yardenit

The Start of Something Big.

John the Baptist certainly struck a chord with the people of his time. His baptism - a baptism of repentance - was a real hit.

" Hey, let's go down to the river and see this wild man. Heard say that he's the new Isaiah, and he's calling us all to be baptised."

Or as the writer of the Gospel of Matthew notes: "Jerusalem and all Judea and all the regions around the Jordan went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River" (Matthew 3: 5-6).

Now that is a mass of people even allowing for the writer's hyperbole. I sure that John himself would have been surprised by the number of his countrymen and women who heeded his call for repentance at the advent of the Kingdom of Heaven. These were unsettled times and people were unsure about what was to happen. John's baptism gave them some security.

He would be even more astounded if he were to drop in at the Yardenit Baptismal Site on the Jordan in 2016. The people were streaming in from all parts of his world - assuming he was up with his Mediterranean geography - and from even further afield. They were coming from areas of the world unknown to him. From Sumatra and Suva they were coming. From China and Canada, Portugal and Paraguay, India in the east and Indiana in the west, Norway in the north and Sudan in the south, the crowds were coming in their thousands. The list would go on and include Nigeria, Ghana, United States of America, Mexico ,Taiwan and yes, even Australia.

Hastening towards the cool, forgiving waters of the Jordan they came in their sombreros and saris, their kilts and kimonos, their sun hats and Stetsons, their kimonos and yes, even in their Akubras and thongs. Jesus hoped that his good news of the Kingdom of God would spread to all corners of the world. Sitting in the cool breezes beside the Jordan I was given the impression that the gospel has indeed spread its comfort over the whole world. The joy of the gospel was clearly seen in the laughter and excitement shown by the visitors here. Their presence here was testimony to their faith.

Undergoing a baptism renewal at Yardenit Baptismal Site.

Most people who come to this Yardenit Baptismal Site do not come merely to reminisce on the activities of John the Baptist 2000 years ago, nor does the site commemorate his life and work. The traditional site where John operated was further south on the Jordan, nearer to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. A baptismal site developed here at Qasr el Yahud where pilgrims could remember The Baptiser and also  undergo a baptism of rededicate. After the Six-Day war in 1967 this site was abandoned for security reasons and Yardenit was developed as an alternative place for pilgrims to visit.

Yardenit caters for Christians desiring to experience a Jordan River baptism, thus reliving the joy of their initial baptism. Probably most Christians were baptised as infants. Most? This is purely an assumption and I could be way off the mark. Now, as adults, they can take the opportunity to choose for themselves to undergo a rededication baptism. Here there  is a special dimension for Jesus himself was baptised by John in the Jordan.

It is uplifting to see the joy on the faces of all those people dressed in their white robes who have been dipped beneath the cool waters of the Jordan. Yes, fully dipped, completely submerged. They emerge shining in the sun and smiling amid the water dripping from their faces. This is truly an uplifting experience for all those who have chosen to renew the baptismal vows. One could only guess at the emotion of someone who is experiencing a first baptism here. Certainly something to remember daily for the rest of life.

To experience this with a group of like-minded Christians adds an extra dimension. Being part of a circle of people, standing in the Jordan River, happy in their faith which they have just now publically proclaimed surely provides a spiritual uplift.

Blessed are those who find joy in their faith, for their life will be fuller.