Jordan to Host Global Christian Celebration Marking 2,000 Years Since Jesus' Baptism

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Jordan is raising $100 million to build a first-century Palestinian village as part of the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in the year 2030 at Bethany Beyond the Jordan.

The Baptism site, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, is believed to be the traditional site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. As stated in the Gospel of John, the site is described as “Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan — named after the Jordan River and ruled by pro-Western King Abdullah II — is organizing the milestone celebration.

Jordan's government is working with global Christian leaders and the World Evangelical Alliance to coordinate the commemoration, encouraging Christian pilgrims to visit Jordan.

“We in the World Evangelical Alliance are excited to see how we can work closely with the Jordanian authorities on this and other issues,” Emad Hijazin, Jordan’s minister of tourism and antiquities, told Christian Daily International.

As reported by The Christian Post, the celebration will mark the first of several major 2,000-year anniversaries culminating in 2033, including Jesus' death and Resurrection.

Senator Michael Nazzal, who serves as chair of the Tourism and Heritage Committee in the Jordanian Senate, is dedicated to showcasing the baptismal millennium as a time of worldwide Christian unity.

“Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, we are enhancing infrastructure, expanding pilgrimage services, and working closely with church leaders worldwide to welcome visitors from all denominations,” he said. “The Baptism Site is a cornerstone of Christian heritage, and Jordan is honored to safeguard it. This celebration is a reaffirmation of Jordan’s role as a trusted home for sacred Christian history.”

Additional sites across Jordan include Petra, which was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007; Wadi Rum, a protected wilderness area and UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.

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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Christopher-Sprake

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.