If you read the accompanying resource and make it all the way to the end of this post, you are a certified Bible Nerd.  If you just want the details on following Jesus’ steps, skip to the last 2 paragraphs.

As I explained earlier, I am attempting to map Jesus’ journeys throughout this year of ministry.  I was aware that there would be some difficulty determining some locations and routes, but since I have been unable to find anyone who has attempted this, I had no real idea how hard it would be.  I certainly didn’t expect to have trouble the very first day. 

I had always accepted the traditional location of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.  John 1:28 says, “These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing.  I had read that it states “Bethany beyond the Jordan” to differentiate from the ‘Bethany’ near Jerusalem that is listed many times in the gospels.  “Beyond the Jordan” is assumed to mean “on the other side of the Jordan” from Jerusalem, so on the east bank.  Currently, we know of no places named ‘Bethany’ anywhere near the Jordan.  Both Origen and Chrysostom (early ‘church fathers’) favored a location called Bethbara, on the Jordan about 6 miles southeast of Jericho. But none of the earliest manuscripts of John support the spelling of ‘Bethbara.’  

I  have been to the traditional Baptismal site several times.  There are ruins of church structures dating back to 500 AD at that site to commemorate the baptism of Jesus.  But when I began to calculate Jesus’ journey from that area to the Galilee, I ran into a problem.  On March 30, Andrew and John, disciples of John the Baptist, spent the day with Jesus, where he was ‘dwelling.’  The following day, March 31, Jesus “decided to go to Galilee” and then has conversations with Philip and Nathaniel in the Galilee.  The next day he was at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  

The problem is that even to get to the most southern aspect of the Galilee would be 48-50 miles at least.  Jesus was a miracle worker, but I doubt this one day 50-mile hike is one of them.  So then I began searching to see what other locations John may have been baptizing at that could be near “Bethany.”  I won’t bore you with the missteps I took, but I did find a resource that explains the problem well and does an excellent summary of the possibilities.  Bethany Beyond the Jordan (John 1:28) Topography, Theology and History in the Fourth Gospel, by Rainer Reisner,¹  Jesus returns to this location ‘across the Jordan’ in John 10:40.  Looking at when Lazarus died and when Jesus arrives in Bethany near Jerusalem (by which time Lazarus has been dead four days) also makes the location near Jericho in the south unreasonable.  So Reisner locates Jesus’ baptism in the north, in the region of Batanaea (see map below) with Batanaea being a variant of the Greek that our current English versions translate as ‘Bethany’.  I believe Reisner makes a strong case for this location.  Read his article.  It is available online and not too difficult to follow, but the ability to read a little Greek is helpful. 

Also, there is the possibility that since this is the spring season, the Jordan might be at flood stage, making baptism in the Jordan dangerous.  Joshua 3:15 says”now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest.”  (We know that he was referring to the barley harvest, which begins just after Passover because Joshua 4:19 says, “The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month.”  The 14th of the first month is Passover.  So baptism in the traditional location (which is very close to the location of the crossing in Jordan) is very unlikely. We know that John the Baptist baptizes in several locations, using springs for baptism at some times.  John 3:23 says, “John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was plentiful there.”  Aenon near Salim most likely means “the springs near Salem.”  These springs still exist and currently feed many ponds in the area that are used for fish hatcheries by a local kibbutz.

So now I have to revise my previous articles that refer to the baptismal site in the south. Jesus’ time in the wilderness would be not in the Judean wilderness but in the wilderness east of the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Batanea.  And his journey from the place John was baptizing to Galilee on March 31 (in John 1:29-34) would be between 2-7 miles.  He would then travel around 14-15 miles to Cana for the wedding on April 1.  

So for those of you following with your feet, it makes more sense now and is certainly more doable.  I’m sure we will run into other issues determining these 2000 year old locations, but for now, happy walking!

1. “Bethany Beyond the Jordan (John 1:28) Topography, Theology and History in the Fourth Gospel” by Rainer Reisner. Available at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://tyndalebulletin.org/api/v1/articles/30556-bethany-beyond-the-jordan-john-1-28-topography-theology-and-history-in-the-fourth-gospel.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjqyez4lpKFAxUB18kDHdmRBzEQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0KvtX1aUZskL6fmZI-vCJ2