Bethany/Madaba/Petra

Today we traveled to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. The excavations here date back from the 1st Century AD, and a V-VI Century Byzatine settlement of churches, a monastery, and other structures. This was very cool to see the actual site, which has been documented now, of the site where Jesus actually was baptised, We all got to dip our hands in the Jordan River. Interestingly, the border between Israel and Jordan is just 9 feet. We could see guards with guns just on the other side of the river. 

Next we went to Mt Nebo, where Moses lived out his remaining days and viewed the Promised land which he would never enter. Mt Nebo offers a fantastic view of of the Dead Sea, the West Bank, the Jordan River, and on a clear day, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. This was not a clear day :(

Outside the Church of Moses is a Serpentine Cross. The figure represents the bronze serpent taken up by Moses in the desert, as well as the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

This area is also believed to be where Jesus was tempted in the desert.

Next we visited the city of Madaba, the "city of Mosaics." We visited a mosaic factory and observed how the mosaics are hand made. 

We saw St. George Church, which sits on a site more than 4000 years old. The floor of the church has one of the finest mosaics in the world, and depicts Jerusalem as it was in the sixth century AD. Literally hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th though 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.

We had a fantastic authentic lunch in a restaurant that is 300 years old. All the bread is still hand made at the restaurant. YUM.