This is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage where the “spiritual birth” took place. It’s the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended on him from Heaven. Pilgrims go there to renew baptismal promises (or to actually be baptized).
"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him…” (Matthew 3:16-17)
John the Baptist, who wore “clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist” and ate “locusts and wild honey”, would stand in the waters and call people to repentance, proclaiming that “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” He was “the one [about] whom Isaiah the prophet spoke,” he was “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” He stood in the river and baptized all those who came confessing their sins (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-6; John 1:22-28).
Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of the Cosmos also stood in this river, and came walking toward John the Baptist to be baptized, and He heard John declare, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John tried to stop him, but Jesus insisted.
After being baptized, when Jesus “came up from the water” the heavens opened and “the Spirit of God [descended] like a dove and alighted on him.” Then there was a voice, the voice God the Father declaring “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34).
We, the Bethlehem Handicrafts’ team, are so proud to put the Holy Land in your hand by giving you a variety of the best and the most outstanding original Bethlehem’s olive wood carvings with the best quality made in the Holy Land.
