Image: The Baptismal Site on the River Jordan, sadly what was once a crossing between two countries, and used for fellowship is now a no entry, yet both sides of the river are used for the same purpose as can be seen from the Christian Church. The Israeli side is heavily mined, see poem 21. At the time of taking this picture there was a soldier from either army on their approriate sides and both looked bored.

 

 

1/12/2016 – 20) Last night’s thunderstorm gave way to morning sun

Another day begun

Interspersed with gentle rain, we’re on the move again

From Galilee we’ll head

To Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

And on the third day rose from the dead

 

21) Places to visit on the way before Jerusalem at the end of the day

To the Jordan baptismal site where we saw and heard on the way there

Reminders of the six day war and more

Where No Man’s land ran from the fence to the valley below

A land where no one dare go

A land we find, heavily mined

To help keep order on this side of the border

By the river we viewed, the site and had our baptismal vows renewed

A splash of water our version, for others total immersion

I wondered what it was like in John the Baptist’s day

“What should we do John?” they’d say

Coming from far and wide to which ever river side

Where he was baptising and giving, advice on honest living

Work as one prepare for the arrival of God’s son

Whom you will meet, one whom I’m not worthy to sit at his feet

Now suspicion grown Jordanians and Israelis keep to their own

Side of the river, never to meet and as friends greet

And I’m thinking as I’m walking away

If only it was the same in John the Baptists day

Instead of it being the cost, of humanity and fellowship lost

 

22) His turn in the queue came “Baptise me John” he said

Humbly bowing his head

At once there was no doubt; this was the man he had been talking about

The prophecy fulfilled, he did as Jesus willed

To find the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ shoulder alighted

And from heaven the voice of God saying

“This is my beloved son in whom I am delighted”

 

23) We saw the wilderness where Jesus had fasted. Forty days it lasted

And what he said when Satan said “Turn these stones to bread”

And he tried to tempt him twice again but in vain

And walked away in fear as Jesus said “Satan get away from here”

Then in the land that Moses saw but would never go

Our pilgrimage took us to Jericho

Where we would learn more about what happened before

And the part of the town where on the seventh day the walls fell down

The place where Jesus helped blind Bartimaeus see

Where Zacchaeus looked on him from the sycamore tree

All this and more of what had gone on before

Lunch then away for fun and delight

Before having to be away to Jerusalem before night