Jordan River Baptismal Site, with the biblical canoe prow to one side
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to thee, I will ever give to thee
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see. Coming for to carry me home.
A band of angels coming after me. Coming for the carry me home.
Oh, swing low....
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
We have a river full of Jordan imagery in our Judeo/Christian tradition. Joshua and the Israelites cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Jesus is baptized in the river by his cousin John. I wonder how many hymns and spirituals draw on this imagery?
When I took groups to Israel there were always people who wanted to stop at the baptismal site created by the tourism department but I really didn't like it because it was a long way from the area where Jesus would have been baptized and the line-ups and ramp down to the water felt very --surprise, surprise -- touristy.
A number of times through the years members of congregations brought back containers of water from the Jordan, usually to be added to the font for the sacrament of baptism at a grandchild. I was always a little nervous about this because we had no idea what was lurking in those vials. It turns out my concerns had some foundation because there is plenty of pollution of every kind imaginable in the depleted Jordan of the 21st century.
One of the positive outcomes of the climate conference known as COP27 is that Israel and neighbour Jordan have agreed, in principle, to work together in cleaning up their act:
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - Israel and Jordan have reached an agreement on environmental issues, aimed at the preservation and recovery of the Jordan River, the historic waterway shared by the two countries, the place where Jesus' baptism took place, which is steadily running dry.
The signing of the 'declaration of intent' took place yesterday between the two delegations attending Cop27, the UN international climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
At the moment, the details are not yet known and it is not even clear how the two governments intend to work together to save the river. However, the first information leaked by Israel reveals a common intention to 'try to reduce' the pollution of the watercourse by building sewage treatment plants and improving sewage systems. The aim is to prevent towns along the river from discharging raw sewage into its waters.
The mission statement also wants to promote sustainable agriculture by controlling runoff from agricultural fields and reducing the use of pesticides.
I hope this "declaration of intent" is fulfilled, for so many reasons. As Christians we celebrate Jesus, baptized in the Jordan, Living Water. The river can be living water for these two nations as well.
Baptism of Christ -- Pheoris West
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