Before today, the names and places of biblical history were just a fantasy. We stop to visit Mount Nebo, to pay honor to the memorial of Moses. Our buses pull into a large parking lot and we hike up the hill to the museum and the overlook. The day is mild and sunny and the view from the hilltop is hazy but a sign at the summit points to Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Israel is just over the horizon and all these famous destinations are just a stones throw away.
For me, the most significant stop is at the Jordan river. The campfire song, "The river of Jordan runs muddy and wide.." repeats in my head as we walk along the arid pathways beside the muddy river. 2000 years ago, the Jordan river may have been wide, but it is not today. We come to the revered section of the river where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. There is definitely a spiritual presence here and almost all of us take a moment to kneel and dip our hands into the water. During this two week excursion we have experienced so much; the magic of Egypt; temples, pyramids, tombs and incredible unfathomable art. We have been awed by the magnificence of Petra and the accomplishments of the Nabataean people. Today we are walking where Jesus walked.
We walk from the sacred river towards the newly erected commemorative church, its golden dome shining in the distance. The afternoon sky casts a dramatic light upon the scene. The interior of the church is quite lovely with fresco ceilings and gilded chandeliers, but its newness feels out of place in this ancient landscape. One member of our group begins singing a gospel hymn, her voice strong and reverberating within the fine acoustics of the chapel. Soon, many of us join in her song of reverence and celebration. One song morphs into another and it is only the time constraint that brings our impromptu choir to an end.
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