Originally published at National Catholic Register
The Baptism of the Lord Jesus teaches us something about the theology of geography.
There are many places where water for baptism could be found in the land of Israel. Why was Jesus baptized by John in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea?
Biblical geography was highlighted last week as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, consecrated a new church at the Al-Maghtas site on the east bank of the Jordan River. “Al-Maghtas” is Arabic for “immersion,” commonly translated in the ecclesial context to “baptism.”
The project has been underway for a long time; Pope Benedict XVI laid the cornerstone on his visit in 2009. The new church, one of the largest Catholic churches in the Middle East, commemorates the place where the public ministry of Jesus began.
“This place, which is the holy place of the baptism of Jesus, which also marks the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, marks a new beginning for the life of our Church,” said Cardinal Parolin.
And that “holy place” has a special geographical significance. The baptism of Jesus took place in the Jordan River, in the valley east of Jerusalem, just north of the Dead Sea and not far
