Amman, Jordan, Jan 10, 2010 / 12:06 pm
In an interview with CNA, Rustom Mkhjian, the assistant commission director at the site of Jesus' baptism, encouraged Christians to visit the site explaining that it “is of utmost importance for Christians because it is where Christianity started.”
The site, which is located in the country of Jordan, is one of two locations claiming to be the true place where Christ was baptized. Just across the narrow Jordan River, another site claims to be the location of Jesus' baptism, but Mkhijan's site has been visited by both John Paul II and Pope Benedict and also is supported by John 1:28, which says, “These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
Due to its importance to Christianity, the commission pours its efforts into maintaining the site because, according to Mkhijan, “it is where Christianity started through the baptism of Christ, that is when His ministry started and spread all over the world.”
He also encouraged Christians to visit and “enjoy the site as John and Jesus saw it.”