Today I am taking you to participate in the feast of the baptism of the lord 2013 – Jesus Christ, here at the original site at Qasr al Yahud at the Jordan River. Qasr al Yahud is an, all year long, important destination for pilgrimage to the baptism site of Jesus on the river jordan. In this Video we shall start with a procession to the Baptism site and then we shall join a Solemn Mass at the site of the baptism of Jesus christ
Pictures from the Ceremony of the Baptism of the Lord:
For Pictures from the Baptism of the Lord at the Jordan River – Click here and go to the Baptism of the Lord Gallery!!!
The Baptism of our Lord (or the feast of the Baptism of Jesus) is the feast day that commemorates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Originally, the baptism of Christ was celebrated on Epiphany which commemorates the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus and the wedding at Cana. Over the years, the celebration of the baptism of Christ came to be commemorated as a distinct feast from Epiphany.
The site of the Feast of the Baptism of the lord is considered the third holiest place in Christianity since at this place, God declared that Jesus is his son and in Whom He was well pleased:
“After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, Heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”” Luke 3, 21-22
This is why the baptized of Christ is considered as the Spiritual Birth of Jesus. The physical birth of Jesus took place in Bethlehem.
At first glance, the Baptism of the Lord might seem an odd feast. The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for the remission of sins. Particularly the Original Sin. Then why was Jesus baptized? After all, He was born without the Original Sin, and he lived his entire life without sinning. Therefore, He had no need of the sacrament.
In submitting Himself humbly to the baptism of St. John the Baptist, Jesus provided the example. If even Jesus should be baptized, though he had no need of it, how much more should everyone be thankful for this sacrament? The Sacrament frees from the darkness of sin and incorporates us into the life of Jesus on earth! Jesus Baptism, therefore, was necessary for all mankind and not for Jesus.
Many of the Fathers of the Church, as well as the medieval Scholastics, saw the baptism of Jesus as the institution of the sacrament. Jesus’ Flesh blessed the water. The descent of the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the voice of God the Father announcing that this was His Son, in Whom He was well pleased, marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
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The site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, at Qasr al Yahud, is also considered to be the place where the people of Israel crossed the Jordan river, us they have entered the Land of Canaan, after walking for 40 years in the desert. Qasr al Yahud is also considered to be the place where the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.
This year (2013) due to heavy winter rains in the area, the lower level of the site, where people can jet into the water is flooded. This is why the ceremony of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Jesus) was conducted at the upper level of the site and direct access to the Jordan river water was limited.
I hope you have enjoyed my Video about the Feast of the baptism of the Lord 2013. Please leave your comments below this video.
That is for today, and until we meet in my next video, let’s All live the Jerusalem Experience!!!
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