This evening finds us back, safe and sound, in Amman, Jordan. We began the day in Jerusalem with an early wake-up call. Our guide and driver took us to the Israel/Jordan border and guided us through the process of leaving the country. Entering Jordan again was quite easy. After we met our new guide we were off and running again.Our first stop was Bethany Beyond the Jordan. It is another traditional site of Jesus' baptism. (Yes, there is more than one!) This is also the place where the 12 tribes of Israel camped prior to entering the Promised Land. We are surrounded by Old and New Testament history here, everywhere we look.
On our way to Jerash, we crossed the Jabbock River. You will recall that Jacob wrestled with God at Peniel by the Jabbock. As I have mentioned before, the landscape is stunning.
The ruins of Jerash are some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the Middle East. Jesus is said to have cast demons out of a man (into the herd of swine) near this city, then known as ancient city Gerasa. There are some geographical questions, such as where the sea is that the swine used to drown themselves, but I'll leave that to the biblical scholars. Some in our group have seen the ruins at Ephesus and were impressed here, though they think Ephesus is larger.Our group is now 14. We were sad to bid farewell to four and have remembered them in prayer today as they travel home. Our group has had some very good, deep discussions both at the dinner table and in our devotional times. Of course, there has also been lots of frivolity too, especially at the table. The weather today was cool, but not as windy as yesterday and there was no rain. The forecast for the next two days is better. There was a fairly good thunderstorm in Jerusalem last night. Rain here is most definitely life-giving because the region is suffering from drought.
By tomorrow evening we will have moved south to Petra. We are all well and reaping the benefits of this pilgrimage. Thanks be to God! Your prayers are needed and appreciated. --JC
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