Baptism

Baptism is a Christian rite of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, into Christianity. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely.
 
 The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism is seen as being a basis for Christian Ecumenism, the concept of unity amongst Christians. Baptism is also called christening, although some reserve the word "Christening" for the baptism of infants. It has also given its name to the Baptist churches and denominations.

 The term "baptism" has also been used metaphorically to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which a person is initiated, purified, or given a name.

Baptism has similarities to Tvilah, a Jewish purification ritual of immersing in water, which is required for, among other things, conversion to Judaism, but which differs in being repeatable, while baptism is to be performed only once. (In fact, the Modern Hebrew term for "baptism" is "Christian Tvilah".)
 
 John the Baptist, who is considered a forerunner to Christianity, used baptism as the central sacrament of his messianic movement. The apostle Paul distinguished between the baptism of John, ("baptism of repentance") and baptism in the name of Jesus, and it is questionable whether Christian baptism was in some way linked with that of John.
 
 Christians consider Jesus to have instituted the sacrament of baptism.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”
 Matthew 3: 16-17

When touring Israel, lots of groups chose to “renew” their baptism as a symbol of their faith, especially since this is done in the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

There are 2 places in Israel where groups can be baptized:

Qusar El Yahud – south part of the Jordan River, outside of Jericho, in the Judean Desert

Yardenit – north part of the Jordan River, near the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias

While we believe that the actual place of baptism was in the Judean Desert, in the wilderness of Judea, which makes Qusar El Yahud a more appropriate place, lots of groups still prefer to be baptized in Yardenit, simply because the facilities there are much better and it is easier in terms of logistics

Read the blog about Qusar El Yahud here

Watch the video below where I talk about Baptism