Description

The baptism of Jesus, where John the Baptist ritually purified Jesus with water, is a significant event recounted in the synoptic Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). It is believed to have occurred at Al-Maghtas (also known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan), now situated in Jordan.

This baptism is among the key events in the life of Jesus as narrated in the canonical Gospels, alongside occurrences such as the Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. Most Christian denominations consider Jesus's baptism pivotal and foundational to the Christian practice of baptism (see also Acts 19:1–7). In Eastern Christianity, Jesus's baptism is observed on 6 January (in the Julian calendar, corresponding to 19 January in the Gregorian calendar), celebrated as the feast of Epiphany. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Churches, and some other Western denominations, it is commemorated during the week following, known as the feast of the baptism of the Lord. In Roman Catholicism, the baptism of Jesus is among the Luminous Mysteries sometimes included in the Rosary. It is regarded as a Trinitarian feast in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein (born 30 January 1962) has been King of Jordan since 1999 upon the death of his father King Hussein. Abdullah is considered to be the 41st generation direct descendant of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, through his belonging to the ancient Hashemite family, which has ruled Jordan since 1921.