Machaerus

　　Introduction          According to historical records, in the 1st century BC, King Herod of Judea built a military fortress called Machaerus Castle on a mountaintop overlooking the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. On clear days, Jerusalem can be seen from this location. Machaerus became an important holy site because it was where John the Baptist was martyred. Today, only ruins remain of Machaerus Castle. Halfway up the mountain there is a large cave, believed to be the place where John the Baptist was imprisoned. The entrance is small, but the interior is spacious—about 40 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 10 meters high. There is a hole in the cave ceiling that could have been used to hoist items up to the castle on the mountaintop with ropes, so it may also have served as a storage room for the fortress.       Background: John the Baptist was a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses. He baptized people by the Jordan River and preached in the Judean wilderness, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent.” At that time, many were expecting the coming of the Messiah, and some even speculated that John himself might be the Christ. But John said, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming... I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” thus foretelling the coming of Jesus. In the year 28 AD, Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, who called Him “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” King Herod had married his brother’s wife, Herodias. John had admonished Herod, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herod therefore had John arrested and imprisoned in a cave halfway up the mountain at Machaerus Castle. Herodias held a grudge against John and eventually took the opportunity to have him killed.     Transportation         Machaerus is located 30 kilometers south of Madaba and 10 kilometers from the Ma'in Hot Springs.

　　 Amman, Jordan