John 1:28
“These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
What does John 1:28 mean?
John is simply establishing where this scene takes place, setting the stage for Jesus's baptism and the testimony that follows. Bethany beyond the Jordan was a specific location east of the river where John the Baptist had set up his ministry, away from Jerusalem's religious authorities. This detail grounds the Gospel in real geography and shows that John's baptizing work wasn't hidden but was happening in a known, accessible place where people could come and witness what God was doing. It's the kind of specific location reference that helps readers understand this was actual history, not just spiritual symbolism.