VI BETHANY

All four gospels intersect in the vicinity of Bethany (house of the poor) (Matthew 21:1, 2; Mark 11:1,2; Luke 19:29,30; John 11:1).

…JOHN 11:1…Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

In Bethany, Jesus raises Lazarus from death. He arrives there four days after Lazarus is buried (two days from the time that he is informed that Lazarus is dead). He waits the extra days to ensure that there is no question Lazarus is dead and gone, before returning him to life. Martha (mistress) professes her belief that Jesus is the Son of god and her sister, Mary (Miriam…beloved), chides Jesus for not coming earlier (John 11:3-44).

…JOHN11:3,4,6,11,14-17,27,32-35,38,39,41-44…The sisters therefore sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he (Lazarus) whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it”…When therefore He heard that he was sick, He stayed then two days longer in the place where He was (Jericho)…This He said, and after that He said to them (disciples), “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awaken him out of sleep”…Then Jesus therefore said to them, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus (twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” So when Jesus came, He found that he (Lazarus) had already been in the tomb four days…She (Martha) said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world”…Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled (He realized that His delaying, though necessary, had caused great pain to His friends), and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept…Jesus therefore again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench; for He has been dead four days”…And so they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around, I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me.” (I believe, by the tone of this verse, that Jesus was out of hearing from the people, or that He was speaking softly to the Father, when He said this). And when He had said these things, He cried out in a loud voice (so the people could hear Him…more show), “Lazarus, come forth.” And he who had died came forth (out of the cave), bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth, Jesus said to them, “Unbind him and let him go.”

(Note: Mary sounds like a “nagging wife” when she rebukes him. That does not mean to imply that Jesus is married to Mary or anyone for that matter; but, according to the custom of the times, it would be an anomaly for a Rabbi (teacher), which Jesus is, not to be married by the time he’s thirty. For that matter, the average Jew is expected to be married by that age. We know that Peter is married).

Picture this, Lazarus with cloth wrappings at his side, dragging in the dirt, emerges from a hole in the side of a hill, arms outstretched, shaking his head, trying to make sense of what is happening, even who he is. Imagine the effect on the onlookers, gazing with a mixture of fascination and dread. He was dead and now he lives! And the orchestrater of this scene stands aside, observing, content that his friend is alive. Add to this the stench that accompanies Lazarus, he has been decomposing for four days.

Jesus is intent on forcing the “law keepers” to take action. This miracle of making “life” from “death” is the final indignity to the Pharisees and Saducees, and serves as the death warrant for Jesus (John 11:46-53).

…JOHN 11:46-53…But some of them (people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead) went away to the Pharisees, and told them of the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But a certain one of them, Caiphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” Now this he did not say on his own initiative; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation. And not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad (members of the lost tribes of Israel).” So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.

Jesus has performed countless miracles during his ministry, in keeping with the commission he received, as prophesied in Isaiah and quoted in Luke. This annoyed the “law keepers”. It made him a dangerous nuisance, but his giving life to the dead makes him a definite threat to their well-being. His ability to raise the dead unquestionably underscores his special relationship with God ( Isaiah 61:1,2; Luke 4:18,19).

…LUKE 4:18,19…The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

Put yourself in the place of the Jews responsible to maintain law and order for the Roman authorities and, at the same time, trying to keep their position of leadership. You are fearful of Jesus and his effects on the common man. There have been a number of men professing to be the Messiah. They proved to be delusional; but this man performs countless miracles and his teaching is subversive. There are rumors of his coming to Jerusalem, of his healing a cripple boy in one town and a woman, possessed, in another. He is coming, leaving a trail of miracles in his wake, and accompanied by a great crowd of supporters, which increases with each stop, each miracle. You have to prevent his coming and stirring up the people that are assembling for Passover. But, despite your efforts he keeps coming. There was the blind man receiving sight in nearby Jericho. He is coming. And now he’s raised a man, named Lazarus, from the dead! And this happened in Bethany, right next door. He’s here!

The “law keepers” believe that, if the masses find out that he has raised someone from the dead, they will clamor to follow Jesus. They may rise up in revolt, force the Romans to assert their power, take away the authority of the “law keepers”, and enslave the nation. The die is cast. Now all that is needed is a plot of how they can dispose of him quickly, before THE miracle becomes known to all.

They have another reason for haste…The Feast of the Passover is approaching and they won’t allow anything to interfere with the feast. They are intent on killing him, and he is intent on sacrificing himself…They are on a collision course.

But in order to prevent himself from being taken, prematurely, he and his disciples go into hiding in a little village, about ten miles north of Jerusalem, called Ephraim (son of Joseph…for God has made him fruitful in the land of his affliction). They remain there until six days before the Passover Feast, when they again return to Bethany (John 11: 54,55;12:1).

…JOHN 11:54,55;12:1…Jesus therefore no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves…Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.
Bethany is located on the reverse slope of a hill, near the

Mount of Olives, almost due east of Jerusalem, a little less than two miles from the Temple Mount. There is a sign there indicating the location where Lazaruth was raised.

There is a paved road now, that winds steeply down the side of the Mount of Olives, passing a garden location, chosen as the Garden of Gethsemane. The road then crosses north of the Kidron Valley and then winds its way from the east through the Lion’s Gate/St. Stephen’s Gate (this gate did not exist at the time of Jesus)…It is believed that during his time, entry from the Mount of Olives was made from the south, by way of the Fountain Gate, into the Temple area.

Lion’s Gate is the one I used to get to the Ecce Homo Convent, when entering through the wall from the east.
In Bethany, Jesus stays with his good friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus (who must be in a state of recuperation/ resuscitation…his name is not mentioned). It is in their home, at the evening of the sixth day before Passover, that Mary annoints Jesus’ feet. Judas reprimands her for “wasting” valuable ointments, and Jesus tells him to “let her alone”, and that it may be used for his burial (John 12:3-8).

…JOHN 12:3-5,7,8…Mary therefore took a pound of very costly, genuine spikenard (a fragrant plant that grows in the Himalyan mountains) (B-12-903), and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor people?”…Jesus therefore said, “Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you; but you do not always have Me.”

(Note: This is probably Mary’s way of showing her gratitude to Jesus, not only for being the Lord, but for raising her brother from death. Judas’ concern for the value of the ointment may reflect his concern as the treasurerer of the group, which many believe he is.)

It is at this time also, that the Hellenist Greeks come to see Jesus. They are Jews who have come to worship at the Feast of the Passover (John 12:20-22).

…JOHN 12:20-22…Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and they told Jesus.

Before we examine the “days” up to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, keep in mind that the Jewish day begins with sunset and ends at sunset, the following day. So the following morning (still the sixth day), Jesus and his followers proceed to Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead to the village of Bethpage (house of unripe figs), located less than a mile east and north of Bethany, to get a donkey’s colt for him. The colt is obtained, and Jesus rides the upon it into Jerusalem, so as to fullfill the prophecy of Zekariah. (Matthew 21:1-7; Mark 11:1-7; Luke 19:29-35; John 12:14,15; Zekariah 9:9).

…MATTHEW 21:1-7…And when they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethpage, to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them, and bring them to Me. And if any one says something to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them.” Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying “Say to the daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming to you, gentle and mounted upon a donkey, even upon a colt, the foal of the beast of burden.” And the disciples went and did just as Jesus had directed them, and brought the donkey and colt, and laid on them their garments, on which He sat.

…LUKE 19:32, 35…And those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them…And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their garments on the colt, and put Jesus on it.

…JOHN 12:14…And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it…
…ZEKARIAH 9:9…Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you…Humble and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

(Note: This is interesting, because it would appear, according to Luke, that the disciples pick Jesus up and “put” him on the colt…probably so that the garments will not move as Jesus sits upon it, side-saddle. And again, it seems strange that Jesus rides on the colt, not the donkey? It would seem that a “colt”, “foal”, “young donkey” would be too small to carry a man, but Jesus would not do anything to harm an animal. This is done, once again, to fulfill a prophecy. Maybe it’s because his triumphant entry calls for him to ride upon a donkey that’s never been ridden? Unless he’s a lot smaller than imagined, Jesus is sitting on the small donkey, with legs upraised so that his feet won’t touch the ground…an amusing picture, Does the foal’s mare accompany her offspring on this famous journey?)

Many people gather to watch him pass as he descends the Mount of Olives, most of whom pay homage to him as a king. They spread their coats in his path…some wave palm branches. Many shout his praises, and cry out Hosanna’s (“Save Now!”). As mentioned previously, Jesus probably enters Jerusalem by way of the Fountain Gate, which led him through the City of David to the southern wall of the Temple (Matthew 21:8-11; Mark 11:8-10; Luke 19:36-38; John 12:12,13)…
…MARK 11:8-10…And many spread their garments in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before, and those who followed after, were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David; Hosannah in the highest!”

Currently, only the west wall of Herod’s temple remains…the so-called “wailing wall”, at which I witnessed the separation of sexes praying and leaving notes. The women were emitting a keening sound…a continuous high shrill in praise of some event.

It would appear that “most” of the multitude that cry out as Jesus approaches, are his followers (“disciples”), as mentioned by Luke, or, according to John, by those who witnessed the raising of Lazarus . John further clarifies that it is “palm” branches that are being spread out on the it is “palm” branches that are being spread out on the 18).

…LUKE 19:37…And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise…

…JOHN 12:12, 13,17,18…On the next day the great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the Palm trees and went out to greet Him, and began to cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel”…And so the multitude that were with Him when He pulled Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing Him witness. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

So Jesus enters Jerusalem on the morning of the sixth day before Passover…What occurs during those remaining six days? Basically, they are spent with Jesus teaching in the Temple by day and returning to Bethany/Mount of Olives to spend the night. The following provides greater detail of what occurs during those days.