Bethany

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there (Matthew 21:17).

It's recorded in the Bible that Jesus went to the village of Bethany several times. In fact, He tended to go there whenever He was in the area. Not only was it in a convenient location not far from Jerusalem, but He could stay with His good friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Bethany was located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and set at the foot of the mountain. The mountain actually blocked the view of Jerusalem. Therefore, although it was near the busy city, Bethany had the atmosphere of being in a secluded, quiet retreat. 

And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head (Mark 14:3).

Mark and Matthew (26:6) both record that Jesus visited the house of Simon, the leper, at Bethany. A woman came there to anoint Jesus, and some of those present began to complain about the waste. Jesus told them to leave her alone, for she had done a good thing. He even hints that she has anointed His body for the burial to come, a foreshadowing of the cross. He goes on to say, "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort then concerning their brother ( John 11:18-19).

One of Jesus' greatest miracles happened at Bethany. Lazarus, Mary and Martha's brother, had been dead and buried for four days before Jesus came to them. Martha believed that if Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died, but she didn't consider He could raise Lazarus from the dead after so many days. Sometimes our faith is limited too. We believe up to a point, but do we really believe the Lord can and will do anything?


And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither (Luke 19:29-30).


The young donkey Jesus rides to make his triumphant entry into Jerusalem that we now celebrate as Palm Sunday also came from Bethany. The crowds enthusiastically welcomed him, waving palm branches, throwing down their cloaks to make a royal pathway, and shouting hosannas. In a few days some of the same crowd will be crying, "Crucify Him!" How fickle His followers can be.

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).


 Jesus blessed His disciples for the final time at Bethany before He ascended into heaven. Bethany had been a special place to Jesus, a place where he could find some peace away from the large crowds of Jerusalem, a place where dear friends lived. It was the closest place to a home that He had during his brief ministry. He chose to go to Bethany to be with his disciples right before he left them to ascend to His Father. What a life of ministry He had lived in only three years!

___________________________________