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Location and Setting
- Bethany was a small village on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, less than
two miles from Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence confirms that this village, on the road
from Jerusalem to Jericho, existed in the first century A.D.
- Bethany was situated on the edge of the wilderness of Judea, the barren hills that
descended eastward to the Dead Sea. In the immediate area the land supported olive groves
and grazing for sheep.
Historical and Biblical Significance
- Bethany was the home of Jesus’ special friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Apparently, He and His disciples often visited in their home, probably when they came to
Jerusalem for feast days. On one occasion, Luke records Martha’s frustration with her
sister Mary, who "was listening to the Lord’s words, seated at his feet."
In desperation, she challenged Jesus, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left
me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." Jesus replied,
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few
things are necessary, really only one: for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not
be taken away from her" (Luke 10:39-42).
- When Lazarus fell seriously ill in Bethany, his sisters sent for Jesus, whom they knew
to be down in the Jordan Valley, where John had been baptizing. Jesus’ intentional
delay in responding brought Him and His disciples to Bethany four days after Lazarus had
died and been buried. This time factor was planned and significant. (1) The validity of
Lazarus’ resurrection would be authenticated by the fact that all in the area would
have known that he had been dead for four days, thus eliminating any other explanation of
his reappearance. (2) This evidence of Jesus’ power over death would become a preview
of His own resurrection a few weeks later, a further revelation to His deity. (3) Jesus
knew that this event, at this time and at this location, so near to the center of
religious power and opposition to Him, would become a factor in precipitating His
crucifixion (John 11:47-51).
- When He arrived in Bethany, Jesus comforted Martha and Mary and then accompanied them to
Lazarus’ tomb. Against Martha’s objections, Jesus ordered that the stone be
rolled away from the tomb. Jesus called out, "Lazarus come forth!" To the
amazement of the mourners, many of whom had witnessed Lazarus’ burial four days
before, he came out alive! The news of this miracle spread instantly to nearby Jerusalem.
The Pharisees and Sadducees panicked. Accounts of Jesus’ restoring a son to his
mother in far-away Galilee (Luke 7:11-17) could be ignored in Jerusalem, but not reports
by hundreds of eye-witnesses who had watched Lazarus walk out of his tomb in nearby
Bethany. It was this event that confirmed and accelerated the Sanhedrin’s plan to put
Jesus to death (John 11:45-54).
- On another occasion, a week before the crucifixion, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet in
the home of Simon the leper in Bethany (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11). When it
became known that Jesus was in Bethany, a "great multitude" came to the village,
not only to see Jesus who had raised Lazarus, but also to see Lazarus himself who was, no
doubt, the object of much speculation and wonder! This flow of people to Bethany, and the
increasing numbers of them who, as result of this sign miracle, believed in Jesus,
incensed the religious leaders in Jerusalem. So violent was their reaction that they
"took counsel that they might put Lazarus to death also" (John 12:9-11). Again,
it was the proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem that accentuated this climaxing confrontation
between the Sanhedrin and Jesus.
- On the Sunday before the Friday of His crucifixion, Jesus made His formal entrance into
Jerusalem, apparently starting at Bethany. Passing near Bethphage, an adjacent village on
the Mount of Olives, He requisitioned a donkey for His prophecy-fulfilling approach to the
city (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19). Many joined the
procession, expressing their belief in Jesus because of His raising Lazarus in Bethany.
John, the eyewitness, records this amazing reaction, "And so the multitude who were
with Him when He called 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" (John 12:17,18). This acclamation of Jesus
predictably caused the Pharisees to experience further frustration, "You see that you
are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him" (John 12:19). Bethany,
and the historic miracle that had recently occurred there, had become the focus of the
hostility to Jesus that would eventuate in His crucifixion.
- After His official entry into Jerusalem (the "triumphal entry"), Jesus
returned to Bethany with His disciples (Matt 21:17; Mark 11:11,12).
- Finally, when Jesus was about to return to His Father from the Mount of Olives, "He
led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came
about, that while He was blessing them, He departed from them" (Luke 24:50,52). This
home in Bethany, so often opened to Jesus, now became the place from which He would leave
the earth to return to His Father’s "home."
Bibliography
- Andersen, H.G. "Bethany" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible.
Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.
- Gregory, Stewart. Israel, the Holy Land: The Concise Biblical Study & Travel
Guide. Jerusalem: Bibleland Workshops, 1987.
- Rousseau, John J. and Rami Arav. Jesus and His World: An Archaeological and Cultural
Dictionary. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.
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