Bethany is a quiet, pleasant village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. In biblical times a roadway ran from Bethany to Jerusalem, which lay about 2 miles to the northwest. Many travelers from Jericho stopped to rest in this peaceful town before continuing on their journey to the bustling capital city, which was only another hour's walk.

Jesus frequently visited Bethany after ministering to the people in Jerusalem. His devoted friends Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus always warmly welcomed Jesus into their family there. When Lazarus died, it was in a burial ground outside Bethany that Jesus amazed his friends and followers and alarmed some priests by raising his good friend from the dead. In fact, this miracle foreshadowed Jesus' own Resurrection.

Bethany was the site of several important events in Jesus' final days on earth. On the Sunday before the Crucifixion, Jesus began his triumphal procession into Jerusalem from Bethany. Two days later he returned to Bethany to visit Simon the leper. While Jesus dined with Simon, a woman burst in and poured expensive perfume over Jesus' head. This made the disciples angry, but Jesus explained that she was preparing him for burial.

After he was crucified and rose from the dead, it was in Bethany that Jesus met his closest disciples for the last time. Then he blessed them and ascended into heaven (LK 24:50).

Did you know?

Today, Bethany, the village that was home to Lazarus, is called El-Azariya, which Arabic for "Lazarus."