The Next Day-John 12:12
It was not a safe place to be on the next day. But on the “next day” it was the right place to be. Jerusalem was the place.
The people were wondering, “Will He be here?” Will Jesus who raised Lazarus from his tomb dare to show up on this first day of the Passover week? Many who had seen Lazarus answer Jesus’ call to come out of the tomb were there. They had spread the word. Hidden behind the crowds seething in anger and with growing fear, were the chief priest, elders and scribes silently watching.
That “next day” brought hosannas, praise and cheers and from the crowds the words, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Riding on a donkey Jesus passed through the gate into the city of Jerusalem as Isaiah had prophesied. The high priest and scribes didn’t miss that. This Jesus was proclaiming that He was the Messiah. The priests, elders and scribes gathered together plotting how they could stop Jesus, He had to go. They must find a way.
Question: How far was Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary from Jerusalem where Jesus dined the day before?
Answer: Bethany has traditionally been identified with the present-day West Bank city of al-Eizariya (Arabic (meaning “Place of Lazarus”), site of the reputed Tomb of Lazarus, located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the east of Jerusalem on the south-eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.
