Lession #1 - Jesus Arrives in Bethany

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Jesus Arrives at Bethany

Day 1 & 2 - 6 & 5 days before Passover

Did Jesus arrive in Bethany on Saturday?

In his earthly ministry, Jesus the Messiah (or Christ) submitted to certain legal prerequisites in order to be victorious over sin and death on the cross. He was born under the law (God's law not Jewish law) and lived in such a way as to "fulfill all righteousness"(Matt 3:15). He never sinned. As the apostle Paul wrote:

"Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8

From a legal perspective, then, the first brick in the foundation of our story is that Jesus cannot arrive in Bethany on Saturday because "Saturday" is a Sabbath. On the Sabbath, God's chosen people were required by Old Testament scripture to "rest." Would a Jewish Rabbi still be traveling on the Sabbath if he could avoid it? The answer is "not likely." Jesus was born under the law. In order to fulfill his role as the perfect Passover lamb, he had to live in obedience to that law. Even though in real terms he is indeed "LORD of the Sabbath" he submitted to God's law and did not sin.

Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." Exodus 16:29

If Jesus traveled and arrived in Bethany on Saturday, not only would he be raising eyebrows by rejecting the "Sabbath days walk" tradition, he would be directly breaking God's commandment. Jesus did "good" on the Sabbath, but if, according to God's standards, he "broke" the Sabbath, as some suggest, then he did not meet the prophetic requirement as the unblemished lamb (no sin) and our hope in him is void.

Because the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) began Friday evening, Jesus most likely arrived Friday afternoon before sunset. A dinner is given in his honor at which Mary anoints Jesus' feet. A large crowd comes out to see Jesus whom they held to be a prophet.

John tells us that, "six days before the Passover Jesus arrived at Bethany" (John 12:1). If our starting point of Friday afternoon is correct, the Passover meal, six days later, now is calculated to be Wednesday evening and not Thursday evening as is traditionally assumed. And so, already we find that a minimal Hebrew bias has changed markedly our understanding of the series of events.

Why did Jesus arrive on Friday afternoon?

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it (the word of the prophets), as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
2 Peter 1:19

As we study the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry, we will find that, again and again, Jesus fulfills the words written in the Law and Prophets. We find that the Bible's definition of fulfillment is living out the prophetic implication or meaning. I have often heard fulfillment interpreted in the sense of "bringing to termination" or "bringing to an end." You will find that this is a concept foreign to scripture. Jesus not only accomplishes prophecies written in the Old Testament but he makes many prophecies of his own. Jesus is the word of God. Everything he has said either vocally or through the scriptures must come to pass.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:25

Accordingly, Jesus must fulfill all the prophetic symbolism contained within the Passover "rehearsal." The Passover lambs were acquired on the 10th of Nisan (the 1st month). The lamb is inspected for blemishes until the 14th. Prophetically, God brings his lamb to Bethany near Jerusalem. Jesus, the Passover Lamb, arrives in time for his inspection period.

"Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. (Exodus 12:3)

Take care of them (the lambs) until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. (Exodus 12:6).

Based upon this evaluation we can reasonably assume that Saturday (beginning Friday at sunset) is the 10th of Nisan (also called Abib). This would make Wednesday the 14th. In terms of prophetic fulfillment, Jesus must be crucified on the 14th if he is to symbolize the Passover Lamb. We indeed find that Jesus is inspected for blemishes for the next four days. (10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and on the 14th, the lamb is slain)

Friday evening: A Sabbath with Friends

Friday evening, a dinner was given in Jesus' honor (John 12:2-11). The dinner is in Bethany perhaps at Simon the Leper's house, as he seems to sponsor these meals. Attending is Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and the Disciples.

At this meal Mary anoints Jesus feet with a pint of pure nard and wipes them with her hair. If we allow the text to speak for itself, Mary "anointed" Jesus on three different occasions. The context of the first "anointing" in Luke 7:36-50 requires that it take place much earlier in Jesus' ministry. This first anointing describes Mary as "weeping." She is a sinful woman who has found forgiveness in the presence of Messiah. The second anointing, six days before the last Passover (John 12:2-11), makes no mention of tears. Given the time that has elapsed, Mary, on this Friday evening, anoints Jesus feet out of love and admiration. The third anointing appears to be three nights later. Mary anoints Jesus' head (Matt 26:6 & Mark 14:3). Jesus prophesied that Mary's actions would never be forgotten, and indeed they have not.

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial" John 12:7

This Friday evening meal is a Sabbath supper. Today, this traditional meal is still celebrated by Jews and Sabbath observant Christians in memory of Genesis 14:18 and is thought by some to be extant in the first century.

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:18

Although this Sabbath tradition is extra Biblical, I find the symbolism compelling. Just before sunset the Sabbath candles are lit to bring God's light into the home. Jesus has spoken of himself as "the light of the world". Chalah, three-piece interwoven bread, representing the triune nature of God is broken and eaten by all. Jesus is the true manna from heaven and the bread of life. All drink the fruit of the vine. Wine is symbolic of the new covenant in Jesus' blood. The Jews were commanded not to eat the blood of animals because "the life is in the blood." Jesus asks us to symbolically drink his blood for that very reason; "The life is in the blood." No other blood (life) is fit to drink, only that of the Messiah who's life is eternal.

"'Any Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off." Leviticus 17:13-14

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. John 6:53-56

The writer of Hebrews seems to bring forth this Jewish "rehearsal" when describes Jesus as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, a never-ending priesthood.

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" which means, "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Hebrews 7:1-3

Jesus brings us spiritual bread from heaven and a new covenant in his blood. He is the light of the world. He is our Sabbath rest. Jesus fulfills the symbolism of the Sabbath, even down to the traditional elements.

It is most likely Saturday morning that the crowd arrives from Jerusalem. Bethany was on the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem (Acts 1:12). Jesus spent the Sabbath together with those who came out to "inspect him" in Bethany

Although it is not clear if a Synagogue existed in Bethany, Jesus met the crowd, which came out from Jerusalem, to hear Jesus teach and to see Lazarus. Since a new Jewish day began Friday at sundown. This makes Saturday not 6 days but only 5 days until Passover. After the events of the Sabbath (Saturday) the "next day" on which the Triumphal Entry takes place is indeed Sunday.

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