Bethany Near Jerusalem - John 11:18

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of his book John shared how, “Bethany was near unto Jerusalem” where we read:

Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

The verse reads, “Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, ...” John began with the words, “Now Bethany” which means “moreover Bethany which means house of dates or house of misery and was a town or village on the east bank of the Jordan where John was baptizing people” “was near unto Jerusalem” or “was imminent and close to Jerusalem which means set you double peace and was the capital of Palestine”. John shared how the village of “Bethany” was close to the city of “Jerusalem”.

The verse continues, “... about fifteen furlongs off:” John added the words, “about fifteen furlongs” which means “around a space of fifteen six hundred feet measurements or 9000 feet” “off” or “apart and away”. John shared how how “Bethany” was about one and three quarters miles away.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how close the proximity of the village of “Bethany” was very near to “Jerusalem”, and because Jesus was threatened in “Jerusalem”, we can understand His disciples concern. Jesus did not limit Himself when it came to serving people, and Lazarus and his family needed help. God loves to serve people, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay the price of death on the cross for the sins of mankind, He served them in a measure that will last for all eternity to everyone who believes. Distance is no barrier for Jesus, and those who are wise will call upon Him regardless of how close or far away from Him they may seem.

Next time John shares how, “many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".