The approach to Jerusalem was punctuated by moments of drama. On the outskirts of Jericho the crowd encountered two blind men who, when they heard Jesus was passing by, put up such a noise that they could not be ignored. One of them was named as the son of Timaeus. Jesus approached them, asked what they wanted, accepted their request for sight, and healed them.
As the crowd passed through Jericho the whole town filled the sides of the road through town to Jerusalem. Looking up in a sycamore tree Jesus saw the most hated man in the town, the tax-collector, Zacchaeus. He was in the tree because he was too short to see over the crowd. Calling out to him Jesus told him to come down because he (Jesus) was going to be his guest for lunch. The people grumbled at Jesus’ association (again!) with a notorious sinner, Zacchaeus was changed and repented, and Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
The ascent to Jerusalem continued, with an ever-growing crowd, until they reached Bethany, the town of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. It was day’s end, and Simon, who Jesus had cured of Leprosy, invited Jesus to dinner, along with Lazarus and his sisters. It was in Simon’s home that Mary came in with a valuable alabaster jar full of an expensive perfume and anointed Jesus feet with the fragrant substance, wiping the excess with her long black hair. It was an extravagant gesture and some objected, Judas Iscariot chief among them, but Jesus praised her. He had raised her brother and provider from the dead and preserved her home. Of her Jesus said, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
Jesus spent the night there before entering Jerusalem and made Bethany his base of operation for the next week, going to Jerusalem during the day and resting in Bethany at night. It was his last place of rest and comfort. In Bethany, and in the home of Simon, Jesus was an honored guest, safe, at rest, and at peace. His rest before the final, critical week of his life was short, but sweet, among friends, who wished nothing but to honor him.
Prayer: “Great Redeemer, I would wish that you might find rest in my heart, knowing that I am your friend and that I also wish nothing but to honor you. Sometimes I ask too much of you and think too much of myself. In this day I am simply grateful that you are my king, and I hope to live in such a way as to bring you honor and pleasure. Amen.”