Arrival at Bethany

Though Luke casually says that Jesus left for Jerusalem, it was not an easy trip. Basically, it is a rugged climb, about fifteen miles uphill. Even though Jesus and his followers were in good shape, such a trip would have been a full day’s march. Whether the assumption that they made it one day, or if it took two, they arrived at Lazarus’s home late Friday afternoon before the Sabbath began. The meal that is discussed seems to obviously be a Sabbath evening meal.

John tells us they arrived six days before Passover. This makes the church tradition of Good Friday likely incorrect. If the Passover meal was Thursday night with the death of Jesus on Friday, they would have made this trip on the previous Sabbath. Though Jesus disregarded Pharisaical traditions, he would not have made such a trip on a Sabbath. If they arrived just before Sabbath started, his death was on Thursday.