Bethany - House of ???

The town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

Bethany is a town just outside of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. It’s the town where Lazarus died and was raised, the town where Jesus’ feet were anointed by Mary in John 12 with an extravagantly expensive ointment.

There is some discrepancy from scholars as to what Bethany means. Beth- means house. That part is easy. But the rest of it could have several meanings. Figs, the poor, and affliction are all options. Each of these has an interesting connection to the story of Jesus.

House of the poor?

When Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, Judas comments that this is a waste and that the ointment could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor. Jesus comments, “you will always have the poor with you.” It makes sense to make such a comment in a town called “house of the poor.”

House of affliction?

There was some pretty solid affliction happening when Lazarus died. For four days Mary, Martha, and all their friends mourn and grieve. When Jesus arrives at the house of affliction, He grieves too. But He also calls Lazarus who exits the tomb, and the affliction ceases.

House of figs?

Figs is the most likely candidate it seems (or at least that is what a majority of scholars think). On the Monday or Tuesday after Palm Sunday, Jesus is traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem when He encounters a fig tree on the side of the road. He goes to pick a fig from the tree, even though it is not the season for figs (I know, that one is a headscratcher), and finds only leaves and no fruit.

If we bring the stories of the Gospels together, that means the cursing of the fig tree happens only two or three days after Mary had anointed Jesus’ feet in Bethany.

Figs are frequently used in the Scriptures to describe the good life. When all is right with the world and people are at peace, then everyone will eat from their own vines and fig trees. When things are bad and war is on the way or God is dismayed with His people, then the vine and fig tree yield nothing. Figs are a sign of blessing in God’s promised land.

House of figs is a good name for a town that is located in such a land, especially one just outside Jerusalem, the city of peace. Peace and figs go together.

And shortly after Jesus curses said fig tree between Bethany and Jerusalem, Jesus makes an everlasting peace by His blood on the cross.

An everlasting peace means it is always the season for figs. Perhaps when the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and into the new creation there will also be a New Bethany, a new house of figs.

Thanks for reading.

Andy