John 12:1
“Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”
What does John 12:1 mean?
A week before his crucifixion, Jesus traveled to the small village of Bethany to spend time with his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus holds special significance here: just a few chapters earlier, Jesus had called him out of his tomb after he'd been dead for four days, which was a stunning public sign of Jesus's power over death itself. By visiting Lazarus at this particular moment, so close to his own death and resurrection, John seems to be drawing a connection: the one who raised Lazarus from death was about to experience and conquer death himself. It's a deeply human moment too, showing Jesus cherishing friendship and community even while facing what lay ahead.