March 1

“Now when eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.” (Mark 11:11).
It is recorded in the Gospels, that the Lord Jesus Christ visited Bethany eight times. As for as we read in the Scriptures, He never once stayed overnight in Jerusalem. He would go there in the morning, heal the sick and perform miracles, and then go to Bethany or the Mount of Olives nearby. The Mount of Olives and Bethany are side by side, and either He would go to the Mount of Olives to pray, or He would go to Bethany (Mark 11:1,11,19). On each occasion, after healing or teaching or performing miracles in Jerusalem, He would return to Bethany or to the Mount of Olives in the evening. Finally it was from Bethany He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50). All this goes to show that the Lord Jesus had special lessons to teach His disciples in Bethany and it was at Bethany that He gave the last message and command to His disciples: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.”

Today's calendar Bible verse:
I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. Gen. 49:18.