Bethpage 

Bethpage, or Bethphage, which is Aramaic for "house of unripe figs" and spelled Bethsphage, is a Christian religious site on the Mount of Olives east of historical Jerusalem. It lies between Bethany and Jerusalem. Bethpage is about 1.5 miles from Jerusalem and a little over 2 miles from Bethany. There is a Franciscan Church in Bethpage that was built on the foundations of a 12th-century crusader chapel, as well as a Greek Orthodox Holy Monastery. The annual Palm Sunday walk into Jerusalem begins in Bethpage. Today, the city is identified with the modern-day Arab village of Al-Eizariya.

Jesus went to Bethpage to be with friends and rest over the Sabbath after resurrecting Lazarus in nearby Bethany on March 2, 30 CE. The people of Bethany and Bethpage had been very welcoming to Joseph and Mary on their journeys to Jerusalem, and they made lifelong friends, as did Jesus, as many had sons and daughters around his age. Following the resurrection of Lazarus, most surmised Jesus would immediately go into Jerusalem in defiance of the Sanhedrin’s decree of death and to proclaim himself king of the Jews, but Jesus and the apostles went back to their encampment in Pella early Sunday morning.

After the mission in Perea and Pella, Jesus and the apostles arrived at Bethany on Friday afternoon, March 31, 30 CE. Many of the common folks of Bethany and Bethpage extended themselves to make Jesus feel welcome. On Saturday evening, all Bethany and Bethpage joined in celebrating the arrival of Jesus by a public banquet at the home of Simon, the leading citizen of Bethany following the death of Lazarus’ father, who was also called Simon. It was held in honor of Lazarus and Jesus, and meant as a snub to the Sanhedrin. Jesus, Peter, and John lodged in Simon’s home, and the other apostles stayed with friends in Bethany and Bethpage.

On Sunday, April 2, right after the noon lunch, Jesus called Peter and John to go over to Bethpage, a short distance northwest of Bethany, and told them when they come to the junction of the roads, they would find the colt of an ass tied there. When they proceeded to untie it, the owner asked why. Peter said his master had a need for it. The man replied that If your master is Jesus, you may take the colt. Jesus then used the colt for his triumphal ride into Jerusalem.

Jesus was arrested close to midnight after the Last Supper on Thursday, April 6, 30 CE. Later, the apostles gathered together at the home of Elijah and Mary Mark, where they shared the Last Supper. Thomas was with them for a few minutes late Saturday night when they first met, but the sight of the apostles, combined with the idea of what had occurred to Jesus, overwhelmed him. He glanced at his companions and quickly exited the room, going to Simon's house in Bethpage, where he planned to grieve over his troubles in solitude.

On the morning of Resurrection Sunday, John Mark located Thomas and informed the apostles that he was in Bethpage. Thomas and the other apostles were in a stalemate: Thomas, depressed, waited for the apostles to get him, and the apostles waited for Thomas to return. Almost a week later, on the next Saturday evening, Peter and John went over to Bethpage and brought Thomas back.