Are You In Bethany, Or Jerusalem?

Mark 11:1-19; Matthew 23:37-39

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and BETHANY, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" say, 'The Lord has need of it', and immediately he will send it here." So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" And THEY SPOKE TO THEM JUST AS JESUS HAD COMMANDED. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes! Hosanna in the highest!' 

And Jesus went into JERUSALEM, and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to BETHANY with the twelve. Now the next day, when they had come out of BETHANY, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it. So they came to JERUSALEM........"; where He attempted to right what was wrong in the temple. The scribes and the chief priests, overseers of the temple activities "sought how they might destroy Him". After that, He went out of the city. He went back to Bethany (I feel as if I could say).

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' "(Matthew 23:37-39)

Bethany was a place of refuge for Jesus. He spoke; His disciples spoke (what He had commanded); and the people there received His words. Jerusalem was no refuge for Him. They would not receive His words.

He is Head over ALL THINGS To The Church

Ephesians 1:20-23, 3:14-19, 2 Corinthians 4:15-17, Romans 8:28

......."He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only this age but also in that which is to come. And He put ALL THINGS under His feet, and gave Him to be head over ALL THINGS to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all (that are in His body) in ALL (things)."

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth has been named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." 

"For ALL THINGS are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, IS WORKING for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory......."

"And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Jesus Christ is Head over ALL THINGS to the church. He is One with the Father. He is Faithful and True. His purpose: that those who have/are following Him realize with confidence what His calling is! Content to persevere in it for a good testimony before Himself and the Father, and mankind!