Jesus often visited his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha at Bethany, “about two miles” east of Jerusalem. (Joh 11:1, 18, ftn.; 12:1-11; Lu 10:38-42; 19:29; see “Jerusalem Area,” page 18.) A few days before his death, Jesus approached Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives. Picture him stopping to look west at the city and weeping over it. (Lu 19:37-44) His view would have been similar to what you see at the top of the next page. He then entered Jerusalem on the colt of an ass, likely using one of the city’s eastern gates. Throngs hailed him as Israel’s future King.​—Mt 21:9-12.

[Picture on page 31]

View to the west from the Mount of Olives in Jesus’ day