Simon had been healed of the leprosy, and it was this that had drawn him to Jesus. He desired to show his gratitude, and at Christ's last visit to Bethany he made a feast for the Saviour and His disciples. This feast brought together many of the Jews. There was at this time much excitement at Jerusalem. Christ and His mission were attracting greater attention than ever before. Those who had come to the feast closely watched His movements, and some of them with unfriendly eyes.

Simon var blevet helbredt for spedalskhed, og det var dette, der havde draget ham til Jesus. Han ville gerne vise sin taknemmelighed, og ved Kristi sidste besøg i Betania gjorde han et gæstebud for Frelseren og hans disciple. Ved dette måltid var mange af jøderne til stede. Der var på dette tidspunkt stor ophidselse i Jerusalem. Kristus og hans virksomhed tiltrak sig større opmærksomhed end nogensinde før. De, som var kommet til gæstebuddet, lagde nøje mærke til hans optræden, og nogle af dem betragtede ham ikke med venlighed.