When did Simon's feast occur?

8th day of the first month, Friday evening:

• Jesus arrives at Lazarus' house in Bethany to spend the Sabbath.

  • "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead." [John 12:1] Note: John 12:2-3 will be covered in detail later.

  • "Saviour had reached Bethany only six days before the Passover, and according to His custom had sought rest at the home of Lazarus. The crowds of travelers who passed on to the city spread the tidings that He was on His way to Jerusalem, and that He would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany." [Desire of Ages 557.3]

• This is the Jesus' 4th last visit to Bethany

9th day of the first month, Sunday Morning:

• The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem after leaving Bethany

  • "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples." [Matthew 21:1]

  • "On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." [John 12;12-13]

  • "It was on the first day of the week that Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem." [Desire of Ages 569]

10th day of the first month, Sunday Evening:

• "And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."[Mark 11:11]

• This is the Jesus' 3rd last visit to Bethany

10th day of the first month, Monday Morning:

• Jesus curses the fig tree.

  • "And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it." [Mark 11:12-14]

• Jesus cleanses the temple again.

  • "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;" [Mark 11:15]

11th day of the first month, Monday Evening:

• "And when even was come, he went out of the city."[Mark 11:11]

• This is the Jesus' 2nd last visit to Bethany

11th day of the first month, Tuesday Morning:

• The tree Jesus cursed withered.

  • "And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." [Mark 11:20-21]

• Christ taught in the temple again.

  • "And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders" [Mark 11:27]

12th day of the first month, Tuesday Evening

• This is the Jesus' last visit to Bethany

• This is 2 days before the passover

• The chief priest and scribes plots Jesus' death

  • "After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people." [Mark 14:1-2]

• Feast at Simon's house

  • "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." [Mark 14:3]

  • "There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." [John 12:2-3] Note: John 12:1 is 4 days before John 12:2-3. These first 3 verses of John 12 has to be rightly divided.

  • "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" [Desire of Ages 557.2]

  • While this plotting was going on at Jerusalem, Jesus and His friends were invited to Simon's feast. At the table the Saviour sat with Simon, whom He had cured of a loathsome disease, on one side, and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, on the other. Martha served at the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word from the lips of Jesus. [Desire of Ages 558.4]