Anonymous

Banquet of Simon of Bethany

stained glass window (25 cm diameter) — c. 1520 Museum Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

This work is linked to John 12:3

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Simon the Leper was a citizen of Bethany. He hosts a meal for Jesus and his followers. Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus' feet and dries them with her hair.

The gospels of Mark and Matthew tell a slightly different story. There an unnamed woman poors a can of ointment over Jesus' head. A few disciples (only Judas in John) question what they view as a waste of money. Jesus replies that in this case the woman was right, as she anointed him not long before his burial.

After dinner Judas tells the high priests where they can find Jesus.

On this window Jesus is engaged in a conversation with Simon. Not much is known about the origin of the window, except that is was made in the Netherlands.

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