Marriage in John: Becoming One with God (Part 4)

Mary and Martha and the Raising of Lazarus

(Mary and Martha represent the third scene in which woman play a prominent role in John. The woman caught in adultery is a later addition.)

As with the story of the Samaritan woman, the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus recalls a romantic scene in Genesis. This time it is the meeting of Jacob and Rachel. The similarities between John 11 and Genesis 29 are as follows…

• Both men approach a tomb/well with a stone covering it (John 11:38 -Gen. 29:2-3, 8, 10).
• Both men order the stone to be removed (John 11:39 -Gen. 29:7-8)
• Both groups of people are reluctant to remove the stone (John 11: 39 -Gen. 29:8)
• Both men are moved by the sight of a woman (Mary - John 11:33, Rachel Gen 29:10) Both Jesus and Jacob weep. (John 11:35 - Gen. 29:11)
• Both stories involve three main characters (Mary, Martha and Lazarus. (John 11) Rachel, Leah and Leban (Gen. 29))
• Both stories record this phrase "Now ____ loved _____." In the case of Jesus it is Martha and in Jacob's case it is Rachel (John 11:5 - Gen 29:18)

In addition to these connections, one must also take account of John 11's surrounding context. The Shepard imagery which pervades Genesis 29 is matched by the image of Christ as the Good Shepard in John 10 (the chapter immediately preceding Lazarus' resurrection from the grave). In that passage Jesus states "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). Thus Jesus' actions in John 11 must be understood in light of the image he paints of himself in John 10. Like Jacob he is removing the stone to lead his sheep out to pasture.

In addition to these connections its also important to note that Jesus' meeting with Martha echoes the earlier story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

• Both women come out to meet Jesus (4:9 - 11:20)
• Both women claim to know something "I know that the Messiah is coming...(4:25)" "I know that he will rise again... (11:27)"
• Both women speak of the Messiah "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that one comes, He will declare all things to us.” (John 4:25) “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11:27)
• Both women go back to the place where they had come from to call others (John 4:28-29; John 11:28)
• Both groups of people come out to meet Jesus “They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.” (John 4:30)“And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him.” (John 11:29)

This is very interesting since the first story also has a connection to the only other betrothal scene in Genesis.

The Anointing and the Triumphal Entry

The anointing performed by Mary as well as the Triumphal Entry continue John’s marriage theme. This is the fourth scene where a woman plays a prominent role. The scene is in keeping with previous marriage episodes, echoing the most explicit biblical book on marriage, the Song of Solomon.

John 12:1-3 states, "Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

I want you to take note of the unique portrait John paints of these scene. This scene is one of the few stories that is repeated in each of the four gospels. Only John tells us that Jesus was reclining with Lazarus at the table and only John records that fragrance of the perfume filled the house. These details, while perhaps reminiscent of a first hand account, bare a striking similarity to Song of Solomon 1:12. "While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance.” The connections to Jesus as King comes only a few verses later where in the triumphal entry Jesus is proclaimed "King."

But the extended passage from John 11:54-12:23 also has ties to another passage in the Song of Solomon. Jesus return from Ephraim through the events of the triumphal entry bare comparison to Song of Solomon 3:6-11.

6 "What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all scented powders of the merchant? 7 "Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel. 8 "All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the terrors of the night. 9 "King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon. 10 "He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold And its seat of purple fabric, With its interior lovingly fitted out By the daughters of Jerusalem. 11 "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart."

Note the following similarities with Jesus movements in John 11:54-12:23.

• Jesus comes comes from the “wilderness.”
• He is perfumed. The fragrance is so strong it could be described as “smoke.”
• Jesus enters Jerusalem with the crowds surrounding him.
• Jesus makes for himself a chair (a chair that is on a donkey.)
• John invokes the phrase “daughter of Zion” from Zechariah.
• Jesus’ hour (His Wedding?) has come.

The connection to the Zechariah passage (“daughter of Zion”) and king Solomon should not be overlooked. Just as Jesus is proclaimed king entering Jerusalem on the back of donkey, Solomon likewise was anointed king, entering Jerusalem on a mule.

The Anointing and the Triumphal Entry are thus the final preparations for the "hour" of Christ's own marriage.

(to be continued....)