How do you tell a story? Are you the kind to jump directly to the punchline; to build momentum or detour so often that people can scarcely find the thread of the story? Whichever you are, remember that each has its own merit; based on the aim of your storytelling. At one point, today’s Holy Nougat gave me a moment’s pause; but I remembered that there’s a bigger purpose
“A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick.” John 11:1-2 NLT
So having had the introduction I provided, perhaps you figured that the ‘rabbit hole’ is the piece about Mary. Although I don’t think I am Mary (in any version of the Mary-Martha series), there’s something about her. Knowing the story of Mary washing Jesus’ feet; I was able to stifle my curiosity; but were this shared in real time, I would be waiting with bated breath to hear that story. Of course, we also realize that if Mary is mentioned later we ought to pay attention; and maybe that’s the purpose.
I want to also take us down a rabbit hole (and for those wondering, it’s based on Alice going down a rabbit hole and landing in Wonderland) to ask why Lazarus is so introduced. At this point when the story is very new to us, we would not know how the story ended. But, there are ‘facts’ of the era that the first time reader in those days was expected to know (that is, the context).
1. Note the way Lazarus was introduced – he lived with his sisters suggests that he was not the home owner. Yet, in those days, it was likelier that men owned the property. This might not have been the case here (read also Numbers 27 for more details on property rights).
2. If Lazarus was of a certain age, he was likely to be married and thus would have been with his wife and family. Many of us assumed Lazarus was single; but did we ever consider that he might not have been of a marriageable age? And, if not, why does he live with the sisters and not the parents? Perhaps they were orphans.
3. You might have noticed that generally women were identified by the men in their lives, not the other way around. Some have postulated that indicates the sisters were women of substantial means – and they probably were. I simply suggest that they were popular, and possibly because of their affiliation with Jesus.
My hypothesis carries a hint of plausibility since the writer confirmed that Mary in the story is the in/famous Mary. Yup, you remember; she destroyed social conventions and washed Jesus’ feet! Now everyone knew That Mary! Even the other three gospel writers mentioned her, even if not by name. (Just ask Google about woman washed Jesus feet, and you will see – even Google knows her!)
And therein lies my question to us – me included. If someone were to recount our Jesus stories, what would they say and with whom would we be associated? Would we be a That Mary, known for pursuing Jesus at all cost; or Martha, also known but less renowned; or are we Lazarus, still coming into our own, while learning from our siblings?
That’s a question we each have to answer for and by ourselves. Selah
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May all we seek be found in Christ
