The Gospel of John provides multiple interactions that Jesus has with women, which we can use to understand his perspective on this very marginalized group during the culture and time. Throughout the gospel, there are several significant interactions between Jesus and women, which offers insights into his teachings, relationships, and attitudes toward women. John covers the encounters that Jesus had with Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman, Mary of Bethany, and Martha. By looking into these encounters, we can gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ respect and inclusivity towards women.
Before looking into Jesus’ interactions, it is important to understand the social norms during this time. Understanding how the culture views women, will enlighten how much of an outcast Jesus was to society’s men-women relationships. Women were placed much lower in society compared to men and presented as second-class citizens in the Bible. “In patriarchal societies, men owned most of the land, which was typically passed on from father to son.” (TJ Wray). They were usually not allowed out of the house without a man alongside, and shouldn’t touch a man without permission. Women were placed in a role with many duties and responsibilities around the house, especially with children. Girls were expected to remain virgins until married and not allowed to testify in court. Women were separated from men in private, public, and religious life. They could not venture beyond the confines of the Women’s Court in the Temple. They were also not allowed to participate in public prayer at the temple. Knowing these strict social norms, allows us to grasp and appreciate the willingness of Jesus to challenge them throughout his interactions.
Mary Magdalene is mentioned first in the Gospel of John during Jesus’ crucifixion. “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25). Mary shows loyalty and trust toward God’s plan and Jesus while attending her son’s crucifixion. Through likely the saddest time for Mary she stays loyal which highlights the extremely loving relationship Jesus had with her. “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27). Jesus lays down his role in the mother/son relationship before dying and gives her a new Son. He gives the disciple John the responsibility of taking care of his mother. Jesus says “This is your son” because he doesn’t just want John to be a caretaker, but to cherish his mother while gone. John followed Jesus’ instructions and cared for her as if she were his mother. This shows how one of the closest and most important people to Jesus was Mary Magdalene (a woman), using his final words to make sure she would be taken care of.
The Gospel also mentions Mary Magdalene in John 20, when Jesus appears to her inside the tomb. Mary stood outside the tomb crying and went inside seeing two angles in white. They asked why she was crying, and she responded that they had taken her Lord away, “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” (John 20:14). She recognized Jesus voice calling her name, and then intrust her to spread the news that she has witnessed his resurrection, saying “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17). Mary’s ability to recognize Jesus simply on the way he calls her name, highlights their strong relationship. Asking Mary to carry on his message, highlights his trust to spread the word. Jesus goes to her for spreading this news amongst the disciples although she is a Woman. This not only highlights the dignity and equality Jesus views and treats women with, but also Peter and John’s view who listen to Mary and run to the tomb. One of the closest, most trusted, and important people to Jesus is Mary Magdalene, a Woman.
A shorter story that also shows the care Jesus showed Mary Magdalene is earlier in the Gospel of John, where Jesus performs his first miracle. Jesus and his disciples are at the wedding in Cana in John 2, and they run out of wine. Mary tells Jesus “They have no more wine”, and he responds “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2: 4). Although she is his mother, he calls her “woman” which was the respectful way to address women at this time. Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them, and he has them fill the jars with water to the brim. (John 2: 5-7). He has the masters of the banquet taste the water to realize it was turned into wine. Although this story does not directly address Jesus’ outlook on women in general, we can learn from the relationship witnessed with Mary. Jesus responds to Mary’s request right away and performs this miracle. It emphasizes his close relationship and willingness to go out of the way for Mary’s request. Jesus asks why she would involve him, noting that it is not yet his turn to offer a toast, yet he doesn’t say “no” and responds to her request anyway. This story is just another example of one of Jesus’ strongest and most loyal relationships being with a woman.
Another encounter Jesus has is with the Samaritan woman he engages in conversation with throughout John 4. In the story of the Good Samaritan woman, Jesus encounters the Samaritan Woman at a well and asks for a drink of water after his Journey to Sychar. The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) (John 4: 9). Jesus says that she would ask for living water, which will quench her thirst forever if she knew who he was. The woman asks for such water, and Jesus explains eternal life and about a time of worship coming where locations will not limit you. Through this powerful conversation, she recognized Jesus as the Messiah and went to spread it. She then converted her five sisters and two sons. Knowing this story, we can see how Jesus greatly breaks societal norms, ignoring the strict rules governing male-female interaction, and engaging in conversation. “Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman represents the longest conversation Jesus has with anyone in the Gospels.” (TJ Wray), which makes his stance on equality even more powerful. The Samaritan woman not even having her own name, helps emphasize how society views her worth. So little that nobody could recall or use her actual name. In this story, Jesus is also able to demonstrate how it is not beyond a Woman’s intellectual capacity to recognize the Messiah and have a spiritual understanding. The Samaritan Woman was able to understand, receive, and then spread Jesus’ revelation. John’s account proves Jesus’ viewpoint on women and understanding how they are equal to men. Jesus recognizes the intrinsic equality between men and women, showing that they have the same worth and dignity as men through his interactions with them.
During John 8 when Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives, he has a short but defining interaction with a woman taken in adultery. She is unnamed, and to be executed after committing adultery. Jesus pretty much tells them that you cannot execute unless you are sinless yourself. Just as she may have sinned and is being executed, everyone else had to have sinned in some way, so how are they supposed to handle justice? According to the Gospel though, Jesus is the only one there who is sinless, and he wouldn’t do it because of forgiveness. Jesus saves the Woman by “forcing her male accusers to acknowledge that they are not morally superior to her” (McLaughlin). After the bold scene, she stayed at the side of Jesus Christ instead of fleeing. This not only shows Jesus’ viewpoint, but an actual push Jesus made against the culture of men placing themselves more superior than women, believing that they should be equals. It also shows that Jesus treated women with respect and compassion, regardless of their sins as well. The woman is well appreciative of Jesus and the equality he shows toward her, as she does not flee. Throughout the gospels, we see a more general appreciation that Women have for Jesus because of how he breaks social norms and treats them as equals.
The last relationship presented in John’s Gospel is between Mary of Bethany and Martha. In John 11, Lazarus falls sick and eventually dies. His sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus saying that he was sick. When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” (John: 4-5). The gospel notes Jesus’ love and care for the two women, as he then demonstrates this when raising him from the dead later on. Before Jesus raises Lazarus, he comforts the sisters, telling Martha that her brother will rise again and making sure she believes. Martha shows a large amount of faith and trust in Jesus, telling Jesus that she knows her brother will rise again in the resurrection. Later on, Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 4: 32). When Jesus sees Mary weeping “he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11: 33). So much that even Jesus wept (John 11: 35) before raising Lazarus from the dead. It shows that Jesus had a close relationship with Women, specifically Mary and Martha in this, to cry with and comfort them through rough times. Aside from raising Lazarus for them, he truly shows care by walking alongside them through the sorrow they face. The gospel in fact directly states that he loved Martha and her sister, showing their close relationship. Jesus was not only willing to support them through it but also help through his power of working a great miracle.
We see through all these interactions that Jesus held a high regard and respect for women. He had even publicly included women in his ministry, which totally went against the customs covered earlier on. He would offer his teaching to anyone willing to listen, even if they had sinned like women taken in adultery. Throughout the gospel, women actually seem to be the most appreciative of Jesus. For example, Mary Magdalene comes to Jesus’ crucifixion and spreads the word after his resurrection. The woman taken in adultery who stands by his side instead of fleeing. Or the sisters and samaritan women who care and spread the word of the Lord after seeing Jesus’ power. Looking at the interactions, we can learn that Jesus had very close relationships with women. He cares about Mary Magdalene and the sisters deeply. He uses his last words to make sure his mother is taken care of and weeping alongside the sisters. He also had a lot of trust in women, especially when spreading his word, such as with Mary Magdalene and the Samaritan Woman. The idea taken away most through all stories is the fact that Jesus recognizes the intrinsic equality between men and women, showing that they had the same worth and dignity as men through his interactions with them. No matter whether it is enforcing equality with the Woman in Adultery, showing equality through support and compassion for the sisters, breaking social norms with the Samaritan woman, or trusting Mary to spread the word. The interactions and relationships Jesus has with women in the Gospel of John are a great representation of his closeness and high regard for Women in the New Testament.
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