Week 2 : Sexual immorality : A vice to avoid

Read: John 11:1-44

There has been a lot of speculation about the sexuality of Jesus. Two rumours persist. According to one theory, Jesus was gay. A second hypothesis suggests Jesus and Mary Magdalene were companions. There is a tiny bit of evidence in the Bible to indicate either scenario might be true - the rest is left up to the imagination. How can you sort fact from fiction?

Homosexuality is suspected because the Bible reveals the love of Jesus had for a friend, Lazarus. When this man became ill his two sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus. They referred to their brother as "the one you love" (John 11:3). Jesus did not go to them in the village of Bethany, near Jerusalem, until he was certain Lazarus had died. Once there, his reaction at seeing the grief of Mary and the other Jews was natural. "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). His weeping for Lazarus was seen to be an indication of "how he loved him! (John 11:36). This love was so strong Jesus chose to raise his friend from the dead.

Is this story to be taken literally? Did Jesus just help a friend? Or did he resurrect his lover? That is to say, figuratively, is the way Lazarus came out the tomb similar to the way the gay men of today leave the crypt of heterosexuality? To me, the former seems more likely than the latter.

The truth of this can be seen the eroticism contained within the story of the resurrection of Lazarus. His sister, Mary, is said to be "the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair" (John 11:2). In contrast, Jesus did not take off grave clothes Lazarus was wearing, but asked other onlookers to do this. So the only physical contact mentioned is a male-female encounter.

Still, Mary did this, and there is a possibility that Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene was the same person. Luke referred to a "Mary (called Magdalene)" (Luke 8:2) and then said Martha "had a sister called Mary" (Luke 10:39). And after writing about Mary of Bethany, John refers to Mary Magdalene, noting she was both at the crucifixion of Jesus and the first witness to his resurrection. In other words, she acted like a good wife. However, there is nothing to suggest that Jesus was her husband, and little to suggest she was immoral. Certainly, the rumour that she was a prostitute seems to have no bearing. Also, apart from a brief description of the visit to Bethany, there is no evidence in the Bible to suggest Mary and Jesus lived in a de facto relationship.

Therefore, if you want to be like Jesus, then you must not participate in a homosexual or de facto relationship. After all, he was not gay, so anyone who want to be like him cannot be gay. Similarly, he did not have a de facto spouse, so you will not be like him if you have a de facto spouse.

Prayer: Jesus. Sexual immorality is such a challenge today. Help those who are sexually immoral. Help them to change so they can be like you. Amen.