The book and soon to be released movie
“The Da Vinci Code” is based on the myth that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and fathered a daughter whose bloodline survives in Europe.
In the book, the Catholic Church is portrayed as
having covered up this bloodline for 2,000 years and an alleged
Opus Dei conspiracy is portrayed as violently covering up the secret
of the bloodline.
Aside from the claim that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene,
the book and, if closely portraying the book, the forthcoming movie
have no compunction in casting in an uncomplimentary light the
Catholic Church and the Opus Dei, a conservative Catholic group.
The January 2, 2006 issue of “Newsweek” magazine reports that
an Opus Dei spokesman petitioned Ron Howard, director of the movie,
before shooting began, to remove the prelature’s name from the
film, and received no response. Howard told Newsweek, “Opus Dei
is mentioned in the book, and we didn’t shy away from that or any
other aspect of the story.” Has the content of the book become
“gospel”?
Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, in an
interview on Good Morning America (November 3, 2003) said he’d
initially been a skeptic to the “Jesus having been married to Mary
Magdalene scenario” (my quotes), but became a believer and presents
it as historical truth in the book.
Twenty four years ago I read the book “Holy Blood, Holy Grail,”
which speculates that the quest for the “Holy Grail” is really
a search for the “Sang Royale” (Sangria) or a royal bloodline of
Jesus Christ, through his alleged spouse Mary Magdalene, who fled
to France after the crucifixion of Jesus. This supposed “historical
fact” was kept secret but indirectly alluded to by secretive groups
such as the Knights Templar and the Priory of Sion.
So, is there any Biblical authority to the claim that Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus?
The four generally accepted gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John, contain twelve verses on Mary Magdalene and none depict any
type of marital relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene was part of a group of women who traveled with
Jesus and his disciples when, “He began going about from one city
and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of
God; and the twelve were with Him” (Luke 8:1). These women probably
assisted in provisioning and feeding the travelers. Luke 8:3 informs
us Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and
many others were contributing out of their private means to cover
the costs.
Mary Magdalene was delivered from demonic spirits: “Mary, who
was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke
8:2).
At the cruxifixion the gospel of Matthew tells us many women were
present, looking from a distance. These were women who had followed
Jesus from Galilee (Matthew 27:55), “among whom was Mary Magdalene,
along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother
of the sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 27:56). In verse 56 it would
have been very easy to identify Mary Magdalene as “the wife of
Jesus” if that had been the case. The other women were identified
through their motherhood. Mary Magdalene is one of many women,
a faithful follower of Jesus, but nothing else.
After the Sabbath following Jesus’s crucifixion Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James, and Salome, went to Jesus’s tomb, bringing
spices to anoint Him (Mark 16:2 and Luke 24:1). When they arrived
at the tomb they saw that the extremely large stone which had sealed
its entrance had been rolled away. A young man in a white robe,
an angel, sat inside the tomb. The angel told the women Jesus had
risen from the dead and to go tell his disciples he had gone to
Galilee. They fled in fear and astonishment (Mark 16:1-8).
After Jesus resurrected, “He first appeared to Mary Magdalene,
from whom he cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those
who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. And
when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, they
refused to believe it” (Mark 16: 9-11). Luke 24:9-11 also relate
that, “and (the women) returned from the tomb and reported all
these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were
Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the
other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not
believe them.”
It should be noted that the apostles did not believe what they
heard from Mary Magdalene and the other women, yet ten of the eleven
apostles died martyrs’ deaths! Judas isn’t included as he hung
himself after betraying Christ. John probably died of old age
on the island of Patmos in the Mediterranean. Would you die willingly
for a lie? Only a true resurrection of Jesus, who they believed
dead, could have turned these men who were mourning, weeping and
afraid into bold evangelists, willing to die for their beliefs.
There is only one verse that concerns physical contact between
Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was weeping outside the
tomb. She beheld Jesus but did not recognize Him (John 20:14):
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you
seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir,
if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him,
and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary, She turned
and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!’ (which means, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me; for I have not yet ascended
to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend
to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene
came, announcing to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and
that He had said these things to her” (John 20:15-18).
Contrary to the supposition of “The Da Vinci Code”it takes quite
a stretch of the imagination to interpret the scene just described
as a reunion between husband and wife. Mary mistook Jesus for
a gardener. She addressed him as “Rabboni” or “Teacher,” a sign
of respect, and not “Husband” or “Jesus”. She probably hugged
him out of joy, but that was it. Nothing else. Jesus addressed
her as “Woman,” and did not want her clinging to him. This response
is not particularly endearing or intimate, as one would expect
to a wife, after having been crucified and resurrected!
In Jewish tradition marriage is respected. Jesus could very well
have been the Son of God and been married. Jesus was fully God
and fully man. Marriage would not have restricted his deity and
marriage was not something Jews kept secret or hid. It was quite
normal to be married. Prominent rabbis were married. The Bible
tells us Peter was married. If Jesus had been married to Mary
Magdalene we would have been told. It wasn’t embarrassing in any
way to disclose it. Note above that in Luke 8:3 Joanna is identified
as the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Acts 18:2 tells us that
Paul met Aquila and his wife Priscilla in Corinth, fellow tentmakers,
and stayed with them.
Who then would concoct the myth that Jesus was married to Mary
Magdalene, but for some obscure reason had to keep it a secret?
The Gnostics, a movement which sprouted in the first century after
Christ, and which opposed the deity of Christ, appear to be the
source of this myth.
The early fathers of the Christian church believed that Simon
the Sorcerer of Samaria (Acts 8) was the first Gnostic. The church
fathers maintained that Simon practiced magic and claimed to be
divine. According to the church fathers, Simon taught that his
companion, a former prostitute, was the reincarnation of Helen
of Troy. A disciple of Simon by the name of Menander taught at
the end of the first century in Syrian Antioch that those who believed
in him would not die. Unfortunately for Menander (and his followers),
he died.
The only man in human history who physically rose
from the dead was the incarnation of God Himself, Jesus Christ
(see page 5 on this website “The Greatest Sign – The Resurrection.”)
The Gnostics however taught a cosmic dualism, what was spiritual
was good and what was material was evil. The Nag Hammadi codices
view the resurrection of Jesus Christ as spiritual, not physical.
The Gnostics, as do Hindu yogis, believed that human beings should
reject the material world and open themselves up to “gnosis” or
hidden knowledge.
Christianity teaches that salvation and eternal life comes from
accepting Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross as the redemption for
our sinful human nature (Orientals would see this as our “shame”).
By physically dying on the cross Jesus paid the price for our sin,
for our shame. By simply praying, “Jesus, I turn my life over
to you. Please come and take charge of my life. Forgive me for
my sin,” one accepts Jesus, turns a new leaf, and enters into a
personal relationship with the personal God of the Universe.
On the other hand, mystics, who believe the world is an illusion
(“Maya” in Hinduism) seek salvation within themselves through gnosis,
meditation, yoga, secret ceremonies, discovering “higher truths”.
They do not reach out to an infinitely intelligent, personal God,
but they try to find salvation in themselves or through invented
myths such as Menander’s that by believing in him one would not
die. None of these myths bring spiritual peace as they fall far
short of God’s provision for sin, Jesus Christ.
The Gnostics, hostile to the claims of Jesus Christ
that he was the incarnated Son of God (see page 2 “The
Importance of the Trinity” , “Scriptural
Proof of the Trinity” and blog article, December 13, 2005 "The Christian Athanasian Creed"), sought
to corrupt his message and confuse his historicity.
Among the various Gnostic corruptions is the fabrication that
Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene, as portrayed in a few
of the early Gnostic texts.
The bottom line is that Mary Magdalene was not married
to Jesus and there is absolutely no evidence she ever was (see
page 5 on this website,
“Historical Reliability of the Bible”).
It is regrettable that millions of readers and movie viewers will
be recklessly exposed to this myth, that the Catholic Church and
Opus Dei are being marginalized and demonized by it, and that the
entire Christian body stands accused of covering up what is really
a silly fabrication. |
The Truth about The Da Vinci Code WEBSITES;
reliable Christian historical information about Jesus, Mary Magdalene,
Gnosticism, the Holy Bible and the Gospels, the Knights of Templar,
Priory of Sion, the Holy Grail, Opus Dei, Leonardo da Vinci and
the Last Supper, etc,
Discover the real Jesus
- So if this movie and book, The Da Vinci Code, are fiction, what really
is the truth? The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who
gave His life for you. For centuries the Bible has been recognized by Christians
as the Word of God; it is the best selling book of all time and it continues
to change lives every day. If you are searching for God and a life that is full
and meaningful, you can find what you are looking for in Jesus Christ of the
Bible.
There are 4 simple truths that can help you find eternal life with God..
beliefnet 'The Da Vinci Code' Faith, Doubt, and the Search for Truth
- Beliefnet is the one of the largest spirituality and faith websites. This website is packed with Christian historical information and does a great job of answering all of the questions which can arise from the fallacies presented in The Da Vinci Code.
Answers in Genesis - The Da Vinci Code: Secret hidden truth? - A best seller rewrites the truth about the Bible. Insights of Alex Williams about Dan Browns book, "The Da Vinci Code".
The Da Vinci Dialogues - An Article about how Christians should
respond to The Da Vinci Code by Campus Crusade for Christ International's
President Steve Douglas.
TV Programs and airtimes, Da Vinci Code information Podcasts, etc.
Da Vinci Decoded Week on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Da Vinci Decoded Week on THE HISTORY CHANNEL, premieres several programs including Opus Dei: Unveiled, Mysteries of the Freemasons: The Beginning, and Before the Da Vinci Code. Progams aired every night beginning at 8, May 15 - 21, check website for airtimes schedule .
Unlocking Da Vinci's Code, The Full Story - National Geographic -
Airs Monday, May 15, 2006, airtime 8; Monday, May 15, airtime 11P; Saturday,
May 20, airtime 9:00P - Is it Real? Da Vinci's Code [TV-G] A clandestine
brotherhood, an enigmatic genius and a forbidden secret. Together they form
the plot of Dan Brown's immensely popular novel The Da Vinci Code. The book
claims that Jesus fathered a bloodline hidden for centuries by a secret
society known as the Priory of Sion, led most famously by Renaissance painter
Leonardo Da Vinci. But where's the evidence? Is it possible that some very
key aspects of Christ's life have been intentionally covered up by the Catholic
Church?
The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers Podcast - Josh McDowell - The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers podcast is a dramatic presentation of Josh McDowell's new book, which skillfully separates fact from fallacy and presents unassailable truths that listeners can depend on for real answers.
Archdiocese of Detroit - "The Da Vinci Code" Deciphered, Decoded, Debunked
- The Catholic Television Network of Detroit (CTND) presents a number of special programs about questions raised by the book and movie, including Dialogue with Cardinal Maida, The Da Vinci Code: A Masterful Deception, and Jesus Decoded. TV programs airtimes are available on this website as well as podcasts of the programs for download.
The Da Vinci Code Truth Related Online Video, Books, Guides, Videos, DVD's, CD's, Printed Materials, Movie, etc.
Breaking the Da Vinci Code, DVD - Based on three bestselling books - Breaking the Da Vinci Code, The Da Vinci Deception, and Cracking Da Vinci's Code - this program solves a 2000 year old mystery. The DVD answers all the lingering questions and finally sets the record straight through interviews with book authors and world's leading experts in archeology, theology, art history, philosophy, and science. Bonuses include interviews, masters' artworks, code location tours, and scene selection.
Online Video: The Da Vinci Code, Demystifying 'Da Vinci' - a series of online videos with Robin Griffith-Jones, the master of London's Temple Church; a video grail quest in search of the truth behind "The Da Vinci Code." The online videos offer a summary of the Da Vinci Code story, separate fact from fiction and answer the major questions that arise from the story's fabricated or distorted "facts". Questions like what is Opus Dei, the Priory of Sion; who were the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, and was Jesus Christ married to Mary Magdalene; does Jesus Christ have descendents; did Jesus Christ leave a bloodline that survive to this day?
The Da Vinci Quest Project - The Da Vinci Code: "A Quest for Answers" by Josh McDowell, "The Da Vinci Code: A Companion Guide to the Movie" mini magazine, church leaders study guide, church discounts and more.
SERMONSPICE.com - online provider of sermon illustration videos (download from the internet or mail), The Da Vinci Code Deciphered video series includes titles such as Impact, Contradictions, Council of Nicaea, Fact or Fiction and others, and are priced from $10 to $15.00 each, or the complete package for $39.95 .
Da Vinci Outreach - Dr. Ted Shri's "Da Vinci Deception", "Da Vinci Code and the Bible, Separating Fact From Fiction", study guides and more.
Da Vinci Hoax (Carl Olson / Sandra Miesel)
- ... critique of the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, investigates
Dan Brown's claims that he based his work on facts and solid
scholarship. Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel in this book 'Da Vinci Hoax' demonstrate how Brown uses unsubstantiated research and far-fetched hypotheses to bolster his outlandish thesis that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and established a sacred bloodline, and that traditional Christianity has conspired throughout history to suppress this truth.
Miscellaneous Da Vinci Code Truth Links
The Norman Rockwell Code Movie - "Alfred Thomas Catalfo wrote, directed and has a role in his 35-minute spoof of the Da Vinci Code, “The Norman Rockwell Code.” In his version, the curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum is murdered...
IMDb Movie Database - "The Da Vinci Code" information on the movie. |
The Da Vinci Code Truth 
