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TV special on Da Vinci Code asks: Was Jesus married? The Da Vinci Code is a new book out that is fiction. Some people have made it into a historical fact. Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code is supposed to be extensive research on Leonardo Da Vinci, an Italian painter, inventor and visionary from 1452-1519. The book claims a story of Jesus being married to Mary Magdalen that was supposedly kept alive for centuries by a secret society that painter Leonardo da Vinci was part of, he supposedly left clues about it in his artwork (ie. The Last Supper). The book may be good reading (as Brown is a prolific writer who is very convincing) but IT IS ALREADY BEING USED BY THOSE WHO WANT TO DESTROY Christ’s name and the Bibles testimony. Recently I watched the TV special on by ABC that used his painting of the last supper to propose the idea (with what they brought up as proofs) that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalen. This was basically a presentation in assumptions and extra biblical concepts that has no root in the Bibles account of eyewitnesses. ABC says the program is based on the best-selling novel, “The Da Vinci Code,” which claims to be partly grounded on historical fact. Vargas of ABC said she found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either. (Posted Monday, November 3, 2003 NEW YORK (AP) -- ABC) News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas concedes her network is stepping into a theological minefield with its one-hour exploration of whether Jesus Christ had a wife. The book claims that there are references to the occult (secrets passed on) contained in his paintings. It's also about ancient secret societies, modern forensics, science and engineering, and the history of religion. The book asserts that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife -- not a prostitute, that she fled Jerusalem with his child following his crucifixion. Of course Jesus left her when he went to heaven and she sailed off to France, (as their story goes on TV). The Bible has two passages that refer to her affliction. Both Mark 16:9 Luke 8:2 mention her as a “women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities-- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons.” There is no specific mention that she was a prostitute, however the Greek word for infirmities is astheneia which comes from the root to mean feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty. This is probably where some mention her in this profession. (some believe she may be the woman caught in adultery mention d in Jn.8) But this really has no bearing on the issues being presented and is one of the many straw man arguments. They claim on Jesus' right side in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting the last supper is Jesus' wife Mary. One may find some immediate discrepancies from the Bibles account. For example the picture does not show them reclining as they would have on the Passover. Another problem, according to the Bible there were 12 disciples (6 on each side), which is exactly how many there are in the painting. This whole program was a connect the dots theory by a mans painting. They made use of several theologians who assert that it is possible or discount the story. To make up a story like this from a painting is certainly forcing ones own interpretation on history. Equal time was plainly not the intent of the TV program as conservative scholars were missing to contribute their knowledge to the theory. The Bibles account- Luke 22:13-14 “…and they prepared the Passover. When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.” In John 12:1-2 six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, and Martha served the dinner. So it is possible a woman was there to serve the dinner but this proves nothing of Jesus being married to Mary. At the last supper gathered around the table enjoying the Passover Jesus says “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ “Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. John 13:18-33) The fact that in Da Vinci picture does show someone pointing to themselves on Jesus’ left seems to indicate the timing of the Passover meal. We know from the Bible that Peter was on one side and Judas was probably next to him. But who was on the other side? It is this person in Da Vinci’s picture that brings this controversy. But it’s not a mystery because the Bible tells us. John 21:20-21 “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” (see also Jn.21:7) One may jump to conclusions and say this was Mary but the Bible tells us who this other one was, there is no secret --- it was John.John 20:1-2 “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” John 21:19-24 After Jesus addresses peter of what his future will be like in serving him and v.19 “signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper... This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” It was John who was giving testimony by his writing and became the last living apostle among those who were eyewitnesses of Jesus Life, death and resurrection. It was John who Jesus entrusted his mothers care to. If Jesus were married he would certainly have entrusted her as well. Considering that marriage was the norm for 1st century Judaism and not being married unusual, it would be detrimental to have Jesus being single and try to hide his marriage through those who were eyewitnesses and wrote of everything he did.Some say this may be the greatest conspiracy of the past 2,000 years, but it is not one that was hidden until this time. Instead it is a new invention concocted in someone's mind which would be better identified as just another New Age hoax. The only reason this is entertained as possible or true is to diminish the truth of the Bible. The
Christian
reaction
to the Da Vinci Code .... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml? xml=/news/2004/05/02/wcode02.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/05/02/ixworld.html
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