12/04/2007
In 2006, “The DaVinci Code” movie was released following the success of the novel by Dan Brown. I have not seen the movie, but I did read the book (not that I am a fan of novels but because I wanted to ascertain its spurious content). The book follows the same genre as “American Treasure” and others in which the protagonist must decipher a maze of obscure puzzles to reach the end prize.
Yet the most disturbing part of Dan Brown’s book is the preface in which he claims that all the events in the book are real. Of course, this claim itself has met with great criticism. Nonetheless, many have been persuaded by the claims he puts forth. Just for the record, Dan Brown did not originate the basis for the story. That honor belongs to Michael Baigent, author of “Holy Blood, Holy Grail.”
This basis to which I refer is that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and that Jesus did not die on the cross but rather that he and Mary migrated to the south of (what is now) France to raise their children. Furthermore, there is a bloodline of Jesus alive in Europe that is being protected by a secret society of the Knights Templar.
I don’t want to go into the book any more than that. But I did want to spend a little time demonstrating that the death of Jesus was a real event with many witnesses – contrary to Michael Baigent’s and Dan Brown’s assertions. And that Jesus was raised from the dead just as he predicted.
Matthew 27:50 - 51 (HCSB)
50Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.
At the moment of His death, Jesus cried out his last breath. Many miraculous things occurred simultaneous to this. Most notably was that the veil that hung in the sanctuary was torn in two. (this veil or curtain was very thick and to tear it would have required tremendous strength.)
Matthew 27:55 - 56 (HCSB)
55Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
As Jesus was dying on the cross, multitudes of people witnessed it, including His mother, Mary Magdalene and others. These women would have certainly known if this was not truly Jesus hanging on the cross.
Matthew 27:57 - 61 (HCSB)
57When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. 59So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, 60and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.
Jesus had died on the cross. Joseph of Arimathea came to ask for the body. Typically, crucified bodies were left on the crosses to rot as an “example” to others not to commit crimes. Pilate granted Joseph the body, which is clear indication that Jesus was dead. We can also be sure that it was Jesus who was laid in the tomb because the two Marys were outside the tomb as Jesus was laid in it and Joseph sealed it.
Matthew 28:1 - 6 (HCSB)
1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached ëthe tombû. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. 5But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.
On the third morning, Jesus rose just as He had said. The guard (16 men) of Roman soldiers were so stunned by the event that they were paralyzed.
Matthew 28:11 - 15 (HCSB)
11As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
After the event, the soldiers went to the Chief priest rather than to Pilate, because they knew that they were in trouble. The chief priest bribed the soldiers to claim they had fallen asleep and that Jesus’ body had been stolen. It seems ironic at this point that the priests don’t stop and ask themselves about how Jesus could have resurrected. Nonetheless, the penalty for a Roman soldier falling asleep at his post is death. That is why the priest told the soldiers that he would protect them from this punishment if they were found out by the Governor.
Finally, the last line says “And this story has been spread among the Jewish people to this day.” My point here is that the story among the Jews was that Jesus died and his body was stolen. Not that Jesus and Mary Magdalene somehow slipped out of town.
The death of Jesus was a public event. The priests in particular wanted Jesus dead, so they would have raised quite a noise if it were not Jesus on the cross. The women who followed Jesus would not have remained there at the cross and then come to the tomb if Jesus had not have died. Joseph of Arimathea would not have begged for the body of Jesus had it not actually been Jesus who died. The soldiers would not have had to lie about the resurrection had Jesus not been who He claimed to be. And finally, if the popular rumor was that Jesus’ body had simply been stolen, then how is it that 2000 years later, Michael Baigent and Dan Brown say the scuttlebutt was that Jesus had slipped away with His wife.
I hope you see by now that the idea that Jesus did not die on the cross but was married and had children with Mary Magdalene is a lie straight from the lips of Satan. For if Jesus did not die, then He was not our ultimate sacrifice and has not carried our sins away. If he was not resurrected, then we have no hope of eternal life.
Although I have used only Matthew in this narrative, the death and resurrection of Jesus is recorded in the four Gospels and as historic facts go, is one of the best documented events of ancient history.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
Terms of Usage: This devotional may be copied or forwarded for personal use without permission, but must include the author, publisher, web link, and copyright notice. Use in another published work must obtain permission first.