Lost Books of the Bible (185 page)

 1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

 2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

 3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

Song of Solomon 7

 1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

 2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

 3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

               Due to the inherent dualism of Gnosticism, sex was a symbol, and, at times, a portal to a mystical experience. Many religions are replete with sexual allegories, as is Gnosticism. Proceeding from the two points of sexual metaphor in Gnostic literature and the likelihood of marriage among the population of Jewish men, controversy arose when speculation began as to whether Jesus could have married. The flames of argument roared into inferno proportions when the translation of the books of Philip and Mary Magdalene were published.

And the companion (Consort) was Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene). The Lord loved Mary more than all the other disciples and he kissed her often on her mouth (the text is missing here and the word “mouth” is assumed).  The others saw his love for Mary and asked him: “Why do you love her more than all of us?” The Savior replied, “Why do I not love you in the same way I love her?”

  The Gospel of Philip

Peter said to Mary; “Sister we know that the Savior loved you more than all other women. Tell us the words of the Savior that you remember and know, but we have not heard and do not know. Mary answered him and said; “I will tell you what He hid from you.”

   The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

               Seizing on the texts above, writers of both fiction and non-fiction allowed their pens to run freely amidst conjecture and speculation of marriage and children between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

               The writers
of The Da Vinci Code
and
Holy Blood, Holy Grail
took these passages and expanded them into storylines that have held readers captive with anticipation.

               Did Jesus take Mary to be his wife?  Could the couple have produced children? Gnostic theology leaves open the possibility.

              
As we step into the Gospel of Philip we encounter pure Gnostic ritual. The most sacred of all Gnostic rituals is contained in the metaphor of the duality of man and God seeking unity. With this in mind, the Lord established five sacraments: baptism, anointing, the Eucharist, redemption, and the Bridal-Chamber.

               Whether the sacrament of the Bridal-Chamber was a ritual enacted by a man and woman, or strictly an allegory we may never know. All we know is that the concept of the Bridal-Chamber, where two become one, dualities merge into unity, and man finally unites with the truth within himself and finds the Supreme God is a recurring and central theme and experience of Gnosticism. Accordingly, the Gnostic Jesus would have likely been married as he led others by example.

               Why, out of all the women in his life and travels, did he choose Mary of Magdala? Who was she? What made her special? Let us examine the evidence.

Who Was Mary Magdalene?

               The Gospel of Philip shines light on a special connection between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Philip calls Mary the Lord’s “companion,” a word that can mean “wife.” But, who was this Mary, the Magdalene?

                As was customary in Biblical times, the last name of the person was connected to his or her place of ancestry. This is evidenced in the fact that Jesus was called, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Mary came from a town called Magdala, which was 120 miles north of Jerusalem on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Magdala Tarichaea may have been the full name of the town. Magdala means tower, and Tarichaea means salted fish. The little village had the optimistic name of “The Tower of Salted Fish.” The main business of the area was fishing, and there is a good chance that Mary worked in the fish markets, or actually owned a business selling fish. Magdala, it seems, was a prosperous fishing village with a reputation as a licentious city. Mary Magdalene apparently had money since Luke says that she ministered to Jesus out of her “substance.”

               The Jewish text, “Lamentations Raba,” mentions a town called “Magdala,” and says  Magdala was judged by God and destroyed because of its fornication. This could explain western Christianity’s assumption that Mary Magdalene was the prostitute caught in adultery and presented to Jesus.

               In fact, we have linked Mary Magdalene with many of the women in the New Testament who were redeemed or forgiven. This is a powerful and rich myth that resonates with both men and women who have fallen from grace and seek redemption. However, the Bible never says that Mary Magdalene was ever a prostitute.

               Luke does not name her as the woman who washes the feet of Jesus with her hair.

Luke 7 (King James Version)

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

               There is never a name given to the woman caught in the act of adultery.

John 8 (King James Version)

 1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

 12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

               The only clear history we have is a single statement that it was Mary who was once demon-possessed.

Luke 8 (King James Version)

 1And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

 2And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. 

Here is what we know with certainty:

She was a woman who followed Jesus as he ministered and preached.

Luke 8:1-3: Afterward, Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.