5-31-06 The Da Vinci Code (Angela Austin)
The Da Vinci Code
This Book is about many facts put together to make a fictional story, but it is still fiction. That is not to say we can’t learn about or evaluate our own relationship with Jesus from this book.
For those who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, I’ll give a very basic summary of the book. This is a hunt for the Holy Grail which is protected by a secret society, Priory of Sion. The details reveal through riddled clues and symbolism that the true Holy Grail is not a cup, but a person, Mary Magdalene. The book goes on to explain that Jesus and Mary were married and had a child. The church voted on Jesus’ divinity and the books in the Bible that enhanced that divinity. In an effort to down play his humanity, all those writings with more human references were destroyed by the church. This was all done by the church to create a patriarchal Christianity as oppose to the matriarchal paganism of the times. Since then a small order of the church, Opus Dei, was charged with obliterating any proof of the royal blood line. In the end we find the Holy Grail has been preserved and what we do with that information is up to us.
Because there is no mention of “the Holy Grail” in the Bible, what have you always been taught the Holy Grail is?
Read the following scripture describing Jesus’ humanity and divinity.
Hebrews 2:14-18
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[f]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Luke 18:18-20
18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother."
John 14:8-14
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
The big question this book asks us of our faith: Was Jesus human or divine or both? What do you think?
Read the following where Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Bible.
Luke 8:1-3
1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Mathew 27:55-56
55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Mark 16:9
9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
What other knowledge of Mary Magdalene do you have?
In your opinion what was Jesus’ relationship with Mary?
Could a relationship like the one The Da Vinci Code describes have been possible?
Does any of this discussion change your view of Jesus and does that have any impact on your faith?
Another issue The Da Vinci Code raises has to do with the construction of our Bible. Is it comprehensive or was there anything left out? With different denominations of Christianity comes some different doctrine. Some examples of different doctrine are The Book of Mormon, the Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels of Thomas and Judas.
Have you had any experience with these or other doctrine?
Do you consider any of these heretical?
Where do you draw the line between false prophecy and another witness?
With all the controversy surrounding The Da Vinci Code …Does or could this book shake your faith?
One question many people want to know is just how much of the The Da Vinci Code is fact? You can ask that of any book including the Bible. The real question is how bad do you want to know? Does it stimulate study, conversation, research and prayer? If it does, in the end you’ve traveled a journey that has tested and broadened your faith and developed your relationship with God.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
This Book is about many facts put together to make a fictional story, but it is still fiction. That is not to say we can’t learn about or evaluate our own relationship with Jesus from this book.
For those who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, I’ll give a very basic summary of the book. This is a hunt for the Holy Grail which is protected by a secret society, Priory of Sion. The details reveal through riddled clues and symbolism that the true Holy Grail is not a cup, but a person, Mary Magdalene. The book goes on to explain that Jesus and Mary were married and had a child. The church voted on Jesus’ divinity and the books in the Bible that enhanced that divinity. In an effort to down play his humanity, all those writings with more human references were destroyed by the church. This was all done by the church to create a patriarchal Christianity as oppose to the matriarchal paganism of the times. Since then a small order of the church, Opus Dei, was charged with obliterating any proof of the royal blood line. In the end we find the Holy Grail has been preserved and what we do with that information is up to us.
Because there is no mention of “the Holy Grail” in the Bible, what have you always been taught the Holy Grail is?
Read the following scripture describing Jesus’ humanity and divinity.
Hebrews 2:14-18
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[f]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Luke 18:18-20
18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother."
John 14:8-14
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
The big question this book asks us of our faith: Was Jesus human or divine or both? What do you think?
Read the following where Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Bible.
Luke 8:1-3
1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Mathew 27:55-56
55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Mark 16:9
9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
What other knowledge of Mary Magdalene do you have?
In your opinion what was Jesus’ relationship with Mary?
Could a relationship like the one The Da Vinci Code describes have been possible?
Does any of this discussion change your view of Jesus and does that have any impact on your faith?
Another issue The Da Vinci Code raises has to do with the construction of our Bible. Is it comprehensive or was there anything left out? With different denominations of Christianity comes some different doctrine. Some examples of different doctrine are The Book of Mormon, the Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels of Thomas and Judas.
Have you had any experience with these or other doctrine?
Do you consider any of these heretical?
Where do you draw the line between false prophecy and another witness?
With all the controversy surrounding The Da Vinci Code …Does or could this book shake your faith?
One question many people want to know is just how much of the The Da Vinci Code is fact? You can ask that of any book including the Bible. The real question is how bad do you want to know? Does it stimulate study, conversation, research and prayer? If it does, in the end you’ve traveled a journey that has tested and broadened your faith and developed your relationship with God.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
posted by Jen Austin at 9:42 AM
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