The Da Vinci Code: Is There Something About Mary Series

The DaVinci Code – Fact or Fiction

Is There Something about Mary- Mt. 7:24-27

Intro: Much as I anticipated, despite the poor reviews, the DVC has been a smash hit at the box office taking in 85 million in the U.S. and over 224 million worldwide in the first weekend – meaning that millions of people have entered into the conversation regarding the truth of Jesus Christ. The question is – are we ready to talk openly and w/ authority about the fiction of the Code and the fact of our faith.

Note: If there has ever been a time to draw a line in the sand about your beliefs this would be it. We need to know what we believe and why and be prepared to defend it.

Quote: America is a Jesus–haunted culture, but at the same time, it is a biblically illiterate culture… When you have that combination, almost anything can pass for the historical Jesus. Ben Witherington.

Trans: That’s a scary thought. We’re so saturated w/ ideas and philosophies concerning Jesus we don’t know which one is correct. Do I choose the Mormon Jesus, JW Jesus, Catholic Jesus, or Protestant Jesus? That’s why 1 Pt. 3:15 is so important.

Verse: But dedicate (set apart) your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense w/ gentleness and respect. 1 Pt. 3:15 Get the right Jesus and commit to Him alone.

Note: The word dedicate (sanctify) is a worship term meaning to make a once-and-for-all sacrifice of surrender. Once this decision is made, then we’re to prepare ourselves to talk w/ others about the truth of God.

Trans: Over the past few weeks we’ve been decoding the fiction of the DVC. Some might not understand why we’ve engaged in this series. It’s simple – we need to know why we believe what we say we believe. We need to know the facts of our faith. But also b/c too many Christians take their faith for granted and as a result they’re not only afraid of sharing the truth, but they tend to question the validity of their faith whenever life gets tough. But when you know w/ certainty that Jesus is God in the flesh, who died for your sins, and that the Bible is reliable and authoritative for life – it is a powerful commodity for living out your faith in a real world.

Trans: This AM I want to look at (1) final claim from the DVC that concerns Mary Magdalene. As you know if you’ve read the book, Mary is central to Brown’s conspiracy theory. According to the DVC, the Holy Grail wasn’t the cup at the Last Supper that Jesus passed around or the cup used to catch Jesus’ blood at the Cross as legend proclaims. Instead, the Grail was a person, but not just any person, but, “A woman who carried w/ her a secret so powerful, that if revealed, it threatened to devastate the very foundation of Christianity! (239) Right?

Note: Brown contends Mary Magdalene had a secret that if allowed to get out would be the downfall of Christianity? I wonder what could it be? He says Mary was married to Jesus and they had a daughter together. Huh! I think Christianity is doomed! The Holy Grail wasn’t an actual cup that held the blood of Christ, but was Mary who held the blood of Christ in the form of a baby in her womb. How scandalous! ENTER – THE LAST SUPPER

Insert: To support his claim, Brown suggests that the person sitting to Jesus’ right isn’t John as we’ve been led to believe and who almost every Art historian believes, but Mary Magdalene. He points out that there is a hidden “M” and “V” signifying that Mary was married to Jesus and that she was to be the head of the Christian movement.

Brown: …if you view Jesus and Magdalene as compositional elements rather than as people, you will see another obvious shape leap out at you.’ Sophie saw it at once. To say the letter leapt out at her was an understatement. The letter was suddenly all Sophie could see. Glaring in the center of the painting was the unquestionable outline of an enormous, flawlessly formed letter "M". ’A bit too perfect for coincidence, wouldn’t you say?’ Teabing asked. Sophie was amazed. ’Why is it there?’ Teabing shrugged. ’Conspiracy theorists will tell you it stands for Matrimonio or Mary Magdalene. To be honest, nobody is certain. The only certainty is that the hidden M is no mistake.’

Insert: The implication is that Leonardo DaVinci knew of the secret marriage and clearly revealed it in his painting of "The Last Supper". Personally, I feel like I’m watching Sesame Street or Wheel of Fortune – “Pat, I think I’ll take a ‘V’”.