WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?

THE DaVINCI CODE 3

How Do We Know Jesus is God?

By Rev. Jerry Schmoyer © 2006 Jerry@Schmoyer.Net

In 1957, Lieutenant David Steeves walked out of the California Sierras 54 days after his Air Force trainer jet had disappeared. He related an unbelievable tale of how he had lived in a snowy wilderness after parachuting from his disabled plane. By the time he showed up alive, he had already been declared officially dead. When further search failed to turn up the wreckage, a hoax was suspected and Steeves was forced to resign under a cloud of doubt. His story was confirmed, however, more than 20 years later when a troop of Boy Scouts discovered the wreckage of his plane.

Another “survival story” from centuries ago is still controversial. A man by the name of Jesus Christ walked out of the wilderness making claims a lot of people found difficult to believe. He was later executed and pronounced dead. But 3 days later, He showed up alive. And there have been skeptics ever since. But consider the facts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. His integrity is well-founded.

We’ve been looking at The DaVinci Code. We’ve seen its ideas on the existence of God and the inspiration of the Bible. Now let’s look at what it teaches about Jesus Himself. Does it believe His claims of deity or not? Clearly the characters in the book do not believe Jesus was God!

ATTACKS ON JESUS’ DEITY

IS CHRISTIANITY TAKEN FROM PAGAN RELIGIONS?

Brown writes: “The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Jesus. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual – the miter, the altar, the doxology, and communion, the act of “God-eating” – were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.”

The truth is that many pagan symbols became part of early Christianity. When a culture was ‘Christianized’ it kept its own symbols but changed their meaning to stand for Jesus and Christianity. The truth they represented had been well established long before the symbols were adopted. Besides, this didn’t take place until 200 or 300 years after the church had become established. The teachings behind the symbols weren’t adopted, just the symbols.

Dan Brown claims that Christianity borrowed heavily from Mithraism. “The pre-Christian God Mithras – called the Son of God and the Light of the World – was born on December 25, died, and was buried in a rock tomb, and then resurrected in three days.”

Not surprisingly, scholars of Mithraism know nothing of any of this. There is no record in any of their works the he was ever called the Son of God or the Light of the World. While it is true he was said to be born on December 25, the New Testament does not say Jesus was born December 25. The church in the third and fourth century took this date as the date of Jesus’ birth to oppose the birth of Mithras and to give the people an alternative to celebrate on that day.

There is no death of Mithras mentioned in its literature until 400 years after Jesus when a few stories started appearing – clearly taken from Christianity (and not the other way around).

IS FAITH BASED ON FABRICATION?

What difference does it make if Christianity is taken from pagan religions? Does it really matter what one believes as long as one believes something? It’s not ‘belief’ that matters but the content of that faith. Believing a chair will hold your weight or medicine will heal you does nothing if the chair isn’t solid or the medicine correct. Faith is only as good as its content.

In chapter 83 (page 341) Brown’s hero remarks that “every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith – acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove.”

How would you answer that? Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith is build on facts, evidence and proofs – not the kind you can put under a microscope and force someone to accept as true, but historical facts with proof to support them.

Is Christianity taken from pagan religions? Absolutely not! The DaVinci Code makes many statements which, while under the guise of ‘fiction,’ clearly mislead and place doubts in the minds of those who read it.

WHO WAS MARY MAGDALENE?

The very title of the book itself is part of its fiction that comes across as truth. While Leonardo da Vinci does not have a prominent place in the story, his picture of the Last Supper does. Leonardo painted it on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy, between 1495 and 1498. It portrays Jesus and the disciples partaking of Jesus’ last supper and focuses on the time when Jesus told them one of them would betray Him.

The painting groups the disciples into four clusters of three disciples each. Immediately to Jesus’ right are John, Peter and Judas. The triangular structure of this grouping is derived from Peter’s leaning forward to ask John a question and John’s leaning back to hear it. In this Leonardo is following the cue of John 13:24: “Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him: Who is it of whom he [Jesus] speaks?” In the Gospel story, John then asks the question of Jesus and is told: “He it is to whom I shall reach bread dipped. And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot” (John 13:26).

And so, Judas is portrayed clutching the money bag in his right hand (see John 13:29), with his left hand hovering over a piece of bread on the table (apparently Leonardo alludes here as well to the words of Jesus in Matthew 26:23: “He that dips his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me” [cf. Mark 14:20]). The above interpretation is the standard one given by credible art historians since the time of Leonardo. The Da Vinci Code, however, offers another, very novel interpretation of this group of figures, one that it shares with, and probably derives from, an earlier book by conspiracy theorists Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, entitled The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ (1997). The Da Vinci Code explicitly praises The Templar Revelation on page 253.

On page 243 of The Da Vinci Code we encounter the following dialogue: Sophie made her way closer to the painting, scanning the thirteen figures—Jesus Christ in the middle, six disciples on His left, and six on His right. “They’re all men,” she confirmed. “Oh?” Teabing said. “How about the one seated in the place of honor, at the right hand of the Lord?” Sophie exmined the figure to Jesus’ immediate right, focusing in. As she studied the person’s face and body, a wave of astonishment rose within her. The individual had flowing red hair, delicate folded hands, and the hint of a bosom. It was, without a doubt…female. “That’s a woman!” Sophie exclaimed. Teabing was laughing. “Surprise, surprise. Believe me, it’s no mistake. Leonardo was skilled at painting the difference between the sexes.”... Sophie moved closer to the image. The woman to Jesus’ right was young and pious-looking, with a demure face, beautiful red hair, and hands folded quietly…. “Who is she?” Sophie asked. “That, my dear,” Teabing replied, “is Mary Magdalene.” (p. 243)

According to The Da Vinci Code, Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus, and their offspring included the Merovingian kings of France. Hence Mary Magdalene, and not the last-supper cup, was the HOLY GRAIL, in that her womb served as the chalice from which the royal blood of Jesus flowed forth in a royal posterity.

A mysterious society called the Priory of Sion (Leonardo was supposedly served as one-time Grand Master [p. 204]) was dedicated to protecting “the true history of Jesus,” which the Roman Catholic Church throughout its long history had energetically tried to suppress. This ancient antagonism between Rome and the Priory of Sion, The Da Vinci Code asserts, is also symbolically represented in The Last Supper. By the way, they have requested that those making the movie add a disclaimer saying that their group is portrayed in a fictitious way so viewers don’t think they really are as portrayed.

On page 248 Teabing says, “Jesus was the original feminist. He intended for the future of is Church to be in the Hands of Mary Magdalene.” “And Peter had a problem with that,” Langdon said, pointing to The Last Supper. “That’s Peter there. You can see that Da Vinci was well aware of how Peter felt about Mary Magdalene.” Again, Sophie was speechless. In the painting, Peter was leaning menacingly toward Mary Magdalene and slicing his blade-like hand across her neck. The same threatening gesture as in the Madonna on the Rocks! “And here too,” Langdon said, pointing now to the crowd of disciples near Peter. “A bit ominous, no?” Sophie squinted and saw a hand emerging from the crowd of disciples. “Is that hand wielding a dagger?” “Yes. Stranger still, if you count the arms, you’ll see that this hand belongs to … no one at all. It’s disembodied. Anonymous.” (p. 248)

The truth of the matter is that Peter’s right hand holds the knife, and it is a bread knife! Since the painting was cleaned in 1999 this has become clear along with other details. Brown borrowed from novels written before 1999. Peter’s right hand is just pointing to Jesus as he asks John who Jesus is referring to.

The “delicate, folded hands” of John are no different and no less masculine than other hands at the table. Likewise, the “hint of a bosom” is totally missing on one side of John and only vaguely possible under a fold on John’s other side. Again, the 1999 cleaning has cleared up much doubt.

But what about the statements on pages 244-248 that Mary was the wife of Jesus, the mother of His child, and the one whom He intended to establish the church after His death? In support of these theories, Teabing appeals to two of the Gnostic gospels: “The Gospel of Philip” and “The Gospel of Mary” [Magdalene].

First, let’s look at the “Gospel of Mary.” Nowhere in this gospel are we told that Mary was Jesus’ wife or the mother of His child. This is a Gnostic gospel slanted to support their beliefs and was written over a hundred years after the other gospels.

If we want reliable information about Mary, we must turn to our earliest sources -- the New Testament gospels. These sources tell us that Mary was a follower of Jesus from the town of Magdala. After Jesus cast seven demons out of her, she (along with other women) helped support His ministry (Luke 8:1-3). She was a witness to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and the first to see the risen Christ (Matt. 27:55-61; John 20:11-18). Jesus even entrusted her with proclaiming His resurrection to His male disciples (John 20:17-18). In this sense, Mary was an "apostle" to the Apostles. This is all the gospels tell us about Mary. She was clearly an important woman. But there's nothing to suggest that she was Jesus' wife, or that Jesus intended her to lead the church.

The “Gospel of Philip” likewise is a Gnostic gospel, part of the Nag Hammadi tests considered earlier (see page 11). These were written 200 years after Jesus and again are slanted and heretical. Still, they only say Mary was a ‘companion’ of Jesus. This is not the word for wife but for a partner. It is claimed that this gospel states that Jesus kissed her on the mouth, but the text is damaged and it could as easily say He kissed her on the cheek or forehead. That proves nothing.

WAS JESUS MARRIED?

The characters in The DaVinci Code state that Jewish men had to be married and that it was virtually unknown for Jewish man not to marry. Thus, they say, Jesus must have been married. The truth is that it was very common for Jewish rabbi’s who traveled to not marry. John the Baptizer never married and that was not held against him, either.

Why the desire to have Jesus married? It is another way of striping Him of His specialness and His deity and making Him just the same as us. It would also imply that the gospels hid information and are less than trustworthy.

DID JESUS’ EARLIEST FOLLOWERS PROCLAIM HIS DEITY?

Let’s continue separating truth from fiction in this novel. On page 233 it is stated: “At [the Council of Nicaea]….many aspects of Christianity were debated and voted upon … the divinity of Jesus….until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal.”

The truth is that the Council of Nicaea debated heretical teachings about Jesus in order to affirm that He was truly both God and man. They didn’t start the teaching that He was God but officially affirmed it against those like Arius who were trying to put a different slant on Jesus. It’s clear that Christians believed in the deity of Jesus prior to the Council of Nicaea. It’s also clear that most of these theories mentioned in The DaVinci Code are false.

ATTESTING TO JESUS’ DEITY

Did a man named Jesus really live in Palestine 2,000 years ago? Certainly, there is no doubt or question about that. No secular historian disbelieves that, for it is a proven fact of history. Many historians of Jesus' day wrote about Him. What is of much debate, however, is if He was God or not. Was He just a man like everyone else, or was He really and truly God? Did He just say He was? Or did His followers later write in such a way to make Him seem to be God when He had no such claims? The implications of these answers are great. How can we as Christians be sure? Let’s look at some proofs of His deity from within and without the Bible.

JESUS CLAIMED TO BE GOD

First, there is no doubt that Jesus claimed to be God. The whole tenor of His life points to that. He verbally claimed to be God many, many times (John 8:58; 10:30; 17:5; etc.). He accepted worship as if He were God. He claimed to be able to forgive sin (Mark 2:5).

Claimed Equality With God Matt. 28:19; John 5:17-18; 12:45; 13:20; 14:1, 9

Claimed Oneness With God Matt 4:7; Luke 4:12; 8:39; John 10:30, 36-38; 17:11, 21-22; 20:28

Claimed To Be Sent By God John 4:34; 5:37; 7:16, 28-29; 8:16; 9:4; 11:42; 14:24; 16:28; 17:18, 23

Claimed To Be The Son of God Matt 16:17; 22:42-45; Mark 12:35-37; 14:61-62; Luke 20:41; John 9:35-37; 22:69-70

Claimed To Be From Heaven John 6:33, 35, 51

Claimed Attributes of God John 8:42; 16:15

Omniscience Matt 11:21-22; Luke 10:13

Omnipresence Matt 18:20; 28:20

Omnipotence Mark 14:61-63; Luke 22:69-70; John 2:19, 10:18; 11:25-27

Forgive sin Mark 2:5,9,10; Luke 5:20-21; 7:48-49

Divine Authority Matt 7:21-23; 28:18

Honor John 5:22-23

Pre-Existence John 8:58; 17:5

Now, what are we to make of someone who claims to be God? What would you say if your neighbor started claiming to be God? There are three options or possibilities about such a person. He is crazy, a lunatic, for he truly thinks he is God but is wrong. He knows he isn't God but tries to convince everyone he is anyway, thus he is a liar. Or he really is God and Lord of all! Lord, lunatic or liar are our options. Just a good man, a fine teacher, a moral example -- these are not options for one who claims to be God! If He is a lunatic or liar He doesn't qualify as a good, fine person. If He is Lord He is overqualified and far more than just a good, fine person. Thus He is either God to be worshipped and obeyed or an impostor to be forgotten and ignored.

JESUS QUALIFIED TO BE GOD

To prove He is Lord we turn to the Bible, not to passages about miracles and claims that could possibly have been made up by writers after His death, but to Old Testament Prophecies whose fulfillment could not have been faked. Listed below are 61 Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah with their fulfillment in the New Testament also recorded:

1. Born of the seed of woman: Gen 3:15; Gal 4:4, Matt. 1:20

2. Born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1;18,24,25; Lk 1:26-35

3. Son of God: Ps 2:7 (I Chron 17:11-14; II Sam 7:12-16), Mt 3:17; 16:16 (Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35)

4. Seed of Abraham Genesis 22:18 (12:2-3); Matthew 1:1; Gal 3:16

5. Son of Isaac: Genesis 21:12; Lk 3:23,34 (Mt 1:2)

6. Son of Jacob: (Num. 24:17 (Gen 35:10-12); Lk 3:23,34 (Mt 1:2; Lk 1:33)

7. Tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10; Lk 3:23,33 (Mt 1:2; Heb 7:14)

8. Family line of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1, 10; Luke 3:23,32 (Mt 1:6)

9. House of David: Jeremiah 23:5 (II Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11); Lk 3:23,31 (Mt 1:1; 9:27)

10. Born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1 (Jn 7:42, Mt 2:4-8; Lk 2:4-7)

11. Presented with gifts: Psalm 72:10 (Isaiah 60:6); Matthew 2:1,11

12. Herod kills children: Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16

13. His pre-existence: Micah 5:2 (Isa 9:6-7; Ps 102:25); Col 1:17 (Jn 1:1-2; 8:58; Rev 1:17)

14. He shall be called Lord: Psalm 110:1 (Jere 23:6); Luke 2:11; 20:41-44

15. Shall be Immanuel (God With Us): Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 7:16

16. Shall be a prophet: Deut 18:18; Matthew 21:11 (Luke 7:16; Jn 4:19; 6:14; 7:40)

17. He shall be a priest: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1; 5:5-6

18. He shall be a judge: Isaiah 33:22; John 5:30; II Timothy 4:1

19. He shall be a king: Psalm 2:6 (Zech. 9:9; Jer 23:5); Matthew 27:37; 21:5 (John 18:33-38)

20. Special anointing of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17; 12:17-21 (Mk 1:10-11)

21. His zeal for God: Psalm 69:9; John 2:15-17

22. Preceded by messenger: Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-2; 3:3; 11:10

23. Ministry to begin in Galilee: Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12,13,17

24. Ministry of miracles: Isaiah 35:5, 6a; 32:3,4; Matthew 9:32,33,35; 11:4-6 (John 5:5-9)

25. Teacher of parables: Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34

26. He was to enter the temple: Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12

27. He was to enter Jerusalem on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35,36,37a (Mt 21:6-11)

28. "Stone of Stumbling" to the Jews: Psalm 118:22 (Isa 8:14; 28:16); I Peter 2:7 (Rom 9:32-33

29. "Light" to Gentiles: Isaiah 60:3; 49:6; Acts 13:47,48a; 26:23; 28:28

30. Betrayed by a friend: Psalm 41:9; 55:12-14; Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; Jn 13:21

31. Sold for 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15; 27:3

32. Money to be thrown in God's house: Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:5a

33. Price given for potter's field: Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:7

34. Forsaken by His disciples: Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50 (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27)

35. Accused by false witnesses: Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-61

36 Dumb before accusers: Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-19

37. Wounded and bruised: Isaiah 53:5 (Zech 13:6); Matthew 27:26

38. Smitten and spit upon: Isaiah 50:6 (Micah 5:1); Matthew 26:67 (Luke 22:63)

39. Mocked: Psalm 22: 7,8; Matthew 27:31

40. Fell under the cross: Psalm 109:24-25; John 19:17; Luke 23:26; Mt 27:31-32

41. Hands and feet pierced: Psalm 22:16 (Zech 12:10); Luke 23:33 (John 20:25)

42. Crucified with thieves: Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38 (Mk 15:27,28)

43. Made intercession for His persecutors: Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34

44. Rejected by His own people: Isaiah 53:3 (Ps 69:8; 118:22); John 7:5,48; 1:11 (Mt 21:42,43)

45. Hated without a cause: Psalm 69:4 (Isa 49:7); John 15:25

46. Friends stood afar off: Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49 (Mk 15:40; Mt 27:55-56)

47. People shook their heads: Psalm 109:25; 22:7; Matthew 27:39

48. Stared upon: Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35

49. Garments parted and lots cast: Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24

50. To suffer thirst: Psalm 69:21; 22:15; John 19:28

51. Gall and vinegar offered Him: Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34

52. His forsaken cry: Psalm 22:1; Matthew 26:46

53. Committed Himself to God: Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46

54. Bones not broken: Psalm 34:20; John 19:33

55. Heart broken: Psalm 22:14; John 19:34

56. His side pierced: Zech 12:10; John 19:34

57. Darkness over the land: Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45

58. Buried in rich man's tomb: Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60

59. Resurrection: Psalm 16:10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17 (Hosea 6:2); Acts 2:31(Lk 24:46; Mk 16:16)

60. Ascension: Psalm 68:18a; Acts 1:9

61. Seated at right hand of God: Psalm 110:1; Heb. 1:3 (Mk 16:19; Acts 2:34,35)

No one else in history ever came near to fulfilling these, and no one ever can since the birth records and tribal records of all Jews were destroyed in Jerusalem in 70 AD. The fulfillment of these proves the authenticity of the Bible as God's Word as well as the fact that Jesus is God.

The probability of just 1 through 8 coming true would be 1 in 10 with 16 0's. (If each chance is a silver dollar and they were laid down side-by-side on state of Texas they would cover whole state 2' deep! One is marked, all others not. Blindfold a man and let him walk anywhere, chances he'd pick right one same as first 8 prophecies just happening!

THE RESURRECTION

In actuality the proof of the deity of Jesus raises and falls on truth of His resurrection. He said He would come back to life, and then claimed to have done so. His followers clearly claimed the same thing for them. Were they right? First, it stands to reason to assume that something like resurrection from dead to an eternal body isn't something a person would just make up! It would be too unbelievable, too improvable, too far out for someone to have just made it up.

If Jesus didn't come back to life, what else could have happened to his body? Some say the disciples stole His body, but how would they gain courage to preach that they didn't have before? Why would they give up their lives for something they knew was a lie? So, others say, enemies stole the body. Then they would have said so and showed it to disprove the resurrection when that was first claimed. Neither theory explains the eye-witness accounts of over 500 people who saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion. More common is the swoon theory, that Jesus never really died but swooned then came 'to' later. But he was pronounced dead by experienced Roman executioners after having a spear run through His heart. He spent 3 days wrapped totally in cloth and covered with 100 pounds of spices, with no food or water. He would have had to come to, get out of the wrappings while leaving them there in the shape of a cocoon as if He were still in them, with hands pierced by nails move the monstrous rock from inside with no handholds, overpower the Roman soldiers, walk many miles on feet pierced by nails, and then prove to those He met that He had a superior, eternal body! That takes more faith than believing in the resurrection!

There is additional proof of the resurrection. Jesus appeared 10 times to over 500 people. If there was no resurrection how do we explain the change in the disciples, the spread of the early church, the conversion of Paul, the start of the Lord's Supper and baptism, the switch of the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday and the impact His life has had even to today. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The name of Jesus is not so much written as plowed into the history of the world." A liar or lunatic can't do that!

JESUS ACTED LIKE GOD

One more line of reasoning is to ask yourself, "If God became man, what would we expect of Him?" Jesus fulfilled all we'd ask!

1. Have an unusual entrance into life. The virgin birth is the most unusual entrance ever. It, too, is not something someone would choose were they making the whole thing up. How would the idea of a virgin birth ever be considered if it weren't true?

2. Be without sin. Jesus claimed to be sinless (John 8:46) as do those who lived with Him 24 hours a day (Peter, John and Matthew). So do brothers who grew up in His family, seeing His whole life up close (James and Jude). Even enemies witnessed to His sinlessness (The thief on the cross, Pilate and the Centurion at the crucifixion).

3. Manifest the supernatural in the form of miracles. Jesus claimed to do miracles, and they were attested t by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Jude and James.

4. Have an acute sense of difference from others. Jesus saw Himself as different, unique, and others saw Him that way, too. Even Jewish and Roman historians saw Him as not the same as other men, as does the Koran and many scholars today.

5. Speak the greatest words ever spoken. Jesus said His words would never pass away and they haven't! Others said that no one spoke as He did, and that is still true. Jesus is the person most quoted by religious and secular historians, teachers and philosophers.

6. Have a lasting and universal influence. Historians agree that Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.

7. Satisfy the spiritual hunger in man. Jesus met the inner needs in Matthew, Peter, Nicodemus, Zachaeus, the woman at the well, and countless others then and through the ages up to today. Truly Jesus satisfies!

8. Exercise power over death. Jesus claimed to have power over death and proved it by His own resurrection. He brought the dead back to life: widow of Nain's son, Centurion's servant, Lazarus and Dorcas (through Peter). (For more information along these lines see "Evidence That Demands A Verdict," by Josh McDowell.)

Was Jesus God? You'll have to decide for yourself. However if He wasn't then no one will ever be. If Jesus were not God, then He deserved an Oscar!