One of the most powerful tradition-breaking knowledge of God is, of course, found in The Gospel of Mary which we will now review in a careful summation combining the three translated versions for the clearest meaning (King13-18). The first six pages are missing as mentioned previously, so we begin in the middle of the Resurrected Christ teaching the Apostles which includes Mary. Following the Gospel of Mary are excepts from other ancient gospel writings for further confirmation. Jesus teaches in the Bible and in these ancient scriptures his attitude regarding the sanctity of marriage which he also came to fulfill as an example to the world, very timely in this day of the same-sex marriage debate.
“Will matter then be utterly destroyed or not?” The Savior replied, “All of nature, all formations, and all creatures exist in and with one another. They will dissolve into their own proper root. For the nature of the matter is dissolved into the roots of its nature alone. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Then Peter said to Him, “You have been explaining every topic to us; tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?”
The Savior replied, “There is no such thing as sin, rather it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called ‘sin’. That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature, in order to restore it to its root.”
Then He continued and said, “That is why you become sick and die, because you love what deceives you. Anyone who thinks let him understand. Matter gave birth to a passion that has no Image because it derives from what is contrary to nature. Then there occurs a disturbing confusion in the whole body. That is why I said to you, ‘Become content of heart’, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
When the Blessed One had said this, He greeted them all, saying, “Peace be with you. Acquire my peace within yourselves. Beware that no one lead you astray, saying, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo there!’ for the Son of Man is within you. Follow after Him! [For the child of true Humanity exists within you. Follow it!] Those who seek Him will find Him. [Those who search for it will find it] Go then and preach the gospel [good news] of the Kingdom [Realm]. Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed for you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained [dominated] by it.”
This specific warning by Jesus was later completely ignored by Peter, an Apostle with obvious character flaws. Peter also shows that he did not comprehend the Lord’s spiritual teachings. The spiritual teachings of the Savior are not traditionally found in organized religions that control the people with multiple rules and laws and require obedience and funding.
The path to follow Christ is a personal inward journey with no middleman needed that involves a pure heart, honest inward reflection, and seeking after truth in all faith to find God. “Blessed are the Pure in Heart, for they shall see God” is a true statement of what is obtainable by those with a pure heart. Religion can be good if correct principles are taught based on ALL the teachings of Christ without the man-made regulations requiring allegiance to the church instead of to God. And IF we focus on what is needed for personal spiritual growth. Religion is not a replacement of our individual responsibility of this inward journey.
When He said this, He departed. But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, “How shall we go to the gentiles and preach the gospel of the kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?”
Then Mary [= Mary Magdalene] stood up. She greeted them all, addressing her brothers and sisters, “Do not weep and be distressed nor let your hearts be irresolute. For His grace will be with you all and will protect you. But rather let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared [united] us and made us into true Human beings.” When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the [Savior].
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, the things which you know that we don’t because we haven’t heard them.”
Mary responded, “What is hidden from you I will teach you.” And she began to speak these words to them. She said, “Once, when I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw you today in a vision.’ He answered and said to me, ‘How wonderful you are for not wavering at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure.’ I said to him, ‘Lord, does a person who sees a vision see it with the soul or with the spirit?’ The Savior answered and said, ‘A person does not see through the soul nor through the spirit, but with the mind which exists between the two - that is what sees the vision and it is [Š].’
(The mid-section of the original text is missing) “[Š] it. And Desire said, ‘I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie, since you belong to me?’ The soul answered and said, ‘I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment, and you did not know me.’ When it had said this, it went away rejoicing greatly. “Again it came to the third Power, which is called Ignorance. It (the Power) questioned the soul saying, ‘Where are you going? In wickedness are you bound. But you are bound; do not judge!’ And the soul said, ‘Why do you judge me although I have not judged? I was bound though I have not bound. I was not recognized. But I have recognized that the All is being dissolved, both the earthly (things) and the heavenly’. When the soul had overcome the third power, it went upwards and saw the fourth power, (which) took seven forms. The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven [powers] of wrath. They ask the soul, “Whence do you come, slayer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?” The soul answered and said, “What binds me has been slain, and what surrounds me has been overcome, and my desire has been ended and ignorance has died. In a [world] I was released from a world, [and] in a type from a heavenly type, and (from) the fetter of oblivion which is transient. From this time on will I attain to the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.”
When Mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to this point that the Savior had spoken with her. But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, “Say what you (wish to) say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas.”
Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: “Did He really speak with a woman without our knowledge (and) not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?”
(Again we see that Peter’s jealousy that Jesus would teach a woman over men and also keep it hidden from them. It is beyond common sense that any great organization of God could be based upon someone of Peter’s caliber or that what he taught was pure. He might have repented for denying the Savior thrice, but it is not apparent that he ever repented of his sins against women.)
Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?”
Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hot - tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect man and acquire him for ourselves as He commanded us, and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.” When [Š] and they began to go forth [to] proclaim and to preach.(King 13-18)
Here we see that Levi confirms the negative aspects of Peter and that the Savior had made Mary worthy to be an Apostle because she deserved it and told her to be a spokeswoman of the Good News; the Gospel. The Savior knew her heart and true character. She alone is unwavering, comforting the Apostles and, essentially, taking over the Savior’s role, her eternal partner, in admonishing the other Apostles to fear no one, but to go forth in faith. Again, Peter is warned about not making any rules other than those the Savior taught. Setting up a physical, controlling Religious organization was not the intent of the Savior who presented the spiritual path and laws necessary to obtain the Kingdom of God.
Excerpts from the Gospel of Phillip and Other Gospels
There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, and her sister, and Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. His sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary. (Isenberg gop.html)
* Another argument between Peter and Mary occurs in’ Pistis Sophia (‘Faith Wisdom’). “Peter complains that Mary is dominating the conversation with Jesus and displacing the rightful priority of Peter and his brother apostles. He urges Jesus to silence her and is quickly rebuked. Later, however, Mary admits to Jesus that she hardly dares speak to him freely because, in her words, ‘Peter makes me hesitate; I am afraid of him, because he hates the female race.’ Jesus replies, that whoever the Spirit inspires is divinely ordained to speak whether man or woman. From the Pistis Sophia 36.71 (Jackie gnostic.asp).
The Lord did everything in a mystery, a baptism and a chrism and a eucharist and a redemption and a bridal chamber. [...] he said, “I came to make the things below like the things above, and the things outside like those inside. I came to unite them in the place.” [...] here through types [...] and images. (Isenberg)
If the woman had not separated from the man, she should not die with the man. His separation became the beginning of death. Because of this, Christ came to repair the separation, which was from the beginning, and again unite the two, and to give life to those who died as a result of the separation, and unite them. But the woman is united to her husband in the bridal chamber. Indeed, those who have united in the bridal chamber will no longer be separated. Thus Eve separated from Adam because it was not in the bridal chamber that she united with him. (Isenberg)
Again, we have seen the exalted value of the marriage of a man and a woman and how it is ordained of God in Heaven and the order in Heaven as it is on this earth. Polygamy and same sex marriage are considered by the Lord abominations (Sodom and Gomorrah) and has never been ordained of God. Interestingly enough, in the Book of Mormon, another ancient scriptural record, we read the Savior’s views regarding polygamy, and how, once again, men called of God disregarded the Savior’s teachings and perpetuated the suppression of women.
But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes.For behold, thus saith the Lord: “This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.” (Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:23 - 24) […] “are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them [...] Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children […]”(B of Mormon | Jacob 3:4 - 7)
These words of God were, sadly, disregarded by the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith and subsequent leaders such as Brigham Young. Polygamy was the sin that (almost) destroyed the Nephite nation! The Lord is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. Polygamy has never been of God. The Lord had previously warned Joseph Smith to repent. He failed to heed these warnings and justified his sins of adultery (similar to the actions of King David) by embellishing, even though initially, in my opinion, he was pure and did translate by divine inspiration the Book of Mormon, (The Original Book of Mormon is not used by ANY church – the present day version has been altered!) a spiritual record of the inhabitants of the Ancient Americas. To think that any man or woman is infallible is to be incredibly naïve.
For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him […] And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.
For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God […]Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall [...] Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men, and have no more gift.
Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people—And to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, (the Lord’s other sheep in the Americas who kept records of God) through the testimony of their fathers. (Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 3:3 - 17)
The Gospel of Mary and other ancient records provides key insight into the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ and His example regarding the worthiness of women to speak and teach in His behalf when moved upon by His Spirit. The Savior made Mary worthy of her position of an Apostle of the Lord because she earned that position. It becomes apparent that out of all the Apostles only Mary understood the spiritual teachings of Jesus. It was she that taught the other Apostles as a leader of the Apostles the spiritual truths and visions from God that they had not been privy to. It was she that comforted the other Apostles who were afraid and exhorted them to not be afraid, but to go forth and preach the Gospel (Good News). Mary did this with the dynamic power of leadership and knowledge of the spiritual truths.
It was Mary Magdalene who had previously been healed of “seven demons” and here in the Gospel of Mary we learn of seven vices that keep us bound in our spiritual progression; darkness (depression, separation from God caused by unbelief?), desire, ignorance, excitement of death (murderous and/or suicidal thoughts, not believing in eternal life, manipulative martyrdom?), kingdom of the flesh (living a physical but not spiritual life?), foolish wisdom of the flesh (intellectual pride?), wrathful wisdom (unforgiving of self and others, judging, blaming?). What if these are the seven “demons” that Mary was healed of by her spiritual progression enabling her to understand the spiritual teachings of her Lord and to receive visions even after his Resurrection?
In another preserved ancient writing, the Gospel of Thomas, Peter is recorded as saying: “Mary should leave us. Females are not worthy of life.” The Savior responded with a parable:
“I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven. (Burstein 107)
In my opinion, this meant that every independent woman who knows that she is equal to a man, who will stand up for truth, and be willing to be taught by God will make it to Heaven. It is incomprehensible that Peter was used as a foundation for the early church organization. It makes far greater sense that when the Savior taught “it is upon this rock” that his (spiritual) church is to be built, he was referring to the rock of revelation which can only be obtained by inward spiritual progression and is NOT predicated upon a church organization. After all, didn’t the Savior teach that the Kingdom of Heaven is within (a pure heart)?
This coincides with the spiritual teaching of the Savior in the Gospel of Mary when he gives this warning: “Beware that no one lead you astray, (no middle man needed between you and God) saying, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo there!’ for the Son of Man is within you. Follow after Him! Those who seek Him will find Him. Go then and preach the gospel of the kingdom. Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed for you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it (King 13-18).”
Was this a clear command to his Apostles to preach the Gospel meaning the Good News of God, teach the spiritual truths, baptize in the name of the Savior, and to remember Him by the partaking of the Sacrament without forming an organized religion of control to lead the people astray? It is known that more wars have been fought in the name of religion than for any other reason.
Elaine Pagels in her writing entitled “God’s Word or Human Words” excerpted from her Book “Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas” we see that the very early Christians were sincerely trying “to seek God” as depicted in the Gnostic Gospels, while being horribly persecuted by the Romans. This spiritual path as Jesus taught which meant living by the Spirit instead of rules and control was heavily discouraged by Christian Leaders such as Irenaeus and later Athanasius. Elaine Pagels writes:
In 367 C.E., Athanasius, the zealous bishop of Alexandria—an admirer of Irenaeus—issued an Easter letter in which he demanded that Egyptian (Christian) monks destroy all such writings, except for those he specifically listed as “acceptable,” even “canonical”—[…]--our present “New Testament.” But someone—perhaps monks at the monastery of St.Pachomius—gathered dozens of the books Athanasius wanted to burn, removed them from the monastery library, sealed them in a heavy, six-foot jar, and intending to hide them, buried them on a nearby hillside near Nag Hammadi. There an Egyptian villager named Muhammad Ali stumbled upon them sixteen hundred years later. (Burstein 137-142)
When Mary Magdalene went to the Jewish authorities to proclaim the true identity of Jesus, it was, in my opinion, to innocently assist the fulfillment of her Husband’s mission. The Jewish authorities excommunicated Jesus from his position of Rabbi and that would have caused an automatic divorce from his wife and family heritage. The Savior established the Law of Adoption at the cross regarding his Mother’s care to be given to his Beloved Disciple.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.(New Testament | John19:25 - 27)
In the Gospel of Thomas the Lord’s uses a parable about women becoming male or in other words equal to men in God’s eyes – What if Mary Magdalene was the Beloved Disciple, purported to have written the 4th gospel anonymously by many scholars, who proved to be a “son” of God and takes Jesus’ mother into her home. There is also the possibility that the word “son” and “his” have been mistranslated. For a more extensive look at this possibility the following information is given for further analysis of this question.
If the Law of Adoption happened on the cross, wouldn't it be to instruct Mary Magdalene in handling the affairs of his mother? All throughout this gospel, from start to finish, this disciple took charge of specific things dealing with the affairs of the Family of Jesus.
What does the Fourth Gospel actually says about this Beloved Disciple. In the Gospel of John there are many passages which refer to the beloved anonymous disciple. Some of these passages are as follows:
1. (4th Gospel 2: 1-12) Here we find the account of the marriage of Cana. Evidence supports this being Jesus’ own marriage to wealthy Mary Magdala of the tribe of Benjamin, a union that literally fulfills the blessing given to the Benjamin tribe "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell safely by Him, who shelters him all the day long; And he (or she – a Benjamite) shall dwell between His shoulders." This fulfillment of prophecy is discussed in further detail in the following page.
Why is there only this one reference to the marriage in Cana? The disciples are there, Mary, Jesus’ mother is the Hostess, who reports the wine situation to her son, Jesus the Bridegroom and subsequently Jesus performs His first miracle. The wine was delivered to the Governor of the feast who then called the bridegroom (Jesus) and said “[…] but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This was the beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples (including his wife, Mary) believed on him.” Other significant events are repeated throughout the other Gospels. Its omission in the other Gospels is another indication that this was Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdala of Bethany, His disciple that was suppressed by men. Mary was suppressed even by the other (jealous) disciples. Mary was given many visions by the Lord as detailed in the Gospel of Mary. Knowing more than the other disciples of future events, Mary knew that this Gospel that she wrote, in order to survive the upcoming historical suppression, had to be anonymously written. Therefore, she refers to herself as a disciple or the Beloved Disciple.
2. (3:28) Here John the Baptist testifies of Jesus and gives additional confirmation of the wedding of the Savior to Mary!
“Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent beforehim. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this, my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”
The truth that Jesus was married to Mary is spelled out so clearly, but we have been blinded by traditional dogma. To be meek and seekers of truth, a person needs to let go of tradition and be willing to be taught by the Spirit of God! 3. (13:23-26) This passage clearly refers to the anonymous disciple as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." The disciple is “leaning on Jesus’ bosom” during the Last Supper (as a loving wife might do and in fulfillment of the blessing given to the Benjamin tribe – "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell safely by Him, who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12 Would a man be “lying on Jesus’ breast”? It would have been considered extremely weird for a man to be snuggled against Jesus especially with the Judaic posture regarding homosexuality! Remember DaVinci’s painting of the Last Supper with Mary sitting next to the Savior? Peter nods to the disciple who is “lying on Jesus’ breast” to get him to ask Jesus for the identity of his betrayer. The disciple asks Jesus and Jesus tells him that his betrayer will be Judas Iscariot.
4. (18:15-16) After the arrest of Jesus, the other disciple (Mary’s family is very wealthy and of Royal Blood) is allowed to enter the courtyard of the high priest with him. Peter, on the other hand, was not allowed in at first. Peter was let in only after the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, spoke to the gatekeeper. The other disciple is not explicitly referred to as the Beloved Disciple. This passage refers to the same disciple whom Jesus loved.
5. (19:25-27) “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” All those standing by the cross are named. Jesus is talking to His mother, Mary and His Beloved Disciple, Mary Magdala of Bethany. Very straight forward and easy to understand. Mary Magdala in writing this account did not name herself as the Beloved Disciple, but she did name ALL those that were there. The men disciples had all fled to avoid persecution the night before from the guards of the Sanhedrin who had arrested Jesus. Remember, this is when Peter denied Christ thrice. Mary IS the Beloved Disciple that Christ spoke to concerning the care of His mother.
6. (20:1-11) Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved run to the Empty Tomb after being told by Mary Magdalene that the body of the Lord was missing. Mary ran back to the tomb with Peter and is, of course, the “other disciple” that outran Peter. She stayed when the other disciples went home and is blessed above all other Apostles to talk with the two angels and then, of course, the Lord.
7. (21:7) In this passage, several of the disciples are out fishing after the Resurrection of Christ. The Beloved Disciple; Mary Magdala of Bethany is on the shore with Jesus and when the boat docks after following the advise they were given by the then unknown Jesus, Mary brings out the identity of Jesus. And she says to Peter, "It is the Lord." Peter being ashamed of his past actions and knowing that his sins are naked before the Lord casts himself into the sea. It was NOT his physical nakedness that he was ashamed of but his knowledge of his sins for denying Christ three times, treating Mary, who was loved by Jesus more than anyone else, horribly because of his jealousy and hot temper, and fearing man more than God these are some of Peter's sins that made him so ashamed that he "cast himself into the sea." This was the third time the Savior showed himself to His apostles after His Resurrection and again honoring his Beloved Disciple, Mary, above the others.
8. (21:20-24) The Beloved Disciple's death is addressed in a conversation between Peter and the Risen Christ. The passage also asserts that the Gospel was written by the Beloved Disciple and based on eyewitness testimony.
Mary was the Lord’s wife and lead Apostle which is why she was the one to witness the Risen Christ. He admonished her to “touch me not” or in other translations “do not continue to hold me” recognizing the divorce by the earthly authorities and also His focus on His spiritual mission. She was the one to proclaim the truth of the Resurrection of the Saviors to the other Apostles.
It is also my belief that during this new Millennium, the internet is playing a historic, divine role, similar to the impact of the printing press of the 1500s which brought us out of the dark ages into the light with a greater state of equality with the distribution of knowledge. Now we are ascending into a level of greater light and equality with the uncontrolled and much needed truth available for the masses exposing secret organizations, controlled media, and corruption and revealing suppressed and never before known truths. The ordaining of true equality for women especially in religion will be the catalyst to determine the height of our spiritual evolvement following the spirit-of-the-law teachings of Christ to ascend out of the archaic tradition of the controlling religions which, unfortunately, followed the path of the letter-of-the-law approach.
We are now in a transition time for the vessel to be cleansed of corruption before the living waters of truth will bring in the prophesied millennial reign of Peace. Every individual has been given a charge by God to seek after truth and to stand up against corruption. Jesus gave us this example of action when he kicked the moneychangers out of the temple (House of God). So it is people inspired by God that are fighting this spiritual Armageddon. How quickly tradition is replaced with truth will depend on the women and men of America as leaders standing up for religious equality for true spiritual evolvement and as an example to the world.
[1] Isaiah 11: 9, Habbakkk 2:14; Bible, King James Version; 2 Nephi 21:9, 2 Nephi 30:15; Book of Mormon
Burstein, Dan, ed., et al.Secrets of the Code, The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind the DaVinci Code.New York: CDS 2004.
Ford, Marcia. Knowing More, the Mystery of Mary Magdalene. Nov. 26, 2004 <http://www.explorefaith.org/ford/mary.html>
Green, Vivian.A New History of Christianity. New York: Continuum. 1996.
Isenberg, Wesley W., trans. The Gospel of Phillip. The Gnostic Society Library. James M. Robinson, ed., The Nag Hammadi Library. Revised edition. Harper Collins, San Francisco, 1990. Nov 10, 2004. <http://www.gnosis.org/haghamm/gop.html>
