Gospel Truth

John 18:20 "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. NIV

 

I was sitting in as a guest on a radio program this morning and people were calling in about the Da Vinci Code. They wanted to discuss the possibility of Jesus being married. Some callers had taken what Dan Brown writes in his book as gospel, and so they were inclined to believe that Jesus was in fact the husband of Mary Magdalene.

 

But if Jesus kept this hidden, then He lied to the Sanhedrin officials, and that lie, even if it was the only one He ever told, would have disqualified Him from being perfect. And without that perfection, His sacrifice for our sins would not be complete. And if that sacrifice was not perfect or complete, then we would have no hope of being forgiven, nor could any promise of eternal life ever be fulfilled.

 

You see, this is the danger of being thrilled and fascinated with popular novels and smash hits at the box office. If we lend credibility to what they portray, then we, albeit unwittingly, unravel our faith, deny the Gospels, and reject Christ’s claims. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, “Either Jesus is all He claimed to be, or He is the greatest lunatic and most diabolical liar in the universe.”

 

These are troubled times for the Church, and yet they are also full of great opportunities. If we take time to read the Gospels, learn Christian history, and study our centuries old theology, then we will be able to answer the questions this book raises. And in the end, a well-educated church will be stronger and more able to influence society for the better.

 

Prayer:     Lord Jesus, give us a thirst to learn all that we can about You and the New Testament Church. Help us to strengthen our faith, by devoting more time to the scriptures, Christian history, and theology. Grant us the enthusiasm to share our faith with others at deeper levels. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.