The Big Question 6: Was Jesus Married?

• Christian Evidences
• Dr Eliezer Gonzalez
• Jesus

Apr 23, 2018 3317

Radio Version:

Was Jesus married?

In Dan Brown’s 2003 novel “The Da Vinci Code” he claimed that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had children. It’s a novel, but many people believe it is true. But it’s actually not a new idea. It pops up every now and then, and it’s an important question.

You see, if Jesus was actually married and had children, it undermines the truth of everything meaningful Christianity has to say. It means that what the Bible tells us about Jesus is false, including raising the issue of whether Jesus actually died in the way the Bible says. And if that’s the case, then how could you believe that he died to save the world from sin? It leads to you see Christianity as a giant hoax. 

So, what’s the truth? Did Jesus marry Mary Magdalene, and have children with her, who later went to France?

There is absolutely not one bit of historical evidence. There are thousands of ancient texts about Jesus, yet not one of them mentions Jesus as being married. Nor is there any archaeological evidence that supports that idea.

So, where does the idea come from?

From time to time, there’s an announcement of a new ancient manuscript, or “lost gospel” that has been discovered. And, supposedly, if you read between the lines, you have some kind of evidence that Jesus was married.

But have you noticed that the academics and historians ignore these supposed discoveries?

Why? Firstly because there’s no actual evidence in them that supports the idea of Jesus being married and having kids. Secondly, they were written hundreds of years after the actual life of Jesus Christ.

Why would you go hunting for “dirt” on Jesus in documents from many generations after his lifetime, when you have the eye-witness reports easily available? And they say nothing about Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene or having children.

The key issue is this: Was Jesus of Nazareth just a man – or someone far greater?

The people who actually knew him had no doubts. John, one of Jesus’ first followers, wrote:

We are eye-witnesses… the very life of all ages, the life that has always existed… actually became visible in person to us mortal men.

That’s eye-witness evidence. It’s evidence that, although fully human, the life of Jesus of Nazareth rose far above the lives of everyday people in terms of who he was, and what he did. He didn’t have time to get married and have children. Because he came to save the world.