Mary Magdalene may have been married to Jesus and if so, most likely had children with him. After all, he was a normal man like any other — not God Almighty. If the prophecy in Isaiah 53 were about Jesus then he “saw his seed”, that is his offspring and his days were prolonged. After his so-called resurrection, he could have had a family like the other apostles while continuing his teaching. According to the gospel of the Nazarenes he lived to an old age.
The “suffering servant” saw his seed, that is his offspring
Now I’m not saying that the prophecy of the “suffering servant” is actually about Jesus, but most Christians believe that it is. This is getting somewhat off topic, but if we take it all in context and take out all of the mistranslations and misinterpretations, it becomes obvious that the “suffering servant” is not even about the Messiah, Jesus, but it is about the nation of Israel which fits the description of the prophecy so much more accurately than does the Messiah. But this is outside the scope of this subject and will be subject for another article at a later date.
Purposeful bible corruption?
But assuming just for the sake of this article that the prophecy in about the “suffering servant” is about Jesus, since that is what Christians believe, then their belief that Jesus had no wife or children would be a contradiction to the prophecy in Isaiah.
If the prophecy is about Jesus, then Jesus had offspring (“he shall see his seed”). If Jesus had offspring, he wasn’t God — according to the many scholars of the church. On the other hand, if you admit that the prophecy is not about the Messiah, but about the nation of Israel, then this is on less “proof” that Jesus was the Messiah. According to Jewish scholars, Isaiah 53 wasn’t even a messianic prophecy, much less a prophecy about Jesus.
Mary Magdalene: one of Jesus’ closest, beloved and faithful disciples
Getting back to the subject of Mary Magdalene, we see that of Jesus disciples, not all of them were men only as were the twelve. The twelve were his inner core disciples, but he had many other disciples that included women. Mary was one of his most important disciples and he confided in her some of the deepest spiritual teachings which she imparted to the others.
There are many things in the scriptures that show that Mary was more than just someone Jesus cast out devils from, but was much closer to him, loved him and believed in him much stronger than the others. She was constantly present with the family members of Jesus (as if she were a part of the family).
Bishop John Spong suggests in his book that the wedding at Cana was Jesus’ own marriage to Mary Magdalene — if so, she was at the marriage in Cana were Jesus turned the water to wine. The Gospel of the Nazirenes states that she was there at the wedding (Gospel of the Nazirenes 12:1). The Catholic Church has almost always taught that Mary Magdalene was the same Mary that anointed Jesus with oil at Bethany.
She was at the crucifixion; she was the first one to the site of the tomb (obviously since she apparently really believed that he would actually rise from the dead); she was frequently with the disciples; she herself was a disciple and Jesus confided many deep spiritual truths to her that he hadn’t shared with the twelve; she even made some of the Jesus’ male disciples jealous.
Mary Magdalene followed Jesus with the twelve disciples
…and the twelve are with him, and certain women, who were healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone forth, (Luk 8:1-2)
Mary Magdalene at the marriage in Cana of Galilee
And the next day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Yeshua was there. Both Yeshua and Mary Magdalene were there; and his disciples came to the wedding. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 12:1)
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, (Luk 8:2)
Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus’ feet
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (Jn 12:3)
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. (Jn 12:7)
And there came Mary called Magdalene, having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious and costly, and she opened the box and poured the ointment on the head of Yeshua, and anointed His feet, and wiped them with the hair of her head. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 65:2)
Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ crucifixion
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. (Mat 27:56)
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher. (Mat 27:61)
Mary Magdalene after the Crucifixion
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. (Mat 28:1)
Now there stood by the cross of Yeshua his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleaphas and Mary Magdalene. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 82:22)
And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid. There at the top they kept watch for three days and three nights. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 83:5)
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Mar 15:40)
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (brother of Jesus) beheld where he was laid. (Mar 15:47)
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James (brother of Jesus), and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mar 16:1)
Jesus with Mary Magdalene after the resurrection
In that time after Yeshua had risen from the dead he remained ninety days with Mary his mother and Mary Magdalene who anointed his body, and Mary Cleophas (Gospel of the Nazirenes 91.1)
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils (Mar 16:9)
Mary Magdalene tells the disciples of his resurrection
And Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things to her, and commanded her to announce His resurrection from the dead. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 84.15)
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James (brother of Jesus), and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (Luk 24:10)
Mary Magdalene comforts the other disciples
Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you. (Gospel of Mary Magdalene 5.2)
Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ important disciples is taught secrets of the kingdom
And as they sat at supper–when it was evening–Mary Magdalene asked him, saying, “Master, will you now declare to us the Order of the Kingdom?”
And Yeshua answered and said, “O Mary, I tell you, and to each of my disciples, the kingdom of heaven is within you. But the time comes when that which is within shall be made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.” (Gospel of the Nazirenes 91:2-3)
after his resurrection, and stayed with them for ninety days, teaching and speaking of the kingdom, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and had finished all things that he had to do, led forth the twelve with Mary Magdalene, and Joseph his father and Mary his mother, and the other holy women as far as Bethany to a mountain called Olivet, where he had appointed them. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 95:2)
An interesting note here Jesus’ parents are referred to as, “Joseph his father and Mary his mother”. They were his biological father and mother. And the very fact that Mary Magdalene was with them is significant — it’s as though she were a part of his family.
Mary Magdalene reveals teachings to the other disciples
Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.
Mary answered and said, What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 8:6-7)
Male disciples of Jesus are jealous of Mary Magdalene
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 privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?
Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have 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 separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said. (Gospel of the Nazirenes 9:1-9)
Simon Peter said to them, “Make Mary leave us, for females don’t deserve life.” Jesus said, “Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.” (Gospel of Thomas 114)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is from the city a Sabbath day’s journey. And as they returned they missed Mary Magdalene… (Gospel of the Nazirenes 95:9)
Next: Who Was Jesus Part 2 | Adoptionism