The Lost Scriptures – books that did not make it into the New Testament.

The Gospel of Mary

 . . Will matter then be destroyed or not? 22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots. 23) For the nature of matter is resolved into the roots of its own nature alone.

24) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world? 26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.

27) That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature in order to restore it to its root. 28) Then He continued and said, That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you. 29) He who has a mind to understand, let him understand. 30) Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body. 31) That is why I said to you, Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature. 32) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 33) When the Blessed One had said this, He greeted them all, saying, Peace be with you. Receive my peace unto yourselves. 34) Beware that no one lead you astray saying Lo here or lo there! For the Son of Man is within you. 35) Follow after Him!

36) Those who seek Him will find Him. 37) Go then and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. 38) Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it. 39) When He said this He departed.

Composed sometime during the late second century, the Gospel of Mary exists in two fragments – written in Greek. This is clearly an intriguing text, for it accorded Mary Magdalene a high status among the apostles. The apostle Levi will go on to say that Jesus loved Mary more than the rest of the apostles. Jesus will also reveal to Mary the truth of all things, which he only reveals to her. The Gospel of Mary ends with the apostles accepting the command to preach the Gospel of Jesus – not laying down any other rule or other law.

It is because of this “secret revelation” that is given only to Mary by Jesus, that the church describes this Gospel as a Gnostic text. This is the primary reason this gospel is not included in the canon. But perhaps the most important point we can glean from this text is the encouragement of fearful disciples to go out and proclaim the gospel. We all need this kind of encouragement – the apostles needed it, we need it as well. It is not easy to “…go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” as Matthew 28:19 encourages. Jesus would continue to teach the same until his ascension.

Pastor Dave