If there’s one thing guaranteed to make people uncomfortable, it’s talking about politics and religion in the same breath.
But here we are.
And what better way to stir the pot than to explore the Gospel of Mary—yes, that Mary, Mary Magdalene—and what it has to say to our current political climate?
The Gospel of Mary is one of those texts that got left on the cutting room floor when the powers that be decided what would make the “official” canon of Scripture. And that alone should make us curious.
Why was this Gospel, which portrays Mary Magdalene as not only a devoted follower of Jesus but as a leader among the disciples, so threatening?
And, why did Peter—yes, that Peter—challenge her right to speak as an Apostle?
The Threat of a Different Kingdom
The tension in the Gospel of Mary isn’t just about gender roles (though that’s a big one). It’s about authority.
Who gets to speak for Christ? Who gets to define the faith?
The Gospel presents Mary as someone who deeply understands Jesus’ message, even when the other disciples don’t. She embodies an authority that doesn’t come from status or power but from an intimate connection with divine wisdom.
Sound familiar? It should. Because today, we’re still wrestling with these same questions.
Who has the right to speak truth? Is it only those in power, the ones with institutional backing and official titles?
Or could it be the ones who have been pushed to the margins, the ones with no earthly authority but a deep, undeniable connection to justice, mercy, and truth?
Fear and Control
Peter’s challenge to Mary isn’t just about skepticism; it’s about fear. If Mary’s version of Jesus’ teachings is true, then the entire power structure the disciples assumed might not be what Jesus intended.
It flips the script. It removes control from the hands of a select few and democratizes divine wisdom.
And that’s exactly what makes the Gospel of Mary so relevant today. We live in a time where political and religious institutions desperately cling to control, policing who gets to speak, who gets to lead, and who gets to interpret truth.
We see it in the political sphere, where fear-mongering replaces actual discourse.
We see it in the church, where tradition is often used as a weapon to silence rather than to liberate.
The Politics of Love
At its core, the Gospel of Mary presents a radically different view of power. It’s not about dominance. It’s about love.
Mary describes Jesus’ teachings as an invitation to move beyond fear and embrace a deeper, inner knowing—a knowing rooted in love, not control.
Imagine if our political landscape looked more like that.
Imagine leaders who governed not by fear, but by love.
Imagine policies driven not by the desire to dominate, but by the desire to serve.
Imagine a world where those on the margins were given the microphone instead of being silenced.
Why It Matters
The Gospel of Mary isn’t just an ancient text nearly lost to history. It’s a prophetic challenge to us today. It asks us to rethink power, to question authority, and to embrace a love that is bigger than fear. It calls us to recognize the voices we’ve ignored, the wisdom we’ve dismissed, and the radical message of a kingdom that doesn’t play by the rules of empire.
So, is the Gospel of Mary political? Absolutely.
But then again, so was Jesus.
Our challenge is to recognize that everyone, everywhere, is connected to the Divine. None of us is separated from God. None of us are separate from one another.
We belong to each other. This speaks to our need to care for one another.
Everyone is their brother’s – and sister’s – keeper.
We have a shared Divine spark and a shared Human identity.
In the Gospel of Mary, Jesus reminds us that we are all connected in ways we can barely comprehend.
Never the less, this much is true: There is not “Them,” there is only “Us.”
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The newest book from Keith Giles, “The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas” is available now on Amazon. Order HERE>
Keith Giles is the best-selling author of the Jesus Un series. He has appeared on CNN, USA Today, BuzzFeed, and John Fugelsang’s “Tell Me Everything.”
He co-hosts The Heretic Happy Hour Podcast and his solo podcast, Second Cup With Keith which are both available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Podbean or wherever you find great podcasts.
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