I heard about the film
about a month ago when researching my last post on persecution. I was
intrigued and really hoped it would come to Canada, where very few
Christian films make it to the big screen.
I learned about a week
ago that it was opening in theaters on Feb 28. I decided to invite
several non-Christian friends and a few Christian ones to join me on
half-price Tuesday. Monday night I had a good friend and his son
coming, my oldest son, and a young non-Christian friend my brother
and I have been reaching out to. All three of these young men have
faced very significant mental health challenges.
Monday night a friend
sent me a few links to reviews of the movie – all by Christian
reviewers. Two of the reviews were so extremely negative they left me
with a huge knot in my stomach. The makers of the film have combined
their Christianity with new age spiritualism. I didn't want my
non-Christian friend to get the wrong message. I don't think he has ever
heard the full story of Jesus, and I didn't want him to hear a false
gospel. The other two young men, although both Christians, because of
issues in their lives, are still very vulnerable in their faith.
I wrestled much of the
night in prayer. I agonized that I hadn't been bothered by the
Biblical errors evident even in the trailer. I was bothered by the
traditional scene of the wise men at the stable, because Biblically
they didn't get to Bethlehem until maybe a year and one half later.
But in the trailer the scenes of the calling of Peter and the raising
of Lazarus were also not Biblically portrayed.
I finally came to the
conclusion in prayer that God allowed the movie to be made. God
allowed it to come to theaters. God has spoken through misguided
people before. In Numbers 22 we read the story of the diviner Balaam,
who was paid to curse Israel, but instead by God's power blessed
them. (In case you read the account in Numbers 22 and think Balaam
was a believer in Yahweh, read Num 31:15-16 where he is blamed for
the advice which turned the Israelites away from the Lord). God also
spoke through the high priest Caiaphas that it would be good for one
man to die for the people (Jn 18:14, Jn 11:49-53).
I also fully trust in
God's promise in Romans 8:28 “And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
Him and have been called according to His purpose.” God could use this movie for the good of
those He has called. With those two conclusions, I was finally able
to go to sleep in peace and trust that God would work through the
film in spite of the negative reviews.
The young non-Christian
did not make it to the movie, because he had been up all night sick.
The rest of us went. My son Caleb told me it was the first film
during which he had ever cried, and in fact he cried through most of
it! It was indeed a powerful film. Instead of creating or propagating
conflict about the movie, pray that God will touch those who see it.
God is bigger than the problems in the film!
So what are the problems?
The true deep down problem is that Jesus is not portrayed as knowing
his future. He doesn't know His destiny at the cross until the Last
Supper. In the Gospels, Jesus knows the cross and resurrection are
the culmination of his ministry long before the Lord's Supper, even
from before His ministry began. John the Baptist referred to Jesus as
“The
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (Jn 1:29)
In the movie Jesus doesn't know that Lazarus had died, He forces Judas to betray Him in response to a
vision, and learns from a vision that Peter would disown Him. These
just are not accurate!
This is a doctrinal issue
that is very important. Jesus KNEW His future, both from all the
Scriptures that referenced Him, but also because He was God
incarnate. He wasn't responding ad hoc to sporadic visions.
“I
tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do
what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the
Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and
shows him all he does.”
(Jn 519) Jesus
also claimed,
“I
and the Father are one.” (Jn 10:30) A
claim which those who heard understood to mean that Jesus was making Himself
equal to God.
Jesus prepared His
disciples for the truth of his crucifixion and resurrection, starting
right after Peter's proclamation that Jesus was indeed the Christ,
the Son of God. (Mk 8:29-33) He prophesied His resurrection not just
to his followers, but also to the religious leaders. A guard was
placed on the tomb (which was not in the movie) because the
religious leaders recalled that he claimed he would rise in three
days. (Mt 27:62-66).
He taught that it is
through Him that we receive atonement for our sins and a relationship
with the Father.
“I
told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that
I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (Jn
8:24)
I
am the Good Shepherd: I know my sheep and they know me – just as
the Father knows me and I know the father – and I lay my life down
for the sheep... The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my
life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay
it down of my own accord.” (Jn 10:14-15,17)
No
one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6b)
Although these are indeed
major issues, I don't think they negate all the good that the film
does hold.
Some of the other issues
discussed in the negative reviews can be explained by the fact that a
movie has a limited length of time to tell the story. The makers of
Son of God chose to spend a lot of screen time on establishing the
cruelty of the Roman occupation – that the Jews were desperate for
a political Messiah. This meant less time went to Jesus' teachings.
Someone viewing the film will not know what it means to be a Christian when they
come out of the film. However, it is a great starting point for
discussion, teaching, and a desire to read God's Word. If
you are bringing a non-Christian to the film, have a Bible or New
testament to give them.
There are four accounts
of Jesus' life in the Bible – the four Gospels. They have slightly
different accounts of certain events, because they are written from
the perspective of different people. One of the reviews claimed a
Biblical inaccuracy, when it was in reality the version from one of
the other four Gospels.
There are a few scenes
that perhaps take “artistic license” too far. In other cases
scenes or teachings are combined together in order to save screen
time. This is a reality of movie making and does not mean these
scenes contradict Scripture.
The final complaint I
find very interesting, because it is incorrect. The negative reviews
were indignant that Mary Magdalene was with the disciples the entire
time. Although in the Gospels she is not given any “lines” until
the resurrection, she was present throughout most of Jesus' ministry.
She actually helped provide for Jesus and the Twelve!
“After
this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with
him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and
diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come
out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household:
Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them
out of their own means.” (Lk 8:1-3)
The inaccuracy is not
that Mary Magdalene was present, but that the other women were
absent. There absence is again a fact of movie-making. Extra
characters not essential for the story are left out.
So, I suggest it is a
movie worth seeing. Jesus is a warm, intriguing, humble character in
this film (although they did leave out the foot-washing scene). You
can see why people were drawn to Him. The scene of the calling of
Matthew is an unexpected tear-jerker. The scenes of Jesus' beatings,
floggings and crucifixion are extremely powerful. We all need a
reminder of what He endured for us in order that we might enjoy
forgiveness and a relationship with the Father! Just don't expect the
film to make Christians of the viewers. We have more work to
do in teaching and making-disciples. We also need to remember the
spiritual battle going on and PRAY for the movie to have the proper
impact.
Dear
Jesus,
Thank
you so much for leaving Your throne in heaven and coming to this
broken messed up earth. Thank you for coming not just to teach us,
but to die for us and give Your life as a ransom for many. Thank you
that through Your life and teaching we can know You and Your will.
Thank you that You are the Good Shepherd that lay down His life for
us wayward sheep. Give us hearts to trust that You will work
powerfully through this film in spite of it's weaknesses. Don't allow
it to cause division in your church. Instead, let it ignite a hunger
for Your Word in people – people who know you but can still go
deeper; people who think they know you, but don't; and people who
don't know you at all. We give You all praise and honour and glory
forever and ever, amen.
