A few (thousand) years ago, a young woman in the town of Nazareth received an unexpected visitor.
And no, it wasn’t a long-lost relative or a neighbor from down the lane asking for a cup of sugar. This was a messenger from God, an honest-to-goodness angel. And the angel came with news: The young woman would give birth to a son.
It was surprising and seemingly impossible news, considering that the young woman was a virgin.
But in time, the woman did miraculously become pregnant. She traveled to Bethlehem with her new husband. There was no room for them in the inn, so they had to stay among the animals. And that is where the virgin gave birth to her son.
It’s the beginning of an incredible story—some would say the greatest story ever told. It’s a tale of miracles and wonder: more angelic visitations, supernatural healings and the ultimate sacrifice. The woman’s son grows into a man. But more than that, he is fully man and fully God. He lives a perfect, sinless life, preaching and teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He is betrayed, killed and buried, but he rises to new life, conquering death and paving the way to eternal life for all who hope in him.
Maybe you’ve heard of this story.
It’s the account of Jesus of Nazareth.
Without fail, Jesus cares for those around Him, especially the marginalized and oppressed. He does this even when His association with “sinners” would cause shock and outrage in the Jewish community. Jesus also cannot abide the merchants and moneychangers who have overtaken the temple, and He drives them out with a righteous anger.
Some of the women who accompany Jesus use their means to provide for Him and His disciples.
The Jesus Film is based on the Gospel of Luke, and it adheres to that book’s text very closely. Much of the dialogue—including every word spoken by Jesus—is pulled directly from the Bible.
The film runs about two hours, so some moments from the text are skipped or condensed. But even with that consideration, The Jesus Film remains very faithful to the Scriptures. We see the major moments of Jesus’ life and ministry here, including but not limited to: His Baptism by John the Baptist; His temptation in the wilderness by Satan; the calling of the 12 disciples; the Transfiguration; His triumphal entry to Jerusalem; the Last Supper; His arrest, trials, crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven—with many miracles and teachings besides.
The biggest deviation from Scripture I noted comes immediately after Peter denies Jesus. Luke 22:62 tells us that after Peter had denied Jesus three times, he left and wept bitterly. The film shows us this scene, but it also includes Peter begging God for forgiveness in a prayer that I found reminiscent of Psalm 51.
We hear people say, “Lord, save us,” “praise the Lord,” and “God help you.”
A demon-possessed man runs around without any clothes on. We see him briefly from the side. (Nothing critical is shown.) Some women are identified as prostitutes. Several men wear only simple undergarments.
Jesus is beaten by a group of soldiers. He is tied to a post and whipped, and we hear His cries of pain. Jesus carries His cross through the streets of Jerusalem and falls painfully several times. Once He reaches Golgotha, Jesus is stripped and nailed to the cross. We hear His cries of pain and later see blood on His wrists from the nail wounds. Jesus dies on the cross.
Before His arrest, Jesus prays so fervently that his sweat becomes like blood. We see a few red drops splash on a stone. Peter takes a dagger and cuts off a man’s ear, and we see blood on the man’s ear and hand.
The people of Nazareth take exception to Jesus as he begins his ministry and try to throw him from a cliff. In a parable, we see a man, beaten and bloodied, lying on a road. Someone is slapped.
A man refers to prostitutes as “whores.”
People pour and drink wine at meals, including during the Last Supper.
None.
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”
That’s how Luke the Evangelist begins his Gospel account. While he wasn’t one of the original disciples, Luke was called to create an orderly and historical account about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, so that his fellow Christians might be assured that the teachings they had received originated with Jesus.
The makers of The Jesus Film wanted to do something similar: to show us as viewers the historical ministry of Jesus, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke, so we can see for ourselves what He said and did. And since 1979, when the film was released, many millions of viewers around the world have been able to see this depiction of Jesus’ life. Some estimates claim it has been viewed by more than five billion people. It holds the Guiness World Record for most translated film of all time, having been translated into more than 2,100 languages as of November 2023.
The Jesus Film’s commitment to accuracy is commendable. Beyond its adherence to the text, the film takes great care to provide an accurate representation of Luke’s account from a visual perspective as well. The filming was done in Israel, often in historic biblical locations. Many of the actors are Jewish. Clothing and props for the film were made using 2,000-year-old techniques. So committed were the filmmakers to historical accuracy that according to producer John Heyman, three days of work had to be redone at one point because they had filmed eucalyptus trees—which hadn’t been introduced into the area until long after the life of Jesus.
All of that commitment to accurately documenting Luke’s Gospel account makes The Jesus Film feel different than your typical movie. It’s not built on any plot device or story structure. In many ways, The Jesus Film feels more like a very faithful documentary. Indeed, the film identifies itself as “a documentary taken from the Gospel of St. Luke” early in its runtime.
For anyone who’s unsure about a beat-by-beat reenactment of the Gospel of Luke, you might be surprised how moving the film can be. It’s the true account of God’s love for mankind and the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection. There’s a reason why it has endured over two millennia and why it will continue to endure. It’s the ultimate story, worth not just retelling, but believing.
And, ultimately, The Jesus Film shares that story faithfully and well.
Bret loves a good story—be it a movie, show, or video game—and enjoys geeking out about things like plot and story structure. He has a blast reading and writing fiction and has penned several short stories and screenplays. He and his wife love to kayak the many beautiful Colorado lakes with their dog.
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