I was skeptical about the television production of The Bible when I first heard the radio advertisement.
But, I have loved being wrong about this!
I loved that we were told of the story of Creation through Noah, as he was telling his family on the ark that God had provided for their survival. Their ark, a living exposition of Creation itself.
I loved that in the story of Abraham being tested, Sarah worried that Abraham had taken her son, her only son, to give sacrifice to God … without a lamb, and she raced off to them.
I loved the telling of the story of young shepherd boy, David, defeating the giant, Goliath, with a small stone, and a big faith.
I love the way the Jesus interrupts Peter on his boat, and how He offers a new life to Peter.
I especially loved the way that Jesus told the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The story that tells of the two going to the temple to pray and how Jesus finished his parable with words from Luke 14:11, “for all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I loved the way they portrayed Joseph, the husband of Mary, the earthly father of Jesus, a good and strong man, willing to obey the word of God.
I am still waiting to watch the finale, and cannot wait to see how they have re-created the stories that I have already imagined in my mind.
Oh, I am not saying that I view this production as the total and complete … gospel truth. Certainly there are inaccuracies, additions and omissions that make it … well a translation (like the Message), rather than a version (like the English Standard version).
What I did love was that:
- it was done … well, and anyone who has seen any older versions of Biblical tales knows that it was time!
- the focus of the story of the Bible was not changed
- the person of Christ was not created to be something He was not (although … I did think it was wrong to have such a good looking man play Jesus … after all Isaiah 53:2 says, “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” 😉 )
- my kids, who would not join hubby and I for any other television shows, would wander into the room, once the music (Hans Zimmer, you are brilliant!) started
- millions of people … more than 50 million … have been exposed to the truth!
I read a Time online article titled, “Behind the Hit Bible Miniseries? The Man Who Helps Hollywood Get Religion” and I sighed. Sure, I would love that Hollywood produce more movies that are entertaining and unoffensive, but my hope with the visibility of the greatest book ever written is not that it become ‘trendy’ but that it become KNOWN.
I think Matthew said it well,
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock (Matthew 7:24-26 … The Message).
“He who has ears to hear,
let him hear”
Matthew 11:15
itsawonderfilledlife 