Jesus (The Movie)

[ATeutonicKnight]

My dad just bought a movie called “Jesus”. Which basically goes through the entire life of Jesus Christ. However, we (Including my dad) were somewhat skeptical about the accuracy of the movie. We haven’t watched it, but it says on the back “When his earthly father dies, Mary tells Jesus the time has come to fulfill his prophecy.” First of all, we don’t know when he dies. It could have happened when he was twelve, it could’ve happened when he was thirty two. Second of all, nowhere in the Bible does Mary say it is his time. My dad probably wouldn’t have bought the movie if he had more time, but we were next in line and people were waiting, so he went ahead and bought it.

Has anybody watched this movie? If you have, how accurate is it to Catholic teaching?

 

[runningdude]

All religious movie take some liberties. Even major movies such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ add a lot of extra-biblical material, such as a nun’s visions of Christ’s childhood.

Referring to Joseph as an “earthly father” is not heretical, and suggesting Mary may have prompted her son to begin his earthly ministry actually shows her a great deal of respect. In fact, in the Gospel, it is through Mary’s intersession that Christ performs His first miracle (the changing of the water into wine).

So I don’t think this video will be particularly dangerous to your faith (even though I’ve not seen it). Watch it with a grain of salt of course!

 

[Joan1969]

My dad just bought a movie called “Jesus”. Which basically goes through the entire life of Jesus Christ. However, we (Including my dad) were somewhat skeptical about the accuracy of the movie. We haven’t watched it, but it says on the back “When his earthly father dies, Mary tells Jesus the time has come to fulfill his prophecy.” First of all, we don’t know when he dies. It could have happened when he was twelve, it could’ve happened when he was thirty two. Second of all, nowhere in the Bible does Mary say it is his time. My dad probably wouldn’t have bought the movie if he had more time, but we were next in line and people were waiting, so he went ahead and bought it.

Has anybody watched this movie? If you have, how accurate is it to Catholic teaching?

Hi Teutonic,

Was it the 2000 made for TV movie? If so, I can only say that I saw portions back in 2000, and thought then that it was very poor- just totally lacking in a reverent or historically accurate vision of Our Lord. Images are very important to our psychology, so this issue is almost as important as theology. I remember a scene with Jesus joking around in a really inappropriate and utterly implausible way with the disciples. We don’t need that sort of thing; it’s totally unhelpful in a spiritual sense.

The Bible does say that it was at Mary’s suggestion that Jesus worked His first miracle, so I (as far as my knowledge goes) don’t see too much of a problem with the idea that She could have inspired the start of His ministry- as long as we avoid ideas that He didn’t know who He was, or was in any way conflicted about fulfiling the Father’s will in His life. Just my initial reaction.

Sorry I didn’t have anything more specific. Hope someone else can offer more insight.

God Bless,
Joan

p.s. If you want a really great movie about Jesus, try the silent movie “The King of Kings”, directed by Cecil B. DeMille. This is not the 50’s version; it’s from the 20’s. Amazingly good; truly the most reverent treatment of Jesus, with many intriguing and thought-provoking ideas and interpretations. Superb acting as well.

 

[archangel04]

Is it this one? youtube.com/watch?v=QqekjHGIu-k
If it is I saw it years ago and thought it was just lame and cheesy. There were some parts that seem to point out that Christ had a crush on Mary Magdelan and vice versa. There is another part where Christ is in the garden before being arrested, the devil shows up as a final attempt to stop Christ and shows him the future on how wars will be started in His name. How can the devil show him this? Only the Father knows the future so how can the devil show God the future?
It can’t compete againts the passion, especially the death scene which was beyond artistic in the passion.

 

[puzzleannie]

there are at least 3 DVDs out with that title so I can’t comment on the one you have. Who produced it, who distributes it, how long is it, does it say it is based on one specific gospel, who are the stars in the prominent roles?

 

[archangel04]

At the opening scene you have to wonder what religious institution are they attacking? youtube.com/watch?v=tMvG7NjfooY

At 2:45 is the scene where satan shows Christ the future youtube.com/watch?v=CrPGQbWke5E&feature=related

Sorry if I ruined the movie for anyone, but I dislike movies like this that add messages or have an agenda. Then again this might not even be the movie the OP was asking about.

 

[ATeutonicKnight]

there are at least 3 DVDs out with that title so I can’t comment on the one you have. Who produced it, who distributes it, how long is it, does it say it is based on one specific gospel, who are the stars in the prominent roles?

It has Jeremy Sisto acting as Christ. It was made in 1999-2000. I didn’t watch it today because we decided on something else.

 

[puzzleannie]

It has Jeremy Sisto acting as Christ. It was made in 1999-2000. I didn’t watch it today because we decided on something else.

one of the most easily forgettable, except the scene where Joseph dies is very touching, and while of course not biblical certainly believable, which is more than this actor is in this part. D- on costuming and sets as well.

Another one to look out for is produced by the Mormons and takes liberties with certain key scenes such as the last supper.

 

[Timothysis]

I remember a scene with Jesus joking around in a really inappropriate and utterly implausible way with the disciples. We don’t need that sort of thing; it’s totally unhelpful in a spiritual sense.
.

Please explain. Do you not think that Jesus may have joked and laughed with His disciples? I don’t see any reason to think that He didn’t.

 

[laszlo]

Telling that Jesus was suggested by anyone (his mother, the Holy Spirit, the Father) related to his teaching is heresy. He did that by the power of His own Person as the Second Divine Person. This is the Clear declaration of the III Ecumenical council (Ephesus)

121 Can. 9. If anyone says that the one Lord Jesus Christ was glorified by the Spirit, as it were using through Him a power belonging to another, and that He received from Him the power to work against unclean spirits, and to perform miracles for men, and does not say rather that the Spirit through which He worked the miracles was His own; let him be anathema.

 

[Joan1969]

Please explain. Do you not think that Jesus may have joked and laughed with His disciples? I don’t see any reason to think that He didn’t.

Hi Timothy,

Looking at the Bible and how Jesus did speak, it seems highly improbable to say the least. This was not an egalitarian 20th century culture.

Unfortunately, it has been many years since I watched the movie, so I can’t remember the specifics of the scene. Certainly, the idea that Jesus may have had a more relaxed and informal attitude at times is not so problematic. But I have real problems that he just kidded around like a buddy. That He was not; He was the Master and the Christ. He could give some sharp rebukes when the occasion warranted; nothing one would say to an equal.

If they have anything on Youtube, I could watch some of it and give some more specific reactions.

God Bless,
Joan

p.s. The movie we are speaking about is definitely the made for TV 2000 version; an ABC thing I’m pretty sure.

 

[Joan1969]

Hi to all,

I just watched a very brief snippet of the movie on youtube. They were clearly not going for anything historically authentic; the dialogue is straight out of the America of the late nineties I can’t address the theology of the movie directly just based on what I have seen (it’s too little). But this attempt to make Christ act like a Y2K American is unhelpful and can’t lead to any good insights.

Reminds me of a GEICO commercial. Postmodern behavior in characters that look like they are from the distant past.

God Bless,
Joan

 

[Joan1969]

Hi all,

I thought I should clarify my GEICO anaology just a little further so that nobody thinks that I’m being inappropriately flip.

The series of advertisements with the cavemen was a very effective way of being funny by shoehorning together the ancient culture with the postmodern speech. The movie in question did that as well, with unintentional humor as a result. Unfortunately, the subject just happened to be Jesus Christ. That’s why I never watched the movie through, and why I only watched a brief portion just now. It could tempt one to laugh at a subject which is properly due the greatest reverence.

God Bless,
Joan

 

[Timothysis]

Looking at the Bible and how Jesus did speak, it seems highly improbable to say the least. This was not an egalitarian 20th century culture.

We have to remember that the gospels were not written as a biography but as a text with a very specific intent. Just because the gospels do not relate that Jesus said or did something does not mean that He didn’t do it.

 

[Joan1969]

We have to remember that the gospels were not written as a biography but as a text with a very specific intent. Just because the gospels do not relate that Jesus said or did something does not mean that He didn’t do it.

Good Morning, Timothy:

Yet I think it’s fair to say that the Gospels were intened to give us an accurate picture of who Jesus was. The Gospels relate many tender and loving moments that Jesus shared with the Disciples (think St. John), but there are no instances of casualness or joking around. And again, such things just didn’t fit in that culture, not in the sort of relationship that a religious master had with his disciples.

I can’t prove this beyond doubt, becasue we really can’t even imagine a document that would relate every single moment Jesus had with the Disciples. I can only say: (1) there’s nothing in the Gospels to lead us to believe it, (2) it doesn’t really contribute anything of value in a theological sense, and (3) it’s implausible.

God Bless,
Joan