My thoughts after watching "The Son of God" movie

       This past Sunday a group of about 120 of us from FCC went as a group to see the movie “The Son of God.” Since then I have had several ask my thoughts about the movie and how closely did it follow the Biblical text. It is very good that we are asking these questions. In Acts 17:11 it says that the Bereans were nobler because they sought out from the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was right. We too must examine what we hear others say and what we watch on a screen to see if it is in line with Scripture.

What I Liked About The Movie

Too often entertainment that is geared toward Christians is done very poorly. To be honest I have a hard time listening to Christian pop music because too often it is just not very good in my opinion. (You don’t have to agree with me, I reserve the right to be wrong.) Several Christian movie/television shows have left me more frustrated than inspired. This movie was overall well done. I admit, the special effects were not spectacular, the acting will not win any major awards, and the images of the Temple were … well not great. However, it was done at a much higher level than many other attempts at depicting the life of Christ. The music seemed to fit, the overall scene of ancient Israel was good, the costumes where well done.
The viewer walked away from the experience with a basic understanding of the ministry of Christ. Hopefully, it will illicit much conversation and Bible study. If the movie brings people to the Word and wanting to know more about Christ, I count it as a success.

What I Did Not Like About The Movie

Whenever a narrative moves from book to movie is seems to almost always lose something in the process. This movie is no exception. There is too much material in the Gospels to cram into a two hour movie. There is too much theology that can’t be shown in a short movie. The interpretation of the text is often suspect when Hollywood gets a hold of it. I love the Word of God and part of my role as given by the Lord is to point out discrepancies when I see them.
Before I start making a list here of my concerns, let me put a few caveats: 1. I did not see the beginning of the movie so I can’t speak to that; 2. I’m not going to go into what Jesus looks like in the movie, I am an rather ugly, short, big boned like a gorilla, easily forgotten guy and Brazilian models/soap opera stars are not my mental image of what the common Jewish man looked like 2,000 years ago; 3. I did not take notes during the movie, so I may well get some facts wrong; 4. While I have studied and taught the Word of God for some 15+ years, I have much to learn and again I reserve the right to be wrong; 5. These thoughts might be out of order, I’m just kind of thinking out loud, not trying to write a scholarly review; 6. I am not trying to be negative, just honest. 7. Please do not let my thoughts keep you from enjoying the movie. Anytime we can think about, pray about, and put into action Scripture that is a very good thing. So on with my lift of things that made me say, “Hey wait a second, that’s not the way I read it in the Gospels.”

• Overall there was a political focus that frustrated me. It appeared to me that the authors tried too hard to make the Romans the villains and the Jewish leaders as simply lovers of God’s people trying to keep the peace. The Bible portrays the religious leaders as power hungry, they wanted Jesus dead not because they were afraid that Herod would shut down the Temple, but because he was a threat to their power. They were hypocritical and corrupt, Jesus said this numerous times.

• With the calling of Simon Peter the movie shows it with Simon out on the water and Jesus joins him by himself. The Gospels tell us it was Peter, Andrew, James, and John together. In fact it was Andrew that brought his brother Simon Peter to the Lord. Simon is given the name Peter much later in the story (worthy of further discussion about what his name means and confession of faith he made, but that is for another time I suppose). Also in the movie, Jesus says give me an hour and I’ll change your life? Then let’s go change the world. In the Bible he says follow me, not join my revolution.

• While the movie showed Jesus being dipped in the Jordan River at his baptism, I really wish it would have shown the voice of God speaking and declaring Him to be the Son of God. It would have been good too if we had seen John say, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

• I wish the Transfiguration would have made it into the movie as well …

• The wedding feast would have been good thing to include as well since it is where Jesus preformed his first miracle.

• I understand why Satan was left out for political reasons (he looked too much like President Obama), but the temptations in the desert and simply Satan’s role in all this is important.

• The whole scene with the raising of Lazarus frustrated me. The Bible says that Jesus wept before he raised Lazarus. Also Jesus never went into the tomb; much less kiss him back to life. Rather, Jesus spoke and the dead arose. This is important because it foreshadows our own resurrection from the dead when Christ will speak and all with arise.

• Why was Mary Magdalene so prominent in the movie? If all I knew of the life of Christ was based on this movie I would assume she was one of the Apostles, she even rebukes the Apostles for disbelief at one point in the movie. That is was a bit much for me.

• Poor Thomas was portrayed as extreme in his unbelief. Remember after Lazarus was raised from the grave in John 11? Jesus said he was going to Jerusalem to die. Thomas replied basically, “well ok then, let’s go die with him.” That is impressive faith in my simple mind.

• Why is Barabbas all over the place in the story? In the Bible he is only there as Pilate releases him.

• The whole scene of the trial of Jesus bothered me. It was a set up from the start with the Jewish leaders. In the Bible we are told they even brought in false witnesses. When Jesus is brought before the Romans he is sent to Herod Antipas in the Bible, but that is left out here. Also the symbolism of the washing of hands is not explained at all. Remember in Matthew 27:24-5 it says that Pilate washed his hands and said to the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” Then the people answered, “His blood shall be on us and our children!” That is a chilling scene.

• What is Nicodemus doing all over the place? John 3 says that he came to Jesus alone and at night to talk with him. There is no reason to make him good friends with the High Priest or to make him the one that tries to trick Jesus. Also the line about being born again, he left out born of water and spirit. He simply said spirit in the movie, we must be careful to not leave out what God says.

• Also they made a big deal of Jesus saying he would tear down the Temple. First of all they took it out of context. In John 2:19 Jesus says, “Tear down this Temple, and I will raise it in three days.” Of course he was talking about the resurrection here. That is a bit different than the way it was portrayed.

• Then there is Judas. In the Gospel of John it is very clear he betrayed Jesus out of greed. John tells us this several times to be sure we understand. In the movie the last supper scene (which I will address next) has him being shown as the trader publicly, though that is not how it happened. It also has him being almost forced to go do it by Jesus. The Bible says Satan had taken control of him by that point.

• The last supper scene bothers me more and more as I think about it further. First, they left out the washing of feet, which was a mistake. Second, it is clear in the Bible Jesus was celebrating Passover with them, not just having a fun meal with buddies. Third, the whole Jesus got a vision and turned the mood somber then basically storms out is not good at all. Jesus knew what was going on and planned it well.  Also I wish they would have had Jesus explain what he was doing with the Last Supper better.

• I really did not like that the temple vale simply fell down rather than split from top to bottom as depicted in Scripture. There is theological significance there.

• At the crucifixion water and blood should have poured out. If I remember right, Jesus utters 6 rather than 7 sayings from the cross in the movie. The line from the guard that was there in Matthew 27:54 “surely this man was the Son of God” is left out as well. Not sure why? (If the title of the movie is “Son of God” they sure missed a bunch of opportunities to use that title).

• The resurrection scene had lots of problems. The rock look like it had been hit with C4 rather than rolled away. The angel was left out. John and Peter running to the tomb and John beat him there is not there. Peter runs back and explains the Lord’s Supper in the meal and Jesus shows up, that is simply not how it happened.

• The Ascension was not really an ascension at all in the movie, Jesus just kind of vanishes. It would have been better to show a true ascension to the heavens.

• On a minor note, it seemed accents were off to say the least. Jesus had about four during the movie. Peter seemed Scottish at times. While that is really no big deal and nothing to do with the Scriptures it was still odd to me.

• On another personal preference note, I picture Jesus not so much as surfer Jesus (that was the thought I got at the beginning of the movie, forgive me please), but as a powerful man that commanded respect and awe… I could go on, but I should stop.

A Few Closing Thoughts

If you persevered through my ramblings, well done my friend I am proud of you, you deserve a piece of chocolate. Sorry if I came across too harsh, that was not my intent. I take the Word of God very seriously, and at the same time realize the purpose of this movie. Overall, it was a good overview of the ministry of Christ. As noted, there are many issues and I wish they would have added some other things I will not mention here (the beatitudes would be nice).
I hope at the end of the movie we all asked this question, “Why did Jesus have to die?” Remember it was not the Jews or Romans or Judas that killed Jesus. Ultimate it was my sins. Jesus chose to go to the cross because I am unable to save myself. I hope each of us that watched the movie will go back to the Scriptures to read the full account of the life of Christ. I pray our hearts were pierced as we saw a glimpse of the agony of the cross. I pray that we will go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I pray we will teach them to obey everything Jesus taught us. For we know that Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the world.