Christmas aside, Easter is really the only other time of the year when there is a focus on the central elements of Christianity. Most people know that during the course of the holiday weekend, Christians will be remembering the death and, if you believe it – and we at Good News do, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s also a time when more people probably watch more movies than at any other time, and it’s quite possible that you will want to watch a film that reflects the time of the year, so I am going to pass on a few recommendations.
Of course, ‘the greatest story ever told’ has been told and retold by film makers many times. We can go right back to the dawn of cinema and find such films as The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1903) and The Miracles of Jesus (1912) are just two examples. The story has also been told in song. Jesus Christ Superstar/Godspell is based on Matthew’s gospel and The Miracle Maker is another wonderful film.
However, if you do want to watch a film about Jesus this Easter these are the four I would go with. All widely available online or disk. I expect they will turn up on TV as well.
Ben Hur for example. Something that many people overlook is that the full title of the film, and the original novel, is Ben Hur, a Tale of the Christ. Jesus is depicted several times in the film, as is one of the wise men who saw him as a child. The film climaxes with the crucifixion of Christ, resulting in a miracle for Ben Hur’s family.
The Greatest Story Ever Told will no doubt be on a screen near you this month. Max Von Sydow plays a very sympathetic and intense Jesus, although John Wayne is less than convincing as the Roman Centurion who, in a long drawn-out sentence and making no effort to hide his accent, proclaims Jesus “to be the Son of God”. It’s a lovely film and, in my opinion, gives a good representation of the Biblical account.
The Passion of the Christ: Mel Gibson’s film was highly controversial at the time of its release, and granted, it is pretty horrific in its portrayal of the suffering and death of Jesus. But then the death of Jesus was horrific, and awful. The man was flogged, beaten and crucified. The film is a traumatic experience but rewarding if you have the stomach for it.
Risen is about the search for the body of Jesus. It stars Joseph Finnes as a Roman officer given the task of finding the body, but instead he comes face to face with the resurrected Son of God. It’s a terrific film and I have several friends who, while they are not believers, have told me that they have really enjoyed it.
So if this Easter you choose to watch a film about the life and death of Jesus Christ I hope that you will enjoy it. But do just ask yourself one question; why on earth did the story of the Crucifixion and the resurrection of this one man change the history of the world? Because it did! Could it be that these films are indeed ‘based on a true story’? For me the answer to that question is a resounding ‘Yes’.
Main photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash
Sorted discusses the big issues of the day – focusing on subjects as diverse as culture, sport, cars, health, faith, gadgets, humour and relationships. We aim to be positive and wholesome in all we do. And we have been achieving this since 2007.
Every printed issue of Sorted is read by more than 100,000 men in 21 different countries – while digitally, the number of people reading our online content (free and via subscription) continues to soar.
