"The Light of The World" Movie
Have you seen this yet?
Our family saw it! My oldest especially enjoyed it. To my surprise, the youngest didn't fall asleep.
First, let me say I loved what they did with Pilate's scroll in Greek... :)
Next, let me answer some questions you may have:
Is it gospel-centered?
YES-which is to say that it's a rare gem. Jesus clearly explained everything to John in the Garden of Gethsemane. Also, (spoiler alert) a certain character believes at the end and prays to receive Jesus.
Is it Biblical?
Yes. Some slight creative license was used (like the healing of Joseph of Arimathea), but overall it was abundantly Biblical with a number of scenes taken directly from God's Word.
Is it graphic?
Well, a little. Some parts are alluded to and some things happen on the shadows of walls. The Romans take the father of Andrew and Peter. They also seize John the Baptist and Jesus tells John that they killed him. Jesus is hurt and goes to the cross but it’s not shown in a gratuitous manner. There's the angry crowd. Caiaphas is super creepy with yellow eyes.
Are there faith messages?
John's long philosophical discourses are not here so much as the "immediately" miracles we find in the gospel of Mark. This is not The Sermon on The Mount. But it feels just right for a young demographic. There's the symbolism of the "little fish" being loosed into the ocean. The "locust" flies away, free, into Heaven. The Johannine emphasis on faith and light comes through loud and clear in so many parts.
It implicitly invites the audience to respond by trusting Jesus as John (and John's family) must do-even when the ways of Jesus don't make sense (like the "bad" shortcut and death on a cross).
I don't claim to be an expert on matters like pacing, but I will comment that the introduction sets everything up and then it feels really quick after that. This makes sense when you think that a child's attention span is more likely to drift as time progresses. All of my kids were engaged the entire time.(!)
So, I recommend watching "The Light of The World" movie. It's a great way to tell others, like kids in your neighborhood, about Jesus.
Also, please check out "The Lord of Mars: A Christian Missions Adventure."
In Jesus,
Ruth