“Get used to different” says Jesus in this TV version of the Gospels as the disciples gasp at Jesus’ choice of a tax collector to be one of the team.
Most Jesus films are 90 minutes long and tell the whole story at a fast gallop whilst understandably missing out lots of bits. My favourite is the cartoon ‘Miracle Maker’. Its brilliant. But not since 1977 Franco Zifferelli’s six hours of Jesus of Nazareth with its haunting music and tall white Jesus staring in to the distance have we seen something of this length. This version is not in a hurry. Each episode about 55 mins but you only meet Jesus in the last 5 minutes of the first episode, and the 12th disciple is only chosen at the end of the 2nd Season (ie episode 16). I’ve just finished watching Season 3. Apparently Season 4 has been done and there will be 7 seasons.
Because they’re not in a rush to get through the gospel, they have time to give the viewer some back ground historical detail about what else is going on. What does it mean for the disciple Simon to be a Zealot? Why do the Pharisees react so pettily to healings on Shabbat? How do James and John get nick names of ‘sons of thunder’. There’s good humour here as well as depth.
But it also gives space for the writers to play with background stories. What is Simon (Peter)’s marriage like? What if Matthew was on the autistic spectrum? Some of this is speculative play but they do it well and so help flesh out the context of what Jesus is doing.
I really think you should, you must, you need to see this. You can watch it on your phone, buy the DVDs, watch it on YouTube, on Amazon Prime, if you have a TV that is smart enough download the app ‘Angel TV’ and watch it from there. I like subtitles. You can watch it with your Home Group and then talk about it. You can watch it at St Luke’s on Thursday evening, more details in the notices.
Here’s a link for YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E-8-NcL7tc&list=PLSoDo6COiOwjOeeAEndIuymu7783pffGm
Here’s a link for the Angel TV app – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vidangel.thechosen&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1
But you must watch it.
Jesus calls Simon, the ex-Zealot. Simon gives Jesus his sicarri blade which Jesus casually throws into a nearby river. Simon is shocked. ‘What do you need me for?’ By which he means ‘All I’m good for is fighting and if you’re throwing away my weapon then it seems to me I’ve got nothing I can give you’ and Jesus says ‘I dont need you. I want you.’ Come follow me! There are times when I need to hear this again.
A woman who has had internal bleeding for 12 years, who has been abandoned by everyone, doctors have given up on her, friends shun her, her own parents say they have no daughter, reaches out to clasp the tassels of Jesus. Jesus bends down to pick her up, to hug her, and he calls her ‘my daughter, my daughter’. Its hard to say which moment has more healing in it: the medical healing or the emotional healing. Honestly if you can get through this scene without reaching for your hanky then ….
Dont wait until you’re in a religious mood to watch it. Just get on and watch it. It will change how you hear my sermons, how you read your bible, how you pray and how you live.
(Photo is of me on a tricycle perhaps aged 4?)