The Nativity Story, Much More than a Movie

The Nativity Story was a movie I just had to see. Sean Hannity said it was good and Chuck Colson said it was the most biblical movie in the last 50 years. After seeing the movie I agree with Hannity.

The movie starts with an attention getter, the slaughter of innocent babies in Bethlehem. The cruelty of Herod is shocking. Yet, I remember that Michael J. Fox and the ungodly men and women in Congress would murder the innocent and cannibalize their bodies (by approving embryonic stem cell research). All this was done with the approval of the majority of American people. So the progress in 2000 years is making our people cruel like Herod.

The scene then switches to one year earlier when taxes are being taken. One man couldn’t pay because he had no money and asked to be deferred until the harvest. The tax collector informed him today is tax paying time (April 15th?) not at harvest. One third of his property was ordered seized, his daughter was taken by a soldier and he rode off with her. The tax collector said everyone must die sometime, some sooner than others and the tax collector ordered the man killed. I am reminded of the Supreme Court and Eminent Domain and the IRS if you don’t get your tax payment paid. It seems like the tax collection may have been in the Spring (April 15th?).. After 2000 years how much is still the same.

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was shown going into the temple to offer incense before God. Someone spoke to him and told him he was going to have a son and to call his name John. In scripture it says an angel appeared to him, but I didn’t see an angel. He became unable to speak but I didn’t hear him say, “How will I know this will come true?” More emphasis could have been put on this, but he was speechless when he came back out to the people.

Mary is chosen for Joseph against her will by her father. Joseph looks to be much older, perhaps 30 and Mary a teen. This leaves one less person for her father to care for. The angel appears to Mary and informs her that she will conceive by the Holy Ghost and that her child will be called the Son of God. The fact of her conception was very clear. I appreciated this accuracy. To me the movie was more accurate than many preachers on this point.

Mary leaves home to see Elizabeth her cousin knowing that she is pregnant. Then Elizabeth greets Mary saying, “Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord would come to see me?” It’s amazing how these people knew the situation without anyone telling them.

When Mary returned home it was obvious that she is pregnant. I appreciated this accurate depiction. It is always the woman’s fault when she gets pregnant. (LOL) She is accused of breaking her betrothal vow. She says that she broke no vow. Of course she claims God made her pregnant. Joseph doesn’t know what o think until an angel appears to him in a dream. The angel tells Joseph not to be afraid, but to marry Mary.

Off in the east there are wise men who study the stars and have great knowledge of biblical texts with more understanding than those of Israel. They take note that a star will arise out of Judah so they look for it. It is depicted as the coming together of three planets. Their calculations show it will begin soon and recognize it as the star of the coming Messiah. So they travel through the desert and storm to find the one who would be born “King of the Jews.”

Herod is looking for someone who would fulfill the biblical prophecy and threatened his rule as King of the Jews, under Roman rule of course. He is shown as having biblical knowledge and discuses it with the wise men. According to scripture he calls the scribes to tell him where the Messiah is to be born. He asks the wise men to find the child and to bring him word so he can go and worship him also.

The wise men arrive at the stable while the shepherds were still there. In scripture the shepherds find Jesus in a manger and the wise men find Him in a house. The shepherds worship the child and the wise men each worshipped and brought gifts. One of the wise men calls Jesus, “God in flesh.” This is, in fact, who Jesus is. I was impressed with this portrayal as well. The heavenly hosts (many angels) were not shown after the angel spoke to the shepherds. The wise men chose not to go see Herod upon going home. God speaking to them is not shown.

The hypocrisy of Herod and the priests is brought out in the movie. Joseph takes Mary by the Temple and people are selling and buying animals. Joseph says to Mary, “This is supposed to be a Holy place.” Herod is shown sacrificing an animal for his sin in the presence of all yet sends his army out to kill the one God sent into the world. Herod says, “Now what will happen to heir prophecy.” This is what Joseph’s brothers aid as they sold him into slavery. God’s prophecy came true while those against it went to hell. For the city of Chicago to be against the Nativity Story as well shows that they are in bad company.