The 2006 film The Nativity Story, is a retelling of the birth of Jesus and the events surrounding it. The film takes pieces both from the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke in order to create its narrative. The film takes some of its key scenes as well as aspects of both Mary and Joseph from the Bible. The advantage of using both gospels as a basis for the film is that it allows for the dual perspective of Mary and Joseph instead of being limited to one or the other, and allows for a more complete feeling narrative. It then builds upon how the characters of Mary and Joseph are described in both gospels by giving the audience the chance to connect with them at a human level.
One of the key scenes that is taken from Luke is Mary’s visit from Gabriel (Holy Bible: King James Version, Luke 1: 26 -37) Mary is sitting under a tree when Gabriel appears to her as a man dressed in white. Gabriel begins to speak telling her that she has “found favour with God” and that she “will give birth to a son and will call his name Jesus.” As in Luke Mary asks how this is possible as she has been with no man. Gabriel then explains to her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and that the child will be the son of God. He also tells her of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and then states “For nothing said by God is impossible.” Mary then proceeds to kneel before Gabriel and says “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
The film of course does not use the dialogue spoken between Gabriel and Mary word for word. It instead chooses to keep a few key parts of what is spoken as its basis. The dialogue is kept shorter likely for the sake of the audience as the film; even by focusing on key pieces of dialogue from the gospels has a run time...
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...ty Story. Dir.Catherine Hardwicke. Perf. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, Shaun Toub, and Alexander Siddig. MMVI New Line Productions, 2006. Film.
Secondary Sources:
Derrett, J. Duncan M.“Oracles, Myth and Luke’s Nativity Story.” Novum testamentumVol.54 No.3 (2012): 258-268. Atla Religion Database. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
Nefe, David. “Stepping Out of the Wings.” Christianity Today Vol.50 No. 12 (2006): 32-33. Atla Religion Database. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
Moring, Mark. “A Human Retelling: What screen writer Mark Rich was trying to accomplish in The Nativity Story.” Christianity Today Vol. 50 No. 12 (2006): 34. . Atla Religion Database. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
Weaver, Dorothy Jean. “‘Wherever This Good News Is Proclaimed’: Women and God in the Gospel of Matthew.” Interpretation Vol.64 No.3 (2010): 390-401. Atla Religion Database. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
Carson, D. A. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
Gerhard Lohfink, in his book, “Jesus of Nazareth” believes that Jesus’ person and ministry are intertwined, or actually one and of the same. After Lohfink clarifies the difference between the "reign of God" as distinct from the “Kingdom of God,” he asserts that in Jesus, there is this active, ongoing reign which is not only revealed, but is manifested in all He says and does. Lohfink states, that Jesus is “not just preaching about the reign of God, but He is announcing it,” going on to indicating that Jesus is manifesting this reign in His own self disclosure and the actions of His ministry. Jesus ways of teaching and interactions with others, is shown as compassionate, gentle, direct and personal, as well as definitive and bold. As we also find in Ch. 3, “All that is happening before everyone’s eyes. The reign of God is breaking forth in the midst of the world and not only within people.” (51) And for Lohfink, this is taking place in the actual preaching, actions and life of Jesus Christ. Simply, we are personally and collectively and actively a part of establishing this “reign” right here, right now. A “reign” of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, self-giving, sacrificial love, as well as of justice and peace.
One can also say that the story shows the kingship of Christ. The theme of Matthew is the kingship of Christ. It would make total sense f...
King, Karen L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Santa Rosa, California: Polebridge Press, 2003.
14 Jonathan T. Pennington. Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew. (Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2009), 214.15 Dale C. Allison, Jr. Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), 101.16 Frank J. Matera. Passion Narratives and Gospel Theologies: Interpreting the Synoptics Through Their Passion Stories. (New York: Paulist Press, 1986), 115.17 Dale C. Allison, Jr. Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), 229.
The slight differences in The Passion of the Christ and the gospels' accounts are made to create a more dramatic feeling for the viewer. The addition of devils and Satan to the story adds more emotion, and stresses the dedication Jesus had to his people. Overall, the differences between the stories are to show a more creative depiction of the sacrifice and determination that Jesus gave for his people.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition Bible. Eds. Dom Bernand Orchard, Rev. R. V. Fuller. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1966. Print.
The book of Luke, found after the books Matthew and Mark, focuses on the ministry of Jesus Christ but it also gives us a look into His birth and growth in totality. In this chapter we see a historical account of some of the journeys that Christ experienced. It is important to keep in mind that the Bible and all of its books do serve as historical accounts but each book is unique in the fact that they incorporate a theological timeline. The Bible is, conceivably, the most important book that has ever been written. It gives the world eyewitness accounts to historical events that helped not only shaped a region of the world but the whole entire world. It is nearly impossible to go through some formal societal education and have never once read a part of the bible or have heard a story that adapts from the stories within the bible. The bible has helped formed institutions, associations and so much more. By reading the Gospel of Luke we are truly reading what is meant for us to read as Christians. The principal plot in the book of Luke is the life of Jesus Christ, his sacrifice, His ability to beat death and remain perfect as the son of GOD despite being human as well. Jesus is seen as the perfect savior for humans in the book of Luke. Luke not only gives multiple examples of the power of Jesus but also it gives us a look at The Lord’s triumph over temptation. Luke also depicts Jesus as a man/GOD who had a very deep concentration on people and relationships. The book of Luke gives Jesus a loving characteristic but doesn’t shy away from showing that at times Jesus got angry too. Jesus showed a great deal of compassion to the sick, those in pain, the poor, and unambiguously the sinful. Jesus had genuine love for everyone. Throughout this...
The presentation of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’ The Passion of the Christ, while certainly dramatized, largely stays faithful to the presentation of Jesus in the canonical Gospels. The majority of the differences between this film and the Gospels can be considered creative choices that do not substantially change the narrative, making this film by and large an accurate representation of the scenes in the Bible. However, its near-exclusive focus on Jesus’ trial and death omits much of the context and significance of this event in the life and teachings of Jesus and his greater mission of the salvation of humanity.
Matthew characterizes Jesus as the prophesized Messiah that has finally arrived. Every time a significant event, Matthew highlights that these events fulfill a certain specific prophecy. One example is the revelation that the power of the Holy Spirit caused the Virgin Mary to conceive. Matthew 1:22-23 says, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” Later on, Matthew 2:18 quotes a prophecy in Jeremiah that foretold the Herod’s actions, and Matthew again quotes another prophecy in Matthew 2:15 where “the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘out of Egypt I called my son.’” This was when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus had fled to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod. Other important details that fulfilled prophecies are Joseph’s lineage of the House of David and Jesus’ childhood in Nazareth (which makes him a Nazarene). (Matt. 2:23) The very end picture that Matthew intends to portray is that Jesus fulfills so many specific prophecies in the Old Testament, that surely, without a doubt, Jesus was the Messiah the Jews were waiting
Carson, D, & Moo, D. (2005) An introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
LaHaye, Tim F., and Edward E. Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
In the film “The Passion of the Christ” by Mel Gibson the life of Jesus Christ is portrayed to the audience using his interpretation of the historical moment in which Jesus Christ was crucified. In the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the stories recounted about the life of Jesus Christ are different, because each one was centered to the particular needs of their community. By not following the Gospels word for word Mel Gibson is able to dramatically depict the mercy, love, and salvation Jesus Christ had for the children of God. In doing so Mel Gibson was also able to impact people and have them reflect on the sins they have inflicted on God.
Lane, William. The Gospel According to Mark: The English Text With Introduction, Exposition, and Notes (New International Commentary on the New Testament). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974.
... a merely a reflection of Hebrew society of the time (Stanton). Jesus Christ, being a reformer, should have improved the status of women with his message of love and acceptance. However, there is no denying that the stigma is carried with women into the present day. Women’s position in society can be greatly attributed to their depiction in religious text. Holy word is still a factor in making women more susceptible, more culpable, and more sinful an impure than men. Even as women move up in the social order, religion is timeless and ever bearing on the struggle women fight for sexual equality.