The Expository Files

"Mary and Jesus"

Thanks for taking a look at Expository Files 6.11. We hope you have found it thought provoking, beneficial and, most of all, Scriptural.

As of this writing, NBC is advertising a soon to be broadcast "made for TV" movie entitled "Mary and Jesus." This kind of news always draws out mixed emotions in me. While I am happy that someone somewhere thinks that there is still enough interest in Jesus that a movie about some aspect of His life might turn a profit in today's society, I am also mindful of the fact that nothing about the Bible comes through Hollywood unscathed. One can find inaccuracies in the movie classic "The Ten Commandments" as well as in the newer miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth." Then, last season someone got the bright idea that the story of the flood would work well as a "comedy" (Oh... it wasn't supposed to be a comedy?) At any rate, it was a bungled attempt in about every way imaginable. I have yet to hear from anyone who was actually pleased with the result.

But this upcoming movie in which it seems the main focus will be on Mary is now being advertised and may already have been shown by the time you read this. I'll refrain from saying anything pro or con about the contents, but I can say something about the advertisement that struck me as a little revealing. The commercial ends with this question: "What if they are right?"

I wonder who the "they" are? Probably that has reference to "those" people who actually believe that Mary gave birth to the Son of God. "They" would be in contrast to the "we" who are airing the movie here at NBC who wish it remain distinct from the "they" who believe Jesus is who He claimed to be.

I don't mind this, and I am not complaining at all about it. In fact, I like it. Its an up front admission that those who are airing this NBC advertisement are not believers. I think it should be admitted if true. But it also suggests that the slants and biases of these people will generally be in the direction on unbelief and that their moral conclusions are also based on something other than Scripture. I think that believers have known that this is so for a long time. It is most certainly the reason that objectivity is many times lost when NBC and other networks deal with Scriptural and moral topics.

I hope they do a better job than they did with Noah and the flood last season.

By Jon W. Quinn
The Final Page
From Expository Files 6.11; November 1999


 

 

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