Killing the Truth

I just finished watching the National Geographic special, "Killing Jesus".  I would retitle it "Killing the Truth". Now, I realize that this comes from a liberal organization, but I thought at least they would actually use the Biblical accounts without twisting the text around! But not so much.

When we first see Jesus calling His disciples, it seems as though He asks the disciples if they would like to join Him. Matthew 4:18-22 says, And walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." And they immediately left the nets, and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him." (Emphasis mine). It doesn't sound like he asked them, it sounds more like He commanded them  with some authority because they immediately followed Him, even leaving their father behind.

Another problem with this film...at one point in the film Jesus tells a jeerer that "To know love is to know God." The Bible doesn't record Jesus as ever using those words! So now they are putting words in Jesus mouth! John records in Revelation, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the prophecy of this book, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." Rev. 22:18-19.  I suppose John could just be referring to Revelation itself and not the whole Bible, but I don't think it's bad interpretation to assume that this applies to the whole Bible. I don't think God would want us putting words in His mouth.

The last point I want to discuss is the fact that during the crucifixion scene, the Bible records that there were two thieves hanging on either side of him. The film depicted Christ as being the only one crucified. I just find it hard to believe that there would not have been other executions going on at the same time. Also, the minute Jesus dies He whispers "It is finished" and everything goes silent. The Bible records that, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who fallen asleep were raised." Matthew 27:50-52  The film depicts none of this, it doesn't even show the sky going dark after His death! They really missed the boat with this.

I just felt the need to write about this because I am sure many people watched this special and assumed that what was depicted was what actually occurred. However, I will stick with the Biblical version of events, rather than a human interpretation of those events.