3 minute read
Movie in Review
from His Grace Magazine
by His Grace
December 2022 Movie in Review...The Nativity Story
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The movie begins in the Roman province of Judea with the massacre of the Innocents (children).
One year before the massacre, Zachariah, a Rabbi in Jerusalem is in the temple making an offering to the Lord. When he is visited by the angel Gabriel, he is told that his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son. Zachariah. Knowing his wife is up in age, doubts Gabriel and wants proof; saying they are too old to have a child. Because Zachariah didn't believe, Gabriel told him that he would be unable to speak until after the birth of his child. In Nazareth, Mary is helping with the chores when the Roman soldiers enter the village looking to collect taxes. One of the men in the village is unable to pay his taxes so the soldiers took his daughter away to be used as a slave to pay his debt. Mary is told by her family that she is to marry Joseph. Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. He told her that God had chosen her to become pregnant with God's Son and His name will be called JESUS. He tells Mary that God has also blessed her cousin Elizabeth with a child, despite her age. So before the harvest, Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. She witnesses the birth of John the Baptist to Elizabeth and Zachariah. A few days after John's birth, Zachariah regains his voice and speech.
Mary returns home in time for the harvest visibly pregnant, to the shock of Joseph and her parents, who are scared Joseph will accuse her of adultery, a sin punishable by death, usually by stoning according to the Torah (The Jewish Bible).
At first, Joseph doesn't believe Mary's explanation but he decides not to accuse her. Afterwards, he is visited by the angel Gabriel who tells him of God's plan for Mary's Son.
At that time, Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus demands every man across the Roman Empire to return to their place of birth for the census.
A direct descendant of King David, Joseph is forced to travel 110 kilometers (68 miles) across the Palestine's rocky grounds from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the place of his birth. After traveling four weeks by donkey, they reach the town of Bethlehem.
When they reach the town, Mary goes into labor. Joseph frantically seeks a place for her to deliver the baby. There is, however, no room available due to all the people arriving because of the census, but an innkeeper offers his stable for Jesus’ birth.
Meanwhile, three Magi travel towards Judaea after having discovered the three planets aligning to form a great star. This Star of Bethlehem appears to the Magi.
After a visit from the angel Gabriel, the Magi visits Herod and reveals to him that the Messiah is just a child and He will be a Messiah, "For the lowest of men to the highest of Kings.” The Magi arrive at the stables where Mary has already given birth to Jesus. They bow down and present Jesus with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Watching this movie has been our family tradition on Christmas Eve every year since it came out on DVD.
December 2022
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