This is a very well done and reverent portrayal of Mary’s journey, finding out she would give birth to a Savior, and the subsequent life — and death — of her Son, Jesus.
Starring Corrina Crade as Mary, Francisco Torres as Joseph and Bruce Marchiano as the adult Jesus, all the actors hit the right notes and do an honorable job in portraying these Biblical giants.
The short, 43-minute film opens with a young Mary, eating the Passover with her family. Young Mary asks why they still eat the Passover meal every year. Her father patiently teaches about the Passover lamb, and how innocent blood was shed so that the Hebrews could place it over their doors. Then when the death angel would pass, it would pass over them. And he teaches how the Hebrews were soon freed from Egyptian bondage. Young Mary wonders why the innocent lamb had to die. “The lamb was innocent, but we are not,” he explains. He goes on to explain that the Lamb of God would soon arrive, the Messiah, to save them from sin. And that this Messiah would be led as a lamb to the slaughter.
The music score in this film is remarkable — dramatic and appropriate, and it contains vocals without words, but its syllables are sweet and sound angelic. The voices and sounds are spot on. Soon, we see the grown Mary and the visitation of the messenger angel, Gabriel, telling her that she will be the vessel God has chosen for the Messiah to be born. “How can this be?” she asks. “I’m a virgin.” The angel explains the birth will be God-given and that her cousin Elizabeth, thought barren, is already pregnant. When Mary greets Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) leaps in her womb.
Mary gives praise to God in what has become known as “Mary’s Magnificat.” She praises God and rejoices in Him. The dramatic recreation of the story of Mary and Jesus continues as Mary breaks the news to Joseph, who isn’t sure how to take it. But an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him that this is God-ordained. Joseph is also warned, after Jesus’ birth, to take the child and Mary and to flee to Egypt, as Herod will attempt to take the Child’s life.
Caesar Augustus makes the decree that all the world should be taxed or, in other words, a census will take place. And Mary and Joseph travel to their home of Bethleham, where baby Jesus will be born. Mary by this time is close to delivering the baby and no room is found for them at the Inn. But Jesus is indeed born, in a manger, and an angel tells abiding shepherds in the area of the good news. They soon travel to meet the Christ child. Later, when Jesus is presented at the temple for dedication, Simeon, who had known by the Spirit of God he would live to see the birth of the Messiah, gets to lay his eyes on Jesus. So does an elderly lady who rejoices in his birth.
Next the film shifts to a 12-year-old Jesus, speaking with the elders of the temple. He has been about his Father’s business and Mary soon realizes that He is not her Son alone.
The dramatics continue with several shining moments in Jesus’ life being featured, including His teaching of the Beatitudes, His healing a lame man, setting Mary Magdalene free, and reading from Isaiah 61, a prophecy about Himself, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to preach good tidings (news) to the meek. When John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod, he sends word to ask if Jesus is indeed the Messiah, or do they look for another. Jesus sends word back that the blind see, the lame walk, the leper is cleansed, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. Jesus is, indeed, the promised Messiah.
The film concludes with Jesus’ crucifixion, and it does contain a few brief scenes of a lot of blood and stripes on Jesus. Then we see the glorious resurrection as Mary Magdalene brings good news to the disciples, and Jesus later appears to them, saying, “Peace to you.” He proclaims He is the resurrection and the life.
Due to the brief bloody scenes, we are awarding our Dove seal for Ages 12+ to the film, which has earned our seal due to its reverent and accurate recreation of the life of Mary and Jesus. Parents should check out our content listing and decide as some children a bit under 12 would be fine watching this wonderful recreation of the birth, life, and death of Jesus. And oh, the resurrection!
The Dove Take
This short film does a remarkable job in recreating the birth, life and death of Jesus, as well as his resurrection and it is truly inspiring and features wonderful music.
