Plot Synopsis:
‘Son of God’ is an excellent biblical drama inspired by true events depicting the life of Jesus Christ in an era where the Romans were a brutal force and the Jews who were looking for a Messiah. We are taken through a journey from Christ’s birth to death to resurrection as Christ gathers followers from all walks of life to follow Him. We are shown how loving Jesus is and how we are to live our lives if we say we follow Him.

PLOT REVIEW:
‘Son of God’ did a good job being 99% biblically accurate and sticking to the Word of God in its depiction of Christ and what He came to do. It is a movie that is recommended for all ages to watch and learn that they can be touched by the Son of God.

Content Review:
‘Son of God’ has many instances of violence whether it is killings through the sword, killings through crucifixion, torture through whippings, etc. It also has many instances of touching moments that can bring you to tears whether you are a guy or gal. It addresses issues such as oppression, betrayal, obedience, allegiance, selfishness, pride, forgiveness, sin, death, life, love, healing, and redemption.

RECOMMENDATION:
Can be watched more than once

Whether you believe in Jesus or not, this movie will make you think why Jesus Christ should be followed and the difference He can make in your life where you are in the here and now and for eternity.

Spiritual CONNECTIONS - SPOILER ALERTS:

what i loved about the movie:

Spoiler Alert 1:
I loved how ‘Son of God’ starts out with ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2, ESV) ‘, to describe Jesus.

Then the movie reminds us that Jesus was there when Adam and Eve were created; Jesus was there when Noah had to build the ark; Jesus was there when Abraham received the promises; Jesus was there when Moses delivered the Israelites from Egypt; Jesus was there when David defeated Goliath, etc.

Later, we learn ‘The Light shines in the darkness….The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us! (John 1:5,14)

Then they show the birth of Jesus Christ and the rest of His life.

Spoiler Alert 2:
I loved when Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ (Mark 2:5) and later said to the Pharisee who questioned Him:  “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—  “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:9-11)

Spoiler Alert 3:
I loved how Jesus told a parable of the Pharisee and tax collector when a Pharisee told Jesus not to associate with a tax collector: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector….”But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  (Luke 18:10-11, 13-14) 

Then, Jesus called Matthew, the Tax Collector to follow Him.

Spoiler Alert 4:
I loved how Jesus handled the situation regarding the woman caught in adultery:
 “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) 

Later Jesus tells her, ‘Go, and sin no more.’ (John 8:11)

Spoiler Alert 5:
I loved how Jesus handled the situation regarding a Pharisee who tried to trick Jesus regarding taxes to Caesar: And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:16-17)

Spoiler Alert 6:
I loved how Jesus met Peter and what he told him: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19)

Spoiler Alert 7:
I loved how Jesus shared the Beatitudes to the crowds such as

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:3-9)

Spoiler Alert 8:
I loved how Jesus taught the disciples how to pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  Your kingdom come,  your will be
 done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.... (Matthew 6:9-12)

Spoiler Alert 9:
I loved how Jesus fed the 5000 by using 5 loaves and two fish and then sharing about how God cares for all our needs.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.… (Matthew 6:26, 31-33)

Spoiler Alert 10:
I loved how Jesus called to Peter while walking on water and Peter tried to walk on water.

“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (Matthew 14:26, 29-31)

Spoiler Alert 11:
I loved how Jesus showed loving compassion to Martha in her pain and raised Lazarus from the dead reminding her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Spoiler Alert 13:
I loved when Jesus told His disciples, ‘Let not your heart be troubled, you are trusting God, now trust in me….And you know the way to where I am going.”^[c] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life’. (John 14:1, 4-6)

Spoiler Alert 14:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus when Jesus told Nicodemus,  Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again  he cannot see the kingdom of God… Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God… Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit…“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ” (John 3:3,5, 7-8, 16)

Spoiler Alert 15:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with Simon Peter: “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)”

Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “…For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock. I will build my church… (Matthew 16:15-18)

Spoiler Alert 16:
I loved Jesus’ actions for the disciples at the Last Supper : “And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. (Mark 14:22-24)

Spoiler Alert 17:
I loved how compassionate Jesus was with Judas Iscariot even though He knew Judas was going to betray him: After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me…Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21, 26-27)

Spoiler Alert 18:
I loved when Jesus told the disciples, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)

Spoiler Alert 19:
I loved when Jesus told His disciples not to be violent: “ Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) 

Spoiler Alert 20:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with Pilate: “ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-34, 36-38)

Spoiler Alert 21:
I loved Pilate’s interaction with the chief priests: "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.  So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:19-22)

Spoiler Alert 22:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with the robbers even in his excruciating pain: One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Spoiler Alert 23:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with His mommy Mary and His disciple John showing how much He loved His mommy:  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27)

Spoiler Alert 24:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with the Father when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!......Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. ….” (Luke 23:34, 46)

Spoiler Alert 25:
I loved how the veil of the Temple where only the priest could enter the Holy of Holies was torn apart after Jesus died on the cross, to symbolize that Jesus’ death on the cross made the way for all those who turn to Him to be righteousness in the sight of God being washed by the precious cleansing Blood of Christ to enter the Holy of Holies.

Spoiler Alert 26:
I loved how they showed a Lamb being slain at the altar at the same time Jesus was being crucified to show us that we need not anymore sacrifices of a lamb to come before the Lord because Jesus became our Lamb of God to take away our sin becoming our Passover Lamb for God’s judgment to Passover us when we look to Him for the cleansing of our sins.

Spoiler Alert 27:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with Mary Magdalene after His resurrection from the dead:  “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?...  Jesus said to her, “Mary….Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.”   (John 20:14-16, 18)

Spoiler Alert 28:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with Thomas:   Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

Spoiler Alert 29:
I loved Jesus’ interaction with the disciples at the mountain:  “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Spoiler Alert 30:
I love Jesus’ interaction with His disciple John after all the disciples died for their faith in Christ and John was exiled to the island of Potmas: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away….”I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end…  He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 21-3-4, 22:13, 20)”

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE MOVIE:

I did not like that the directors left out a key statement of Jesus which is so paramount when they just included Jesus saying, 'I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life! (John 14:6)' three times but omitted, 'No one comes to the Father except through me! (John 14:6)

I did not like the fact that the Lord's prayer for truncated.

I did not like that it looked like Jesus was forcing Judas Iscariot to eat the bread when he did not want to. This action by Jesus is not recorded in Scripture anywhere but they portrayed it as such.

Questions to Ponder:

Which character in the movie do you most identify with and why?

What touched you the most in the movie and why?

What actions of Jesus did you love the most and why?

When you are dealing with oppression, what is your reaction and how is it similar or different to how characters handled it in the movie?

Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus and what was the outcome of the betrayal?

Why do you think Peter denied Jesus 3 times even though he promised Jesus that he won’t and what was the outcome?

How did Judas and Peter handle their rejection of Jesus and why?

Why do you think Jesus died on the cross?

If you were one of His disciples, what would your reaction be when you saw Jesus come back to life?

What are you going to do with Jesus?