NBC’s “AD: The Bible Continues” — Episode 3

Anastasia Romanov, Amelia Earhart, and D.B. Cooper.

Do you know what they all have in common? They’re all “famous disappearances”. These people simply dropped out of sight and no one has ever heard from—or “of”—them again. Oh, you can find theories about what happened to them: Some suggest Amelia Earhart was captured by Japan and became the voice of “Tokyo Rose.” Some say that D.B. Cooper was a former Green Beret who survived to hijack another plane. Did Anastasia Romanov escaped execution by the Bolshevik’s and move to the United States? Famous disappearances. No positive proof for what really happened. Skeptics lump Jesus Christ in with this group, they suggest that He is just another one of those famous people whose end is shrouded in mystery and whose legend lives on through conspiracy theorist such as yourselves and the rest of the Holy Christian Church. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Remember the facts, undisputed facts, surrounding the first Easter:

• Jesus’ death was public. He didn’t die in a back-room, out of sight from witnesses. His death was orchestrated and carried out by His enemies.
• Jesus death was undeniable. There wasn’t a thready or weak pulse, is He—or isn’t He dead? A spear through the lung and into the heart, issuing a flow of blood and water, verified that He was indeed dead.
• Jesus’ corpse remained in custody of His enemies. Joseph of Arimathea might have donated the tomb but the body was placed under Roman guard.
• Sunday morning that guarded tomb was open and the corpse was missing.

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These facts are not in dispute. Believers and unbelievers, followers and skeptics all agree that this is what happened. But what happened? I think A.D. is doing a nice job of showing Pilate in his struggle to answer that question. None of Pilate’s guard were killed in a pre-dawn raid and no bodies of disciples could be paraded about to prove this theory. (A Roman guard was more likely 36 men in shifts where ¾ were always “on” guard, while ¼ were “off”). Now having said that I like Pilate’s struggle as presented in A.D., I should point out that it isn’t accurate.

Matthew 28 clearly tells us that the chief priests and elders paid the soldiers to lie and promised to keep them put of trouble. There is no record in the Bible or in any other historical document that the Easter guards were executed. A.D.’s version makes for a dramatic storyline but at this point in history Roman concern with Jerusalem was chiefly collecting taxes and keeping the peace (to better collect taxes). Whether of not Jesus was the promised Messiah and whether or not He rose from the dead were theological questions about which Rome couldn’t have cared less.

Speaking of inaccuracies, you really should read Acts, chapter 2 for yourself. Do that and you’ll see that A.D.’s account fell far short. Let’s start with the disciples, impatiently waiting for the Holy Spirit, are led by Peter to pray the Lord’s Prayer over and over, through the night and long past sunrise. As their repetition reaches a fevered pitch, then the Holy Spirit comes/appears. Can you see the problem here? God comes, and faith comes, by our actions. Our sincerity. Our piety. Our commitment. Our faith. This is not just inaccurate, it is false and dangerous. Faith is a gift, not your work. By taking it out of your clumsy hands, forgetful mind, and weak trust, (and out of my clumsy hands, my forgetful mind, and my weak faith) God ensures that it is something you can rely on. My other huge criticism for this week was the way A.D. portrayed (or didn’t portray) Peter’s sermon. Again, read Acts 2.

• Peter preached a sermon about Jesus. (Acts 2:14-36)
• The heart of that sermon was “You killed Jesus…God has raised Him up from the dead.” (Acts 2:23 & 32)
• Hearing this, the people asked “what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)
• Peter’s reply to that question was: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
• About 3,000 people heeded Peter’s call that day. (Acts 2:41)

I had you read that out of your Bible because you wouldn’t have gotten any of it out of the third episode of A.D. This episode had fire (not just tongues of flame) but seemed more concerned with made-up storylines of Pilate celebrating Pentecost and the Jewish guerillas sneaking around always about to stab someone in the gut. I don’t mind the addition of the made-up storylines. Such things are common when taking a written account to the screen. What I mind are the clear omissions of the Gospel replaced with an emphasis on what we do.

PARENTS! Here’s where you need to take the lead with your children!! If you are watching it with them, prepare ahead of time by reading through the Biblical material together. This week’s episode took us into the early verses of Acts 4; by reading through Acts 4-6 this week your family should be ready to watch next week and say “that’s not what the Bible says.” I want to end on a positive note; what I thought was the best scene/best line in this episode. Actually it was in the Pentecost (which was otherwise dismal). As the disciples were moving into the crowd, John looks a citizen in the eye and simply says “Jesus is alive.”

That’s it. That’s what was going on. That’s what Acts records and that is what the Church still does. The events recorded in the Gospels are real. Jesus claimed to be God Himself—bold, even blasphemous words—unless they were true. He was executed for it and three days later not only did those who opposed His claim not have His body, they also didn’t have a plausible explanation for what had happened to it.

Again, this is the Good News the Church continues to proclaim. It is our privilege to share and it is our hope in the face of our own sin and in the face of our own impending death. “Jesus is alive.” Sing it John! Shout it! Shout it from the rooftops, hilltops and from the mountaintops!! “Jesus is alive!” What do you think? What else did you like? What confused you? What made you wonder and what made you roll your eyes? Post your comments below.

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God!” — Isaiah 40:9

Episode 1: Review

Episode 2: Review

Episode 3: Review