You've seen all the views, reviews and critiques which seem to flood the media anytime JESUS shows up in a public media venue.
At CommunionFire Fellowship we decided beforehand to receive the wonderful mission that Roma Downey and "Team Son of God" film did like an invitation to worship JESUS with them.
We observed in the film that when JESUS made public appearances in His day, the same old critics and skeptics showed up right along side of the 'real blasphemers' (As Caiaphas aptly put it, "We have but one king, Caesar"), and those that would quibble about His authority, authenticity and Biblical orthodoxy and accurateness.
We also observed that there were many more who were destitute, in need of mercy, hoping for miracles and who followed Him. That's when Jesus smiled most! For the small band of CommunionFire people, (who are having Communion constantly), the JESUS portrayed in the film is pretty darn close to the person of JESUS we encounter in Communion. He is loving, happy, kind, full of mercy, joyful and compassionate. (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So my dear wife followed the leading of the same Holy Spirit that guided the mission "Team of Son of God" ...tucked away a small round flat bread in her purse as team CommunionFire headed out to Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, SC for a 'field trip'. It was Saturday at the 1 pm matinee.
Our small band settled in the nice plush chairs of the theater and watched. Again and again we were all amazed at how JESUS was portrayed in this film. Pastor Bob (One of the CommunionFire Pastors) had already raised his arms worshipfully several times early in the film. (He said later, "Well wouldn't you cheer if you saw JESUS heal a lame man? Or witnessed Jesus walking on water and Peter coming to Him from the boat? Or what if you had witnessed the multiplication of the bread to the 5,000? People cheer for lesser things at sporting events!") One person observed saying with my hands going up and down it looked like 'Pastor Bob was on the roller coaster ride of his life!'
Then the time came. JESUS had prepared the room for the Last Supper, the 1st Communion. Another CommunionFire Pastor (and my wife) Camille, pulled out the flat bread and broke it and we passed it worshipfully in the theater from one person to another in time for JESUS to bless it. Then we had Communion with those on screen. The blessing was there. We all sensed it.
While breaking the bread and sharing the cup I encountered the JESUS we were watching on the screen. I quickly saw a number '1' then wrapped together, like a symbol, with the number '9'. (It looked like a modest scepter). During the drinking of the wine on the screen I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Luke 9:1 This is for you" (as if a message I was to share). It was a real CommunionFire experience during the movie. This was another first for the CommunionFire Fellowship journals.
Camille also observed that God provided a Ram to replace Isaac who was 'caught in the thorns' just as Jesus had a crown of thorns as The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world as our sacrifice.
For us: Receiving Communion leads us to experience "The Miracle of CommunionFire" - when we encounter the presence of JESUS. Usually Communion lasts about 5-10 minutes determined by the number breaking bread. The overflow (sharing each of our experiences with eachother) may go on for the length of the film, but watching The Son of God was like having Communion for two and a half hours. It was beautiful.
As in Emmaus (Luke 24) when JESUS blesses and breaks the bread or in the film when JESUS shows up just as Peter blesses and brakes the bread - it was then in both scenes that the Holy Spirit opened their eyes and they recognized Him. This is how JESUS chose to announce His resurrection! He didn't rent out a stadium to have a crusade where he would simultaneously announce to 100,000 people, "Okay y'all I did it. I rose from the dead! So now the Kingdom of God is here!" No - not at that point. He chose then to reveal Himself in the power of the resurrection to the women and those who loved Him and knew Him already.
However: Next time, when He comes back, and some feel that is very very soon... the Scriptures tell us that 'in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52)... every eye shall see Him for He will come in the clouds with power and great glory!" Because of the media today that is very possible. Think of how many have 'seen Him' just in this film. What do you think it will be like when He actually returns and billions see Him at once!
"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And every eye will see him--even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will struck by Him. Yes! Amen!" Revelations 1:7
Perhaps it is not significant, but we did celebrate Communion in the moviehouse (We did this in remembrance of Him) in this beautiful film that truly captured the person of JESUS that we encounter in Communion. He is just that good! He smiles most of the time. He is always comforting, caring and compassionate. He serves us. He shares all He has with us. He with holds nothing. He came as the son of man that we might know Him as the Son of God, the firstborn among many! He is our Good Shepherd, the Servant of heaven, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, Savior, Healer, Deliverer and The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Look for JESUS in the breaking of the bread. He is waiting for you. Its a one on one encounter and experience. He said to "do this to remember Him" and that "He had to leave to send another, the Holy Spirit who would lead you into His reality, bring Him into your memory and show you things to come."
Oh yes. That night, the Lord led me to use Luke 9:1 as the text for praying over a team of young people from YWAM who were being commissioned as missionaries.
Thanks Roma for your vision (for producing The Bible Series and Son of God), your husband Mark for supporting your work, the LightWorkers Media team behind and in front of the camera who brought us a very rich worship experience and for allowing us to break bread with you... even popcorn! Yes, Jesus IS just that good!
If you haven't seen the Son of God, two things: 1) Come to His Table and see Him there (Psalm 23) and 2) Go see Him in the film!
At CommunionFire Fellowship we decided beforehand to receive the wonderful mission that Roma Downey and "Team Son of God" film did like an invitation to worship JESUS with them.
We observed in the film that when JESUS made public appearances in His day, the same old critics and skeptics showed up right along side of the 'real blasphemers' (As Caiaphas aptly put it, "We have but one king, Caesar"), and those that would quibble about His authority, authenticity and Biblical orthodoxy and accurateness.
We also observed that there were many more who were destitute, in need of mercy, hoping for miracles and who followed Him. That's when Jesus smiled most! For the small band of CommunionFire people, (who are having Communion constantly), the JESUS portrayed in the film is pretty darn close to the person of JESUS we encounter in Communion. He is loving, happy, kind, full of mercy, joyful and compassionate. (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So my dear wife followed the leading of the same Holy Spirit that guided the mission "Team of Son of God" ...tucked away a small round flat bread in her purse as team CommunionFire headed out to Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, SC for a 'field trip'. It was Saturday at the 1 pm matinee.
Our small band settled in the nice plush chairs of the theater and watched. Again and again we were all amazed at how JESUS was portrayed in this film. Pastor Bob (One of the CommunionFire Pastors) had already raised his arms worshipfully several times early in the film. (He said later, "Well wouldn't you cheer if you saw JESUS heal a lame man? Or witnessed Jesus walking on water and Peter coming to Him from the boat? Or what if you had witnessed the multiplication of the bread to the 5,000? People cheer for lesser things at sporting events!") One person observed saying with my hands going up and down it looked like 'Pastor Bob was on the roller coaster ride of his life!'
Then the time came. JESUS had prepared the room for the Last Supper, the 1st Communion. Another CommunionFire Pastor (and my wife) Camille, pulled out the flat bread and broke it and we passed it worshipfully in the theater from one person to another in time for JESUS to bless it. Then we had Communion with those on screen. The blessing was there. We all sensed it.
While breaking the bread and sharing the cup I encountered the JESUS we were watching on the screen. I quickly saw a number '1' then wrapped together, like a symbol, with the number '9'. (It looked like a modest scepter). During the drinking of the wine on the screen I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Luke 9:1 This is for you" (as if a message I was to share). It was a real CommunionFire experience during the movie. This was another first for the CommunionFire Fellowship journals.
Camille also observed that God provided a Ram to replace Isaac who was 'caught in the thorns' just as Jesus had a crown of thorns as The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world as our sacrifice.
For us: Receiving Communion leads us to experience "The Miracle of CommunionFire" - when we encounter the presence of JESUS. Usually Communion lasts about 5-10 minutes determined by the number breaking bread. The overflow (sharing each of our experiences with eachother) may go on for the length of the film, but watching The Son of God was like having Communion for two and a half hours. It was beautiful.
As in Emmaus (Luke 24) when JESUS blesses and breaks the bread or in the film when JESUS shows up just as Peter blesses and brakes the bread - it was then in both scenes that the Holy Spirit opened their eyes and they recognized Him. This is how JESUS chose to announce His resurrection! He didn't rent out a stadium to have a crusade where he would simultaneously announce to 100,000 people, "Okay y'all I did it. I rose from the dead! So now the Kingdom of God is here!" No - not at that point. He chose then to reveal Himself in the power of the resurrection to the women and those who loved Him and knew Him already.
However: Next time, when He comes back, and some feel that is very very soon... the Scriptures tell us that 'in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52)... every eye shall see Him for He will come in the clouds with power and great glory!" Because of the media today that is very possible. Think of how many have 'seen Him' just in this film. What do you think it will be like when He actually returns and billions see Him at once!
"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And every eye will see him--even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will struck by Him. Yes! Amen!" Revelations 1:7
Perhaps it is not significant, but we did celebrate Communion in the moviehouse (We did this in remembrance of Him) in this beautiful film that truly captured the person of JESUS that we encounter in Communion. He is just that good! He smiles most of the time. He is always comforting, caring and compassionate. He serves us. He shares all He has with us. He with holds nothing. He came as the son of man that we might know Him as the Son of God, the firstborn among many! He is our Good Shepherd, the Servant of heaven, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, Savior, Healer, Deliverer and The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Look for JESUS in the breaking of the bread. He is waiting for you. Its a one on one encounter and experience. He said to "do this to remember Him" and that "He had to leave to send another, the Holy Spirit who would lead you into His reality, bring Him into your memory and show you things to come."
Oh yes. That night, the Lord led me to use Luke 9:1 as the text for praying over a team of young people from YWAM who were being commissioned as missionaries.
Thanks Roma for your vision (for producing The Bible Series and Son of God), your husband Mark for supporting your work, the LightWorkers Media team behind and in front of the camera who brought us a very rich worship experience and for allowing us to break bread with you... even popcorn! Yes, Jesus IS just that good!
If you haven't seen the Son of God, two things: 1) Come to His Table and see Him there (Psalm 23) and 2) Go see Him in the film!