The story of Jesus at the age of seven, when his parents return to Nazareth from Egypt. Based on the novel, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice. Starring Adam Greaves-Neal, Sara Lazzaro, Vincent Walsh, Sean Bean.

This is a beautifully shot film with little else to recommend it, save the young man playing Jesus. It tells of Jesus’ life as a young child, of which there is no historical account in the Bible.

There are several problems with this film, mainly dealing with the misrepresentation of Jesus.  To begin, the filmmakers portray Jesus as a boy who is unaware of who he is. I believe that he always knew who he was: God’s Son. In Luke 2:49, at age 12, when his parents find him in the temple, Jesus says,  “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 

Also, in the film, his earthly parents seem to keep hiding the truth from him. I don’t believe that this was ever the case either. Let’s look at John 2:1-5, the account of Jesus’ first miracle, the turning of water into wine at a wedding.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Here, his mother is basically asking him to perform a miracle, indicating that Jesus knew it was time for his public ministry to begin. Does this sound like a mother who is trying to hide the truth of who Jesus is?

In light of this passage, it is also worth noting that the movie showed Jesus performing miracles well ahead of schedule.  It also showed Satan regularly causing problems.  In the Bible, it is clear that Satan is only allowed to intervene in lives with God’s permission. Luke 22:31-32 states:

Jesus said to the disciple Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 

Also, in the book of Job, Satan asks to attack Job, and God’s reply is found in Job 1:12:

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

I wish this film had a more biblically sound script, but it doesn’t, and for that reason, I cannot recommend it.  It is a pass.