Jesus of Nazareth

JESUS OF NAZARETH

This is a 12-week study using the resource of Franco Zeffirelli’s film of the same name. When Zeffirelli set out in the 1970s to film the life of Christ with a $12 million budget for on-location production in Morocco and Tunisia, he took two years to prepare before filming began in September 1975 at the edge of the Sahara Desert.

A panel of distinguished theologians and biblical scholars served as his advisors and helped Zeffirelli achieve a high degree of historical accuracy, not only in the period sets and costumes, but in the many other details that distinguish this version of Jesus’ life on film from other productions. When the final production was finally edited down from Zeffirelli’s originally intended 12 hours to six-and- one-half hours for release on American television, the result was widespread critical acclaim. Christianity Today wrote in their review, “…..the first film of Jesus that spurned grandiosity for the quiet adherence to the word and spirit of the New Testament.”

The film stars Robert Powell, Sir Laurence Olivier, Rod Steiger, Anne Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine, Claudia Cardinale, Sir Ralph Richardson, Stacy Keech, Christopher Plummer, James Farentino, and many others. Zeffirelli used all four gospels. Much of the film’s dialogue comes directly from scripture. The preeminent New Testament theologian (and my personal N.T. guru), William Barclay gave a ringing endorsement of the film, and wrote a book from the film script.

Prior to each session you will receive a note-taking handout. It will have an outline of what the session will cover with scripture references. My request is that you read the scriptures ahead of each session, noting your thoughts and questions on the handout. Reading and thinking about the scriptures will provide good grounding for what you will then see in the film clip. Each session will be comprised of 30 minutes of film viewing followed by 45-60 minutes of discussion. You may also add notes to your handout while viewing the film clip. We will then enter into the discussion phase, referring back to and reading scriptures as needed. Our discussions will focus on the gospel accounts and also our impressions of how Zeffirelli portrayed that element of Jesus’ life.

Our church secretary is gone through the first week of February, meaning the newsletter is going to be late, and I need to promote the class in it. Given that, and our up-coming cruise, we will start the class Tuesday, March 1st with our final session on May 17th.