If there’s one area of Christ’s life that holds particular intrigue for me, at least in this season of my life, it’s His childhood. Hidden, mysterious, and somehow – wonder of wonders – Divinely human.
There are frequently times when I’m exhausting my vocal range with the kids and other times, sweeter times, as I watch their fat cheeks rise and fall in the gentle rhythm of sleep, when I wonder what it was like to parent God.
Did He wet His bed for entirely too long? Was He ever displeased with Mary’s cooking? Did He know, the way an adult mind knows, Who He actually was? Or was it a gradual unveiling, both to Him and to His holy parents?
And if He didn’t know, then what on earth did that look like? Did Mary and Joseph have to, for lack of a better word, teach Jesus to be God?
It’s pretty mind boggling stuff. And all we really know for sure is that he lived his early childhood in Egypt, had an adolescent episode of assertion of independence in Jerusalem, and then “went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart.” And grew in wisdom and grace.
That last line lends credence to the theory that perhaps His divinity was revealed gradually to Him, the way an ordinary human child becomes self aware and eventually, independent. Because how, otherwise, could God, the omnipotent and eternal, have any growing to do?
I’m notoriously wary of religious movies, because 1. they’re usually subpar in the production value department (Facing the Giants, anyone?) and 2. who knows what kind of theological, ah, liberties were mixed into the script alongside actual Scripture (cough, cough, Nativity Story).
When I was offered the chance to view an advance screening of The Young Messiah, frankly, I wasn’t that interested. I didn’t want to be bored, disappointed, or scandalized, which are the usual trifecta for me when viewing pretty much any religious flick I can recall, save for the Passion of the Christ and The Ten Commandments.
But this film was different.
It was beautiful, haunting, thought provoking, and deeply, deeply reverent. And it was well cast and supremely well acted.
So I have an offer for you now, dear local readers. Particularly those of the maternal persuasion.
The production company responsible for this beautiful film has offered to host an advance screening here in Denver, for us. They’re reserved a theater for our exclusive use at the Regal Southglenn Stadium 14 at the Shops at Southglenn for Wednesday, January 13th at 7 pm.
You can register for the screening here, and I’d love to see you and a guest there. Registration is first come, first serve, and seats are limited.
(And while I wanted to have this up before Christmas, day 6 out of 12 ain’t half bad, croup and teething notwithstanding.)
Merry Christmas!
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