Last week I went to see the remake of a classic:”Ben Hur.” The remake centers around the story of a Jewish prince, his Roman adopted brother, and their search for glory and revenge. Ben Hur’s brother, Messala, leaves his adoptive family to pursue a quest for glory within the Roman Army. Three years later he returns to Jerusalem to “encourage” the Jews to support the mission of Rome. Our Jewish prince(Ben Hur), who apathetically seeks peace, gets caught in the middle of the Zealots and Romans and takes the fall for his people. Surviving enslavement, Ben-Hur sets out to seek revenge against his wayward brother.
“Ben Hur” is practically the movie “Gladiator“ with Jesus, and from a Christian who loves “Gladiator,“ you couldn’t ask for a better mix. It’s the story of a prominent leader who becomes a slave and then tries to defeat the pride of Rome. Except, the story of “Ben Hur” came before the movie “Gladiator.” The Christian community has been working hard in recent years to break into the Hollywood sphere, and they’ve come a long way since “Facing the Giants.” But most Christian movies tend to only reach an already Christian audience. It’s movies like”Ben Hur” that actually have an opportunity to change culture. In this film, Jesus is recognized for His kindness and desire for peace. The movie also depicts the full crucifixion.”Ben Hur’s” target audience is those who are looking for an action film, yet it still manages to share the message of Christ with the viewer.
“Ben Hur” does something unusual for most Christian movies- it shares the Gospel in a subtle manner. If you are going to see it strictly because it is an action movie set in the Roman Empire, you will be pleased. As a Christian you will be pleased to see the message of the Gospel in this artistic medium. Take it from someone who is usually too cheap to go to the movies — it’s worth the money.
