Tracing the Footsteps of Jesus (edit, back)
07/16/2008
While researching and preparing scripts during the past two years, I prayed, “Lord, how can I tell the story of Jesus in a way that will capture the imagination of viewers?”
During our first film trip to Israel in July 2007, we sensed God’s leading and protection as we related the baptism of Jesus at an “authentic” site—in a military zone. After a tense encounter with the Israeli army, we were permitted to finish. Then the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness provided an opportunity to explore the origin of evil.
When we returned in November 2007 for a second month of filming, God opened doors in the West Bank where we told the story of the Samaritan woman at Nablus. We were able to complete seven episodes during this trip.
In April of this year we returned for the third time, filming ten episodes in Jerusalem and Galilee. On location filming is very challenging; we have to contend with traffic noise, with prayer calls from mosques, with airplanes, and with tourists. To find picturesque, quiet locations that are accurate for the story we have driven an average of 2,500 miles per trip.
While editing episode 8, tears moistened my eyes as I watched the call of the fishermen at a waterfall flowing into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus taught the crowds from Peter’s boat that day, and then told Peter to push out into deep water and let down his net. Throughout the previous night Peter had fished and caught nothing, and he knew better than to fish in the daylight. But when Jesus told him to fish, he said “Okay, Boss.” When he snagged the huge shoal of fish, he fell before Jesus, calling Him “Lord!”
We tried to film at this location on two occasions, but it was occupied. On our third attempt the cove was quiet, so we quickly set up and began to tell this story. From the corner of my eye I noticed a Palestinian man sitting on some rocks, looking at the lake. We were forced to pause when a group of people visited the waterfall, so I walked down the shore. Imagine my surprise when the man said, “I want Jesus to be my Lord.” He had listened to my appeal while filming and had invited Jesus into his heart. As we prayed together, he committed his life to Jesus.
We were privileged to film on a Herodian Street excavated next to the Temple Mount. Walking on the same street Jesus had walked, I recount His prophecy of the destruction of the Temple. Stopping at a pile of huge stones recently unearthed, I point out how they were pushed from the Temple above in direct fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.
Tracing The Footsteps Of Jesus brings Christ’s world and ministry to life, and Christian doctrines develop in a natural, organic setting. Salvation, baptism, the origin of evil, the Sabbath, the blessed hope, the state of the dead and many other doctrines are creatively presented in the historical context of Jesus life.
Part of the 2005 ASI Convention offering went to support the production of Tracing the Footsteps of Jesus. We will complete filming this fall and hope to release the series in the winter of 2009. Thank you very much to everyone to supported our work through the ASI offering.
Stop by our booth at ASI convention for a DVD overview or visit us at www.biblicalworld.org for more information.