Review of The Nativity Story (2006) by Randy P — 13 Apr 2013

The Nativity Story is a beautiful movie rendition of the account of Jesus Christ's birth as was written in the Gospels of the New Testament. The movie shows how Mary became engaged to Joseph because of her family's debt. Mary was a teenager, while Joseph was quite a bit older. Shortly after her engagement or betrothal to Joseph, Mary was visited by an angel who told her that she was chosen bear the Son of God. Mary was both afraid and in awe about the news given to her, that she would be used in such a way. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant despite being much older than childbearing years. Mary stays to help her for a while, and when she returns to her family, it's obvious she is pregnant. Joseph is shocked and angered, as are Mary's parents. Joseph is then visited by an angel, who confirms Mary's story that she is still indeed a virgin, and the child she is carrying is the Son of God. Regardless, the town continues to look at Mary distastefully.

King Herod gets word of the prophecy of a coming messiah and he plans to eliminate this person before he is able to cause an uprising against him. Since the prophecy says that the messiah would come from the house of David, he thought a census would bring all the living ancestors of David together and he could take care of this so-called leader. Joseph's family was from Bethlehem, so he had to travel back to participate in the census. Mary decides to go with him since they are engaged to be married. She is approaching her due date as well.

The three wise men, or magi, appear several times throughout the movie, almost as an element of comic relief in such a dramatic and emotional story. When Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, they cannot find a place to stay, so as the story goes, they found rest in a barn stable. Mary gave birth to her baby boy Jesus there. She is visited by some shepherds and the three wise men. Before they begin their journey home, Joseph is warned by an angel that Herod intends to kill all baby boys to make sure the so-called coming messiah is killed. They leave Bethlehem.

This movie is pretty accurate, with only a few embellishments and additions to the biblical account of Jesus Christ's birth. The story behind the movie is a critical part of Christianity. After all, this is the story of how the Savior, Jesus Christ, was born. In his birth alone, he fulfilled many prophecies. Had this never taken place, Christianity would never have existed, much less have grown to be the largest religion in the world. It is a miraculous story, but one that has been believed by many over hundreds of years, and has changed lives as a result.