Great Bible Stories: Volume 1

Dove Worldview:

What a job, well done! This DVD contains six reenactments of Bible stories which are dramatized with quality and good production value. I was completely captured by the attention to detail in this video, including the authentic-looking costumes and even the use of Hebrew at times.

The stories feature the blind man being healed after Jesus sends him to wash out mud from his eyes in the Pool of Siloam. The Pharisees challenge the man about who healed him, as they want to discredit Jesus. A woman with an issue of blood touches Jesus' garment by faith and a miracle occurs. A Good Samaritan comes by to help a man who was beaten and robbed by thieves and though not overly graphic, his bloody wounds are seen. The Samaritan binds up the wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and takes him to an Inn and pays for him to stay there as he recovers. It is handled in a touching manner.

Next we have the story of Abraham and his obedience to God, even to the point of nearly sacrificing his son, his only son, Isaac. This example obviously parallels the example of Christ's sacrifice and another sacrifice other than Isaac is found just in time. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath both see the miracles of God as she takes care of his needs, feeding him despite her meager supply of food. Yet she never runs out. The sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, are devastated when their brother Lazarus dies and they experience great grief. Yet Jesus shows up and they find it is never too late for hope when he is around.

I can't use enough descriptive words to state how much I enjoyed this DVD. It is thoughtful, reverential, and nicely done. Five Doves from us, the most we award to any film.

Content Description:

Sex: None
Language: None
Violence: A man is beaten with a stick and some bloody wounds are seen on his face and stomach; a character brings a knife to the neck of his son to offer him as a sacrifice but he is stopped by an angel's voice who tells him he was obedient and then another sacrifice in the form of an animal is found; religious leaders are combative with a man who was blind but is now healed by Jesus; a man bumps into a woman who is selling what looks like a vase and she falls to the ground and it breaks; a woman is seen using a sponge which contains some blood on it.
Drugs: Just the use of wine poured into a wound.
Nudity: Shirtless man who is left wounded after a beating.
Other: Jealousy from some of the religious leaders; a woman is undergoing her monthly period and must avoid contact with others.