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Christianity Today, August, 2008 |

A Feminine Jesus

Crusade's Magdalena targets women shamelessly.

Carolyn Arends | posted 8/06/2008 09:00AM

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When the film Jesus was released in 1979, there was little fanfare and even less profit. But the man who had conceived the movie, Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright, was more concerned with winning souls than winning Oscars. In 1981 the Jesus Film Project began translating the film into hundreds of languages, giving missionaries a uniquely powerful way to go into all the world.

Three decades later, Jesus has been seen over six billion times (including repeat viewings) and has reportedly sparked a staggering 221 million decisions for Christ. Meanwhile, staff have been tackling not only new translations (Jesus is now in more than 1,000 languages), but also recut versions of the original. Campus Crusade has revised the introduction, spruced up the special effects, and created a children's version. The newest and most radical effort is Magdalena: Released from Shame (3 stars), which combines footage from the original Jesus film with new material emphasizing Christ's compassion for women.

The film opens in A.D. 40, with Mary Magdalene telling some skeptical friends about Jesus. In flashbacks, she recounts her own healing from demon possession and describes several of Jesus' miracles and interactions with women. At the end of the film, Mary leads a friend in prayer to accept Jesus and his salvation.

Magdalena not only speaks a "feminine" language, but also reaches out to cultures in which honor and shame are more powerful paradigms than guilt and innocence, a sensitivity sometimes lacking in Western presentations of the gospel. Particular care has also been given to appeal to Muslim audiences. (For example, the film's characters refer to Jesus as Prophet and Teacher as well as Messiah.)

Although technical limitations may shorten Magdalena's reach in cultures accustomed to contemporary movies (it still feels like a 30-year-old independent film), anecdotal reports suggest it's still effective. After a recent showing in Israel, one viewer emotionally expressed her appreciation for the way Jesus "dealt with women in respect" and "released them from fear." In every culture, in every language, that's a story women need to hear. See more at MagdalenaMovie.com.

Carolyn Arends, film critic and CT columnist

Related Elsewhere:

Magdalena: Released from Shame is available from the Jesus Film Store. The Magdalena website has more about the women and stories in the film.

Other reviews are available in our film section.

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August 2008, Vol. 52, No. 8

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Wendell Franklin Wentz

Posted: August 07, 2008 4:51 PM


"Lord, give us a president who cares for all people. We pray in the name of God, the Mother of us all. Amen" -Wendell Franklin Wentz

MerryKate

Posted: August 06, 2008 9:30 PM

CabbyDear: The story said western cultures are sometimes insensitive to issues of honor and shame in terms of sharing the gospel. The four gospels were tailored to their audiences, because people from different backgrounds will respond to the same message differently. Matthew wrote his gospel to his fellow Jews, describing Christ as the Messiah and referring to His fulfillment of the Torah. John, writing to a greek audience, referred to Christ as the Logos - the Word - which was a concept which with they were familiar and would easily grasp. These producers have tailored their presentation to reach an audience, not changed the gospel, and they are to be commended for tailoring their message to reach audience. If this film is successful in reaching women who would otherwise see the gospel as foreign, then the filmmakers have done a great thing indeed and I don't doubt they will be greatly rewarded in heaven for their efforts. Finally, loosen up - don't be so easily offended!

CabbyDear

Posted: August 06, 2008 11:41 AM

The author states that western civilization is insensitive to women when it come to presenting the gospel. Why, when attempting to present a new way to present Jesus do some always find it important to exhalt one type of ministry by running down another? You have closed my heart down to the movie "Magdalena" because of this very action. Secondly, the gospel of Jesus Christby humans does not need to be redone in any special way to make it palatable to anyone because the same Holy Spirit that ministers to every male human also ministers to every female human. The very fact that you title this letter "A Feminine Jesus" is offensive. My Jesus is the Son of God, and God is my Father. Though I am female, I don't need the gospel feminized to connect with the living God.