The Greatest Story Ever Told

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

This film assumes its audience is familiar with the New Testament (for instance, no explanation is given for Pilot washing his hands after sentencing Christ). At the time it was produced, Bible stories were read in schools, and a greater percentage of the population attended church regularly. Do you think the general public knew more about Jesus in 1965 than they do today?

To explain the impact artistic interpretation can have on what is communicated, your family might have fun trying out the following exercise: Read the two identical sentences, changing only the inflection, by placing emphasis on the underlined word.

1) Let’s eat Mom, I’m hungry.
2) Let’s eat Mom, I’m hungry.

If you’re interested in another film with an Easter theme, check our review of The Robe—the story of a Roman centurion assigned to oversee the crucifixion of Christ.