The narrative of Jesus of Nazareth is a kind of cinematic Diatessaron, or Gospel harmony, blending all four New Testament accounts. It presents Jesus as both God and man. During the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, John speaks God's words "this is my beloved son." The familiar Christian episodes are presented chronologically: the betrothal, and later marriage, of Mary and Joseph; the Annunciation; the Visitation; the circumcision of John the Baptist; the Nativity of Jesus; the visit of the Magi; the circumcision of Jesus; the Census of Quirinius; the flight into Egypt and Massacre of the Innocents; the Finding in the Temple; the Baptism of Jesus.

Gospel accounts depicted also include the woman caught in adultery; the healing of Jairus' daughter; Jesus helping Peter catch the fish; the Parable of the Prodigal Son; a dialogue between Jesus and Barabbas (non-Biblical); Matthew's dinner party; the Sermon on the Mount; debating with Joseph of Arimathea; the curing of the blind man at the pool; the Raising of Lazarus (John 11:43); the Feeding of the Five Thousand; the entry into Jerusalem; Jesus and the money changers; the Parable of the Two Sons; healing the centurion's servant; dialogue with Nicodemus; the Last Supper; the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

At the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus, Jesus is accused of blasphemy for calling himself the son of the God of Israel. Caiaphas announces "the LORD our God, the LORD is one", denying the God of Israel has a son. Ensuing scenes include Peter's denial of Christ and subsequent repenting; the judgment of Jesus by Pilate ("Ecce Homo"); the Johannine Passion Narrative (John 18–19; including the Agony in the Garden); the Carrying of the Cross; the Crucifixion of Christ (Sir Laurence Olivier's Nicodemus recites the "Suffering Servant" passage (Isaiah 53:3-5) as he looks helplessly on the crucified Messiah); the discovery of the empty tomb; and an appearance of the Risen Christ to his Disciples. The storyline concludes with the non-Biblical character Zerah and his colleagues gazing despairingly into the empty tomb. Zerah laments, "Now it begins. It all begins".

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: Jesus of Nazareth Part 1.

 In the New Testament, Barabbas is a prisoner who was chosen by the crowd in Jerusalem to be released by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, instead of Jesus Christ: 

• Who was Barabbas?

Barabbas was a prisoner who was known for being a liar, thief, insurrectionist, and zealot.

• What happened?

During the Passover feast, Pilate offered the crowd the choice of releasing either Barabbas or Jesus. The crowd chose Barabbas, and Pilate released him, ordering Jesus to be crucified. 

• Where is Barabbas mentioned?

Barabbas is mentioned in all four Gospels. In Matthew 27:16, he is called a "notorious prisoner". In Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:19, he is described as being in prison with rebels who committed murder during an insurrection against the Roman forces. 

• What does his name mean?

Barabbas's name means "son of the father"

Compare and Contrast  America today.

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: Barabbas.

Am I crazy? Am I blind? I will not allow America to curse me with its evil. I will speak against the evil. I will not become cowardly. I will not praise wickedness that tramples the law of God underfoot as America does. They destroy the foundation of the Lord and the faith that has been taught with their legislations and laws. Why? The spirit of evil is in them and the spirit of evil is even greater in the ones that govern them.

I will take my stand.

America's corruption and perverted ways of living have made demonic spirits an unlawful dwelling place and destroyed the good life in us. I will raise against the false liberty and tyrants given to me, I see they do not have the ways of the Lord. I will repent and escape her wicked ways, for I will not be a prisoner to evil spirits.

Therefore, I am writing and you who are reading are my witness, let me throw away everything that hinders me and the sin that so easily traps me. I will run the race marked out for me with perseverance, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith. For the joy set before him, he endured on the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. I consider Jesus who endured such opposition for me so that I may live through him, so now I will not grow weary and lose heart. I will take my stand.

Demetrius And The Gladiators

The Plot. After his friends Marcellus and Diana are executed for heresy and treason, Demetrius makes it his mission to hide the Robe of Christ. One day, while with his beloved, Lucia (Debra Paget), he is arrested for assaulting a Roman centurion and sentenced to the arena. There, Demetrius trains as a gladiator and soon wins acclaim, proving his valor against a pack of hungry tigers. The emperor, Caligula, appoints him bodyguard of Messalina (Susan Hayward), unfaithful wife of Claudius (Barry Jones). He soon tires of waiting on his mistress and returns to the arena. Later, Lucia disguises herself to gain entrance to the gladiator school to see Demetrius. However, the two are forcibly separated on orders from a jealous Messalina. Lucia is then assaulted by Dardanius (Richard Egan) and four other gladiators. Demetrius prays for God to save her, but it appears Dardanius has broken Lucia's neck. All are shocked at Lucia's sudden demise. Demetrius then renounces his faith in Christ.

Previously, Demetrius had avoided killing human competitors in the arena because of his religion. All that now changes. He ferociously slays all five of the gladiators who assaulted Lucia. The spectators are thrilled by his savagery. Emperor Caligula asks Demetrius to renounce Christ. He does so. Thus, Caligula frees him and inducts him into the Praetorian Guard with the rank of Tribune. Having rejected Christianity, Demetrius begins a lusty affair with Messalina that lasts for months. One day, Caligula holds audience with Demetrius and orders him to retrieve the Robe. Later while carrying out the emperor's command, he is surprised to discover Lucia, lying on a bed, clutching the Robe. It turns out she never died. Demetrius realizes his mistake, prays to God for forgiveness, and Lucia awakens.

Nevertheless, Demetrius takes the Robe to the Emperor, as ordered. He is horrified that Caligula has had a prisoner killed so he can use the powers of the Robe to bring him back to life—which he fails to do. As Demetrius steps toward Caligula to attack, he is stopped by the guards. On Caligula's orders, he is returned to the arena. However, Demetrius refuses to take part in the mayhem. So the Emperor orders the Praetorian Guard to execute Demetrius. But the Praetorian Guard (already angry over bad wages and conditions) execute Caligula instead. Afterward, Claudius is installed as Caligula's successor. In his first formal address as Rome's leader, Claudius decrees that Christians will no longer be persecuted by the state. The Robe is returned to the disciple Peter and his followers.

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: Demetrius And The Gladiators.

On the way to a slave auction, Marcellus Gallio, a Roman military tribune and senator's son, helps recapture Demetrius, a defiant Greek slave. At the auction site, Marcellus is reunited with Diana, his childhood love, who is now a ward of Emperor Tiberius and has been pledged in marriage to the regent Caligula. Marcellus has a longstanding feud with Caligula, and he outbids Caligula for Demetrius, who does not attempt to escape again, as he feels honor-bound to Marcellus. Demetrius becomes Marcellus' personal servant.

That evening, Caligula vengefully transfers Marcellus to far-flung Jerusalem. Diana goes to the port to say she will appeal to Tiberius on Marcellus' behalf, and the pair pledge their love and reaffirm their youthful promise to marry one day.

Accompanied by Demetrius and the centurion Paulus, Marcellus arrives in Jerusalem on the same day that Jesus, who is being hailed as the Messiah, enters the city. Demetrius feels compelled to follow Jesus and later attempts to warn him of a plot against him, but a distraught man tells Demetrius that Jesus has already been arrested.

Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judaea, informs Marcellus that he has been recalled by order of Tiberius, and gives Marcellus his last task, which is to handle the execution of three criminals—one of whom is Jesus. Marcellus wins Jesus' robe from Paulus in a dice game on Calvary, but when he uses it to shield himself from rain, he feels a sudden, intense pain. Grabbing the robe, Demetrius denounces Marcellus and the Roman Empire and frees himself, leaving a mentally unstable Marcellus, who is haunted by nightmares of the crucifixion, to report to Tiberius at Capri alone. The emperor's soothsayer says the robe must be cursed, so Tiberius gives Marcellus an imperial commission to find and destroy the robe, as well as identify the followers of Jesus. At Diana's request, Tiberius leaves her free to marry Marcellus once he has successfully completed his mission.

Marcellus eventually makes his way to Cana, whose inhabitants experienced Jesus' miracles and believe he rose from the dead. Learning from Justus, a kind weaver, that Demetrius is in the town, Marcellus confronts his former slave at an inn. Demetrius says the robe has no real power, and it is Marcellus' guilt over killing Jesus that is causing his illness. When Marcellus tries to destroy the robe anyway, he is overcome, and finds himself healed.

Pilate having ordered the arrest of all of the Christian "fanatics", Paulus sneaks into Cana with his troops. After Justus is killed by a surprise arrow, Marcellus manages to halt the attack, but Paulus informs him that Caligula has succeeded Tiberius as emperor, so Marcellus' commission is no longer valid. Paulus initially refuses Marcellus' order to leave the town, but he complies after Marcellus beats him in a duel. Jesus' apostle Peter invites Marcellus to join Demetrius and him as missionaries, and, after confessing his role in Jesus' death, Marcellus pledges his life to Jesus.

When Peter's missionary group comes to Rome, Demetrius is captured and tortured for information. Caligula asks Diana if she has heard from Marcellus, and, as she has not, tells her of Marcellus' involvement with the Christians. The Gallios' slave Marcipor, who is secretly a Christian, shows Diana where Marcellus is hiding, shortly before Marcellus leads a raid to rescue Demetrius. Demetrius is brought to the house of Senator Gallio, where Peter miraculously heals his grievous wounds. Marcellus and Demetrius attempt to flee the city, but horsemen dispatched by Caligula pick up their trail, and Marcellus gives himself up so Demetrius can escape.

At his trial, Marcellus admits to being a follower of Jesus, but denies that the Christians are plotting against Rome. He is condemned to death, unless he renews his tribune's oath of loyalty to the emperor and renounces his allegiance to Jesus; while he does the former, he refuses to do the latter. Diana stands with Marcellus and denounces Caligula, who declares that the couple will die together. As they depart the courtroom, Diana hands Jesus' robe to Marcipor, telling him to give it to Peter. Marcellus and Diana are led away to begin eternal life together in the kingdom of their true king. 

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: The Robe A Story of Change.

The Producer, by Trey Knowles, is a comedy special that uses allegory and humor to convey deeper messages about whether the supreme authority you are obeying is righteous or unrighteous. This allegory can show you that sanctions can happen when there is disobedience. Wherever your treasure is your heart will be there also. This is the secret of the allegory, where is your treasure?

The Comedy Special also touches on themes of citizenship, spirituality, and the idea that our true home is not on Earth but in heaven. So if our home is in heaven we only want heavenly things. We even pray to let thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. At the end of the day, what Producer are you obeying, and do you know how to rebuke the wrong producer?

It is written in John 2:15-17.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Dear Friends is based on Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Dear Friends

by Spoken Word Artist Trey Knowles

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. 

Proverbs 8:13

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

This is my examination of the world today. Power and control, yes it is a spiritual warfare sovereignty game being played like a game of chess. Deception. Republican, Democrat, Right, Left, Good or Evil. What is the difference, between good and evil, who has Godly morals? Examine your behavior and desires. Why is there confusion? Do people on earth know what is righteous and unrighteous, I ask this jokingly.

People are ponds in this world, controlled by behavioral physics and ideology to control our patterns and behavior. Most of the world today is out of touch with the Spirit of God. Meaning they don't know the difference between right and wrong. This is truly done on purpose. If it was not so, why is most of the world content and glorification opposite of God's character, and why do people glorify evil things?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind John :1-4. Jesus the son of God saved us from death and gave us life thru the spirit.

Jesus saves, but why do we need to be saved?

The Bible declares that every human being who has ever lived has sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). To sin is to do anything in thought, word, or deed that contradicts God’s perfect and holy character. Because of our sin, we are separated from God and deserve judgment from God (John 3:18, 36). God is perfectly just, so He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. Since God is the infinite and eternal Creator, all sin is ultimately against Him (Psalm 51:4), and only an infinite and eternal punishment is sufficient. Eternal death—separation from God—is the only just punishment for sin. That is why we need to be saved.

Jesus saves, but how does He save?

Because we have sinned against an infinite God, either a finite person (each one of us) must pay for our sins for an infinite amount of time, or an infinite Person (Jesus) must pay for our sins one time. There is no other option. Jesus saves us by dying in our place. Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf, paying the infinite and eternal penalty only He could pay (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2). Jesus took the punishment that we deserve in order to save us from an eternal destiny separated from God. Because of His great love for us, Jesus laid down His life (John 15:13), paying the penalty that we had earned, but could not pay. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, demonstrating that His death was indeed sufficient to pay for our sins and that His life conquers death on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15).

Jesus saves, but whom does He save?

Jesus saves all who will receive His gift of salvation by faith. Jesus saves all those who cease trying to save themselves and fully trust in His sacrifice alone as the payment for sin (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to pay for the sins of all humanity, but His gift of salvation is only received through faith (John 1:12). We must trust Him.

If you now understand what it means that Jesus saves, and you want to trust in Him as your personal Savior, you can, as an act of faith, communicate the following to God: “God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that because of my sin I deserve to be eternally separated from you. Even though I do not deserve it, thank you for loving me and providing the sacrifice for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and I trust in Him alone to save me. From this point forward, help me to live my life for you instead of for sin. Help me to live the rest of my life in gratitude for the wonderful salvation you have provided. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!”

In John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. 

Learn more about Jesus from the movie down below. 

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: Jesus The Greatest Story Ever Told

Author: The Book of Daniel identifies the Prophet Daniel as its author (Daniel 9:2; 10:2). Jesus mentions Daniel as the author as well (Matthew 24:15).

Date of Writing: The Book of Daniel was likely written between 540 and 530 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had conquered Judah and deported many of its inhabitants to Babylon – Daniel included. Daniel served in the royal court of Nebuchadnezzar and several rulers who followed Nebuchadnezzar. The Book of Daniel records the actions, prophecies, and visions of the Prophet Daniel.

Key Verses:

Daniel 1:19-20, “The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.”

Daniel 2:31, “You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue - an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.”

Daniel 3:17-18, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel 4:34-35, “His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”

Daniel 9:25-27, “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ’sevens,' and sixty-two ’sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ’sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ’seven.' In the middle of the ’seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

Brief Summary: Chapter 1 describes the conquest of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Along with many others, Daniel and his three friends were deported to Babylon, and because of their courage and the obvious blessings of God upon them, they were “promoted” in the king’s service (Daniel 1:17-20).

Chapters 2-4 record Nebuchadnezzar having a dream that only Daniel could correctly interpret. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great statue represented the kingdoms that would arise in the future. Nebuchadnezzar made a great statue of himself and forced everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused and were miraculously spared by God despite being thrown into a fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar is judged by God for his pride, but later restored once he recognized and admitted God’s sovereignty.

Daniel chapter 5 records Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar misusing the items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem and receiving a message from God, written into the wall, in response. Only Daniel could interpret the writing, a message of coming judgment from God. In chapter 6, Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to pray to the emperor, but was miraculously spared. In chapter 7, God gave Daniel a vision of four beasts. The four beasts represented the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Chapters 8-12 contain a vision involving a ram, a goat, and several horns – also referring to future kingdoms and their rulers. Daniel chapter 9 records Daniel’s “seventy weeks” prophecy. God gave Daniel the precise timeline of when the Messiah would come and be cut off. The prophecy also mentions a future ruler who will make a seven-year covenant with Israel and break it after three and a half years, followed shortly thereafter by the great judgment and consummation of all things. Daniel is visited and strengthened by an angel after this great vision, and the angel explains the vision to Daniel in great detail.

Foreshadowings: We see in the stories of the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions’ den a foreshadowing of the salvation provided by Christ. The three men declare that God is a saving God who can provide a way of escape from the fire (Daniel 3:17). In the same way, by sending Jesus to die for our sins, God has provided an escape from the fires of hell (1 Peter 3:18). In Daniel’s case, God provided an angel to shut the lions’ mouths and saved Daniel from death. Jesus Christ is our provision from the dangers of the sins that threaten to consume us.

Daniel’s vision of the end times depicts Israel’s Messiah by whom many will be made pure and holy (Daniel 12:10). He is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30) by whom our sins, though blood-red, will be washed away, and we will be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

Practical Application: Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we should always stand for what we know is right. God is greater than any punishment that could come upon us. Whether God chooses to deliver us or not, He is always worthy of our trust. God knows what is best, and He honors those who trust and obey Him.

God has a plan, and His plan is down to the intricate detail. God knows and is in control of the future. Everything that God has predicted has come true exactly as He predicted. Therefore, we should believe and trust that the things He has predicted for the future will one day occur exactly as God has declared.