"The Nativity": Tatiana Maslany and Andrew Buchan as Mary and Joseph in the BBC drama of Christ's birth.
From the Telegraph:
There have been countless retellings of the story of the nativity over the past 2,000 years and they divide roughly into two categories – those that stick faithfully to the traditional gospel account of a virgin birth, and those that reject it in favour of something more biological.
Given that this year's big BBC One Christmas offering, "The Nativity", comes from the pen of Tony Jordan, the award-winning scriptwriter best known for the gritty, down-to-earth world of "EastEnders", it should, logically, fall into the second category. But think again, for the making of "The Nativity" has been something of a personal Road to Damascus for Jordan.
Although Tony Jordan was not a believer when he began to do research for writing the script, he was caught up in what he calls "the most beautiful story in the history of the world".
The nativity is a lovely, lovely story, isn't it?
Jordan continues:
I know that people from my sort of background have always discounted the story of the nativity and I certainly didn't believe it when I started on it three years ago. But now I do."
Jordan spoke powerful words that made me nod in agreement and say to myself, "Oh, yes!"
The only thing I know for sure is that the words I read as coming from Jesus Christ are the most truthful thing I have ever heard. As a blueprint for mankind, it is so smart that it couldn't even have come from a clever philosopher. Who would have been smart enough to say 'He who is without sin cast the first stone'? Wow! That's pretty cool."
I have no doubt that the way that Jesus teaches and lives in the Gospel is the one true way to live one's life, truly "a blueprint for mankind(sic)". And, although I've heard and read the story countless times, each time I encounter the Gospel tale of the woman caught in adultery, my anticipation quickens as I await Jesus' question that confounds the crowd who was ready to stone her.
Was he ever tempted, writing the script in the wooden shed at the end of his garden, to dispense with the virgin birth?
"If you accept that Jesus is Son of God, why could you not believe that Mary was a virgin, and that God must have had some hand in the impregnation...."
Exactly! If you can believe one, why not the other? I find it hard to understand why people can believe that God came down and became incarnate as one of us but yet have difficulty believing in the virgin birth. I think of when Jesus asked which is easier, healing the body or forgiving sin. Which is easier to believe? The Incarnation or the virgin birth?
Jordan's story of coming to faith is, in itself, quite lovely.
Is Jordan now a church-goer? Well, no. Read Peter Stanford's entire account of the interview to find out what Jordan says about churches.
I hope "The Nativity" makes it way over to the US. If not, the series surely will be available on DVD.
H/T to Torey Lightcap at The Lead.
UPDATE: Bishop Alan posted the YouTube video of the interview with Tony Jordan.
