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Michael Landon Jr. to produce television version of "Jesus of Nazareth."

(Hollywood, CA)—Say what you will about the casting and script of The BIBLE miniseries which just finished airing on the History Channel—the fact is, it had a huge impact on many who watched it and on the future of Christian influence in the television industry. The last episode drew in 14.1 million viewers; the ratings were incredible and left critics stunned. (Photo Credit: Joe Alblas)

I confess that, like many others, I did a double take when I saw Samson played by a dreadlocked black man; someone who looked more like an American football linebacker than a Jewish Hercules. But then, it dawned on me that this miniseries wasn't meant just for American audiences. Played throughout the world for all mankind, the message is clear: Jesus is Messiah of all. Of every tribe and tongue. Indeed, a dear African-American Christian friend was over-joyed to see Samson portrayed as one of his ancestors.

What of the Scriptural inaccuracies, you might ask, and the violence? Yes, there were considerable inaccuracies at times, and yes, it was often extremely violent. But violence was a significant, undeniable reality of the times and as far as Scriptures, the miniseries was expressly produced as an adaptation of the Bible and paraphrasing was a large part of that adaptation. I have often paraphrased Scripture because of the inability to recall the precise words when witnessing to an unbeliever, and it didn't diminish the power of the Word one bit or impede the move of the Holy Spirit in the conversation. (Photo Credit: Bibleseries.tv)

Perhaps that's the standard by which The BIBLE should be rated. Was the Spirit of the Living God, of our Risen Savior, served? I believe it was. Powerfully so.

Actually, it was the final episode that sold me. Having originally criticized Diogo Morgado (the Portuguese actor who played Jesus) as coming off as looking and acting a bit too hippyish, I ended up eating my words. He truly played Lamb of God as perfectly as any human being could. The set and costumes were authentic, the filming superb, and the camera shots of Jesus on the Cross were simply heartbreaking. I had thought no film could capture the sacrifice of Jesus like Mel Gibson's ground breaking The Passion of the Christ. I was wrong. I was reduced to tears. (Photo Credit: Bibleseries.tv)

Of the crucifixion, Morgado himself said: "If the goal of an actor is to tell the best story ever, there's no higher story than Jesus Christ. It's the ultimate love story, and the way He can touch people, it's just a privilege—it's beyond words—having this opportunity of doing this. It was really a personal journey and a spiritual journey. And it touched me, in a way that I'm still digesting. It didn't end with the shooting. It's still alive."

So "monumental" was the success of The BIBLE, that Michael Landon Jr. has made a decision on behalf of a major Hollywood production company to create a spin-off of it. It will be called Jesus of Nazareth.

According to the Christian Post, Landon said, it "will be traditional in the sense we're going to stay true to the Gospel, but it won't be traditional in the sense that our version is actually going to be made for the skeptic, not the Believer."

More power to them, I say.

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