A Review of Journey to Bethlehem: What Did They Get Wrong?

The Biblical Narrative of the Nativity and What the Film Omits

Journey to Bethlehem is a musical about Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. But the movie takes huge liberties with the biblical narrative, not just adding to the story but taking away from it as well.

There are no shepherds and therefore no announcement of good news. There's no gospel and no mention of sin even though in Matthew 121 the angel told Joseph that Jesus will save his people from their sins.

There's no mention of the Holy Spirit even though in Luke 135 the angel told Mary the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would be with child. There's no Magnificat, the song of Mary. How do you skip Mary's song in a musical about Mary?

Mary, Marriage, and the Film's Portrayal of Womanhood

Of course that would require the Mary in this movie to be a thankful person. Mary is joyless and miserable, wanting a career not marriage. She calls it a life sentence of daily dependence. Her friends say it's romantic, she says it's traumatic.

And this was marketed as a family film. Eventually she proposes to Joseph and that was just to escape Herod's men.

Will you still marry me, Joseph?

I do. I will. Yes, of course.

The Film's View of Marriage and the Creator's Background

Do the film's creators hate marriage and motherhood? The writer and director Adam Anders was an executive producer for the show Glee, notorious for pushing homosexuality through its teenage characters.

No surprise then he made Mary a marriage-hating feminist. The real Mary sang, My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.

His mercy is for those who fear Him. He has scattered the proud. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate. When we understand the text.