Some will object to having John's Gospel adapted for the screen on a word for word basis from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible.  But the up side of using the Good News Bible is a text that almost anyone can understand and follow.   English-speaking audiences of any age and background should be able to get the full impact of the story.

My own view is that the message of Scripture needs to be taken out of the Book and opened up for common people everywhere.  The Bible is our most effective weapon in all spiritual warfare, and in any gospel outreach.  But until you get it into the ears and minds and hearts of other human beings, it does little good.  I thank God for every effort in the right direction.

This is a long movie, running right at 3 hours.  It takes the Gospel of John and opens it up verse by verse, and anyone familiar with the text of Scripture will know at all times where you are in John's account.  I was amazed that anyone in Hollywood would attempt something that few in the church would even dare to try.  But it works.

Since the movie is so long, I would suggest that it be shown on youth nights in 1 hour segments (or smaller) with discussion and/or teaching and group sharing offered in each meeting.  Use it as a tool and you'll be amazed at how God will bless His Word.  This is an excellent film for helping to sow the good seed.

— Jim Sutton

Executive producers are Emmy Award winner Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron Gottleib and Martin Katz. Together they assembled a brilliant creative team including award-winning screenwriter John Goldsmith ("Victoria and Albert"; "Return of the Saint"; "Great Expectations"), veteran production designer Don Taylor ("The House of Mirth"; "Little Voice"), Academy A ward®-winning Sound Mixer David Lee ("Chicago"), Academy® Award winning makeup artist Trefor Proud ("Topsy Turvy"; "Gladiator";"Star Wars") award-winning costume designer Debra Hanson, and highly regarded director of photography and film editors Miroslaw Baszak and Michel Arcand.