'Light of the World': The Gospels Through the Eyes of Youth

We're all familiar with the Gospel stories: Jesus' healing of a blind woman, turning water into wine, healing the sick man after his friends lowered him through the roof.

But the Salvation Poem Project has brought these and other well-known stories to life in a new way in Light of the World, currently in theaters.

What Happens in Light of the World?

Directed by Tom Bancroft and John J. Shafer in colorful, hand-drawn 2D animation, Light of the World portrays the Scriptures with a humorous twist.

Children will laugh at the encounters of young John (voiced by Benjamin Jacobson) with Biblical characters -– marveling as Jesus (Ian Hanlin) heals the blind man and transforms water into wine, and staring at the Baptizer as he dips bugs into honey for a snack.

But while the stories are told through animation, and while its creative imagery and simple recounting of the Gospel serve to make it accessible for even the very young,

Light of the World is not intended only for children. Adults, too, will appreciate the film's powerful illustration of how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever, and how He still changes lives today.

Advice to Take With You

Young John, the juvenile narrator who goes on to become Jesus' beloved disciple, shares his hope simply: “Someone once told me,” John says, remembering his first conversation with Jesus' mother Mary, “that God rarely shows up in the way we think He will. Jesus won't leave us in the dark.”

John reminds us that Jesus' death isn't the end of the story –- it's the beginning.

Jesus, too, offers insights which are helpful to young John and his older brothers, but also to us, his followers in the modern age.

“To change the world,” Jesus says, “we need both faithful hearts and a strong foundation -– a rock. With those, we can build something great.”

And Let the Learning Continue...

Light of the World is well-crafted entertainment; but more than that, its team of award-winning Christian filmmakers describe it as “evangelization through art.”

Theatergoers who turn out to enjoy Light of the World will have an opportunity to delve deeper into the story of Jesus' life, from His humble birth in Bethlehem, through His early ministry and on to His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The filmmakers included a QR code at the end of the film, inviting viewers to scan the code if they want to follow Jesus.

Click here for information and tickets.

Kathy Schiffer writes regularly for the National Catholic Register and Catholic World Report, and for other Catholic publications, including Evangelization and Culture, Crisis Magazine, Aleteia, Zenit, the Michigan Catholic, and Legatus Magazine. She’s worked for Catholic and other Christian ministries since 1988, as radio producer, director of special events, and media-relations coordinator.