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I’ve been thinking of a fiction series set in the 1st century during the time of Christ.
If you are familiar with Animated Stories From The Bible and Animated Stories From The New Testament from Nest Family Entertainment and Rich Animation Studios from the 1980’s-2000’s, then you might know what they’re about. Although good from an animation and storytelling standpoint, they were not Biblically accurate and the content were disoriented from the original Biblical narrative. Even some changes (like Gabriel telling Zechariah not only to be able to speak but also not able to hear, Peter walking on a calm and still water whereas there is a storm, and Jesus riding on a horse into Jerusalem whereas He rode a donkey), which especially those who are Bible purists would object. But Built Upon The Rock series (named after an episode of the Animated Stories From The New Testament series) is different. Here’s a synopsis of the episode from IMBD in case you’ve forgotten it or if you haven’t seen it (spoilers warning):
Built Upon the Rock is a story of two brothers and how an inheritance teaches them about their own foundation and eternal life. In the beginning of the video, Gideon is dying and has asked that his two sons, Sahara and Thomas, work together overseeing his vineyards after he is gone. When Gideon dies, Sahara takes control of the vineyards and begins to sell grapes that are not yet ripe to loyal customers. Thomas is greatly disturbed and seeks out a lawyer named Josiah to help him regain his part of his inheritance. Josiah has left law practice to follow Jesus. He encourages Thomas to listen to the words of Jesus to find the answers to his problems. Jesus is giving his sermon on the mount and shares the beatitudes, or the actions, attitudes and blessings true believers should experience. He tells the people they need to go beyond just believing and act upon their faith. Jesus uses the parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. This man took his time and built a strong foundation for his house. When the rains came down, the man and his family remained safe. The foolish man was in a hurry and built his house upon the sand. When the rains came down, his house washed away. As Thomas listens to the words of Jesus, Josiah urges him to build his life on love, patience, and forgiveness, and all will be well. Thomas returns to ask forgiveness for speaking out in anger against his brother. When Thomas talks with Sahara about running the vineyards as his father would have wished, Sahara attacks him and throws him off the land. Thomas begins to doubt that Jesus' way of loving your enemies is right for him. Josiah reminds Thomas that Jesus never promised his enemies would love him in return. Thomas returns to Jesus to ask him to help him resolve the inheritance problem with his brother. Jesus warns Thomas about greed and envy. He tells him the value of a man's life has little to do with the things he owns on earth. To teach this lesson, Jesus tells another parable of the rich man who had an abundant harvest. This man had a choice in giving his extra crop to the poor or to build bigger barns to hold his extra wealth. The man decides to build bigger barns so he will have plenty of money for years to come. God visited the man that very night and told him he had been foolish and his life was over. The things he had gained on earth were worth nothing to his soul. A bit confused, Thomas thinks about what Jesus is trying to teach him. After talking with Josiah, he realizes he has been foolish like the rich man. Thomas visits Sahara again to tell him he no longer wants his inheritance and cuts his ties with him. Sahara begins to gloat over his wealth. As he raises a glass to his lips, he has a heart attack and dies. The video ends with Thomas sitting at the feet of Jesus building salvation upon a rock.
Built Upon The Rock is a series which is basically a rewrite of the Nest Family Entertainment Animated Stories From The New Testament, particularly the “Built Upon The Rock” episode, and why there still may be some creative liberties (because there are a lot things in the Bible we don’t even know about, which leaves room for interpretation), it sticks to the Biblical narrative while still telling the story in an interesting way.
*Although a parable that Jesus would later tell, the brothers Sahara and Thomas are a composite of them and the two sons Jakim and Micah from the Nest episode Parables of Jesus (though the names Sahara and Thomas are kept): It is harvest time and the two sons cannot be found. Their father searches out to find his sons so the harvest would not be lost. The oldest son, who is suppose to inherit the vineyard, is found relaxing by the shore and promises to come help but does not. The younger son is frustrated about doing all the work since his brother will inherit the land. He refusing to come help, but changes his mind and returns to the vineyard to ask his father for forgiveness and to help with the harvest.*
Story Titles:
If you are familiar with Animated Stories From The Bible and Animated Stories From The New Testament from Nest Family Entertainment and Rich Animation Studios from the 1980’s-2000’s, then you might know what they’re about. Although good from an animation and storytelling standpoint, they were not Biblically accurate and the content were disoriented from the original Biblical narrative. Even some changes (like Gabriel telling Zechariah not only to be able to speak but also not able to hear, Peter walking on a calm and still water whereas there is a storm, and Jesus riding on a horse into Jerusalem whereas He rode a donkey), which especially those who are Bible purists would object. But Built Upon The Rock series (named after an episode of the Animated Stories From The New Testament series) is different. Here’s a synopsis of the episode from IMBD in case you’ve forgotten it or if you haven’t seen it (spoilers warning):
Built Upon the Rock is a story of two brothers and how an inheritance teaches them about their own foundation and eternal life. In the beginning of the video, Gideon is dying and has asked that his two sons, Sahara and Thomas, work together overseeing his vineyards after he is gone. When Gideon dies, Sahara takes control of the vineyards and begins to sell grapes that are not yet ripe to loyal customers. Thomas is greatly disturbed and seeks out a lawyer named Josiah to help him regain his part of his inheritance. Josiah has left law practice to follow Jesus. He encourages Thomas to listen to the words of Jesus to find the answers to his problems. Jesus is giving his sermon on the mount and shares the beatitudes, or the actions, attitudes and blessings true believers should experience. He tells the people they need to go beyond just believing and act upon their faith. Jesus uses the parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. This man took his time and built a strong foundation for his house. When the rains came down, the man and his family remained safe. The foolish man was in a hurry and built his house upon the sand. When the rains came down, his house washed away. As Thomas listens to the words of Jesus, Josiah urges him to build his life on love, patience, and forgiveness, and all will be well. Thomas returns to ask forgiveness for speaking out in anger against his brother. When Thomas talks with Sahara about running the vineyards as his father would have wished, Sahara attacks him and throws him off the land. Thomas begins to doubt that Jesus' way of loving your enemies is right for him. Josiah reminds Thomas that Jesus never promised his enemies would love him in return. Thomas returns to Jesus to ask him to help him resolve the inheritance problem with his brother. Jesus warns Thomas about greed and envy. He tells him the value of a man's life has little to do with the things he owns on earth. To teach this lesson, Jesus tells another parable of the rich man who had an abundant harvest. This man had a choice in giving his extra crop to the poor or to build bigger barns to hold his extra wealth. The man decides to build bigger barns so he will have plenty of money for years to come. God visited the man that very night and told him he had been foolish and his life was over. The things he had gained on earth were worth nothing to his soul. A bit confused, Thomas thinks about what Jesus is trying to teach him. After talking with Josiah, he realizes he has been foolish like the rich man. Thomas visits Sahara again to tell him he no longer wants his inheritance and cuts his ties with him. Sahara begins to gloat over his wealth. As he raises a glass to his lips, he has a heart attack and dies. The video ends with Thomas sitting at the feet of Jesus building salvation upon a rock.
Built Upon The Rock is a series which is basically a rewrite of the Nest Family Entertainment Animated Stories From The New Testament, particularly the “Built Upon The Rock” episode, and why there still may be some creative liberties (because there are a lot things in the Bible we don’t even know about, which leaves room for interpretation), it sticks to the Biblical narrative while still telling the story in an interesting way.
*Although a parable that Jesus would later tell, the brothers Sahara and Thomas are a composite of them and the two sons Jakim and Micah from the Nest episode Parables of Jesus (though the names Sahara and Thomas are kept): It is harvest time and the two sons cannot be found. Their father searches out to find his sons so the harvest would not be lost. The oldest son, who is suppose to inherit the vineyard, is found relaxing by the shore and promises to come help but does not. The younger son is frustrated about doing all the work since his brother will inherit the land. He refusing to come help, but changes his mind and returns to the vineyard to ask his father for forgiveness and to help with the harvest.*
Story Titles:
- The Solid Rock and Shifting Sands
- The Storms of Life
- The Thistles of Greed
- The Vines of Grace
- The Rejected Stone
- The Cornerstone
