Christmas comes from Christ's Mass meaning annual celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ.
2000 years ago, Jesus conveyed his messages to people that doing the good of others is a righteous way of life and that love is most important.
However, the Roman Empire had the attitude that the worship of the Emperor was absolute and that defeating and conquering enemies made the Empire glorious.
Therefore, the Roman Empire coerced Jesus to accept worship of the Emperor. But, Jesus didn't change his messages. Consequently, the Romam Empire executed Jesus to give a warning and a lesson to the people.
The Roman Empire believed that the cruelest way of execution of crucification would make the people fear and go away from Jesus's messages.
However, to the surprise of the Roman Empire, the people decided to make the very image of crucified Jesus i.e., a cross to be the symbol of their faith.
Jesus's message that doing the good of others is the righteous thing to do was welcomed and supported by people, and spread throughout the territories of the Roman Empire despite suppression. Finally, the Roman Empire surrendered and admitted the Christianity as the state religion.
It would be good to remember and imagine on the day of Christmas the incident that happened by the Sea of Galilee 2000 years ago.
The incident still keeps providing us with a precious guidance even today.
It is five days until Christmas. So, it would be good to watch a movie that would help you imagine how the circumstances were when Christ was born and lived.
"Ben-Hur - A Tale of the Christ" is an American movie of 1959 directed by William Wyler. It received as many as record 11 Academy Awards. Charlton Heston performing Ben-Hur received the Best Actor of Academy Award.
The movie is about the dramatic life of Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), interwoven with a tale of the Christ.
The movie begins with the scene of the nativity (the birth of Christ). The video of the first scene is available here.
The Title Music composed by Miklos Rozsa is available here. He received the Best Score of Academy Award.
Ben-Hur, a prince and merchant in Jerusalem in the 1st century, rejected to cooperate with the Roman legions and, consequently, was betrayed and condemned by his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd), a Roman tribune. The scene of arrest of Ben-Hur and his younger sister is available here.
Ben-Hur was jailed and forced to walk in the dessert. When he fell for thirsty, Jesus fed water and saved him.
The video of the famous "The Water of Life" scene is available here. An access for drinking water being denied, Ben-Hur fell and murmured, "God, help me." The water was fed by Jesus. Doing good of others is the believer's freedom.
Ben-Hur served as a galley slave for three years. The video of the exchange between Ben-Hur and a cold-blooded Roman commander (Jack Hawkins) is available here. For a Roman commander, victory and the strength that brings victory are everything.
The video of the famous "Roman Galley" is available here. The synchronization between the music and the montage is great.
During a sea battle, Ben-Hur saved a life of Roman commander. The Roman commander was so grateful that he adopted Ben-Hur as his son.
Ben-Hur returned to Jerusalem and won in the Chariot Race over Messala. Messala was killed in the accident of the race. The video of a part of famous "Chariot Race" is available here.
After the chariot race, Ben-Hur came across Jesus Christ who was on the way to be crucified on the Hill of Golgotha. Ben-Hur tried to feed water to Christ, but a Roman soldier prevented him. The video of the scene is available here.
Christ was crucified. But, he resurrected, and his way of life of doing the good of others even at his own sacrifice continues to live in the hearts of people eternally.