Forty-Seven Days With Jesus, in theatres now, is an inspirational film that retells the story of Jesus’ final days on earth. 

Together Again?

The film centres on an extended family who have gathered for a family reunion. Yoshi Barrigas and Catherine Lidstone—both actors from The Chosen—play Joseph and Juliana Burdon, a married couple with two young children. Joseph is facing a crossroads in his career when an unexpected business opportunity requires him to attend a meeting over the Easter weekend. 

He wants to spend time with his family, and he also wants to be successful in his career. But his priorities have gotten mixed up. His wife feels abandoned and alone in their marriage, and Joseph’s father, Poppa, warns him not to make the same mistakes he made when he was younger. 

To draw the family together, Poppa decides to share a special story with the children: the story of Jesus’ last days on earth. His story is captivating, transporting them back in time to witness Jesus’ last 47 days, starting with Holy Week. Through Poppa’s words, the family can imagine the wonderful welcome Jesus received when He rode the donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, almost feeling the pain of Jesus’ Crucifixion. It’s the Easter story, and Poppa shares it because he knows there’s nothing more life-changing.

Can Poppa’s story impact his son’s priorities and bring their family back together?

Following His Example

The last 47 days of Jesus’ life on earth are made up of Holy Week and the 40 days following the Resurrection, when Jesus appeared to His disciples and other people. When we examine how Jesus spent His last days on earth, we can see what His priorities were and model our own after Him.

Jesus was the most selfless person who ever lived. Countless times throughout His ministry, and especially during His last days, we see Him putting the needs of others ahead of His own. He went to the cross and died a painful death to pay the price for our sins. It was the most incredible act of selfless love anyone has ever done. 

After Jesus’ Resurrection, He could have just gone back to heaven, but He remained on earth and appeared to many people over the next 40 days. Clearly, Jesus wanted to prove that He really did rise from the dead and was alive again. The Bible tells us that He walked, talked and ate with His disciples. He allowed Thomas, who doubted it was really Jesus, to place his hand into the wound in Jesus’ side. He did all of this to strengthen the disciples’ faith. 

Before Jesus’ death, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, denied that he even knew Jesus. Not once, but three times, just as Jesus had predicted he would. Peter felt like such a failure, but Jesus didn’t allow him to stay in that shame. After Jesus was resurrected, He made a point of reconciling with Peter and offering His forgiveness. Jesus spent His last days making things right with people.

Time Well Spent

The last words Jesus spoke on earth are known as the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Jesus’ last words gave instructions on what we are to do, but He also reminds us that we aren’t alone. He’s given us a huge task—spreading the gospel to all people—but He’s also given us the Holy Spirit as an ever-present help.

When we look at Jesus’ last days on earth, we see that He focused on putting others ahead of Himself, strengthening people’s faith and equipping believers to share the gospel. 

If that’s how Jesus spent His time, we can rest assured that those are the best ways we can spend ours.

Photo: Courtesy of Fathom Events