The movie Monty Python’s Life of Brian is a comedy in which Jewish protagonist Brian, who was born on the same day as Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), gets confused for the Messiah when trying to hide from the Romans. The Romans try to hunt down Brian (and eventually succeed) because he is a member of The People’s Front of Judea, a group that aims to revolt against the Romans. Although the film is clearly fictional, it plays on many factual aspects of Christianity and, in particular, the life of Jesus. In developing a setting that resembles the time in which Jesus was born, the film highlights the incarnate nature of Jesus: an important aspect that makes the plot possible because it makes a man getting confused for Jesus (somewhat) plausible.
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The notion of the three wise men comes from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the synoptic gospels, which are so central in Christianity because they tell about Jesus’ life, teachings, and followers. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three wise men were led to the baby Jesus by a star, and brought him gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They also refer to Jesus as the “King of the Jews,” as he was born Jewish and as the Son of God (Ross). In Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the wise men refer to all those details when speaking to Brian’s mom in front of Brian, whom they initially believe is the Son of God and the Messiah. The three wise men, however, quickly realize that they were mistaken when the movie shows the true baby Jesus from afar, whom beams of light surround, and his mother, the Virgin Mary, has a halo above her head. This scene reflects on the true Christian belief that Jesus was born special; that he is divine from birth. Then again, because this scene shows Brian and Jesus being born nearby and on the same day, it also highlights the Christian understanding that Jesus was born in a specific moment in time on earth as simultaneously fully human and fully divine. Although he is the son of God, he walks among man, and, after his crucifixion, has to experience hell for three days before being resurrected, thus emphasizing his
The notion of the three wise men comes from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the synoptic gospels, which are so central in Christianity because they tell about Jesus’ life, teachings, and followers. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three wise men were led to the baby Jesus by a star, and brought him gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They also refer to Jesus as the “King of the Jews,” as he was born Jewish and as the Son of God (Ross). In Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the wise men refer to all those details when speaking to Brian’s mom in front of Brian, whom they initially believe is the Son of God and the Messiah. The three wise men, however, quickly realize that they were mistaken when the movie shows the true baby Jesus from afar, whom beams of light surround, and his mother, the Virgin Mary, has a halo above her head. This scene reflects on the true Christian belief that Jesus was born special; that he is divine from birth. Then again, because this scene shows Brian and Jesus being born nearby and on the same day, it also highlights the Christian understanding that Jesus was born in a specific moment in time on earth as simultaneously fully human and fully divine. Although he is the son of God, he walks among man, and, after his crucifixion, has to experience hell for three days before being resurrected, thus emphasizing his