Northbridge Community Church, one of Andy Stanley’s partner churches, has recently presented a mind blowing sermon series examining the classic movie E.T. the Extra Terrestrial across the lens of the Christian faith. The sermon opined that the film can be viewed as a current parallel to the story and life of Jesus Christ.
When speaking, he further points to several similarities, describing E.T. as a divine like being who comes from the heavens to Earth with a message of a divine love, healing and peace. He point out E.T.’s miraculous abilities, compassion and connection with children, then comparing the outcome themes with aspects of Jesus’ ministry.
The sermon also mirrors between E.T. being hunted by authorities and Jesus’ persecution, while pointing to the movie’s death, resurrection and ascension sequence. The speaker further compares E.T.’s glowing heart with Sacred Heart imagery associated with Jesus and notes visual similarities between the E.T. movie poster and Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam.
Finalizing, the sermon presents E.T. as a movie that can be interpreted through Christian themes and as a modern fictional parallel to or that elements of the story of Jesus.
In His Words
What angle, what direction did I want to take as we look at this movie through the lens of the Christian faith today? What can it highlight for us, and what can it point out, and what themes can it help us understand?
Probably one of the easiest directions, and the one that crossed my mind immediately and I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about this before, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen this through the movie before when you’re watching E.T. but E.T. is really, if you’re looking for it, and you don’t have to look that hard, it is kind of a modern parallel, if you will, a modern telling of the story and life of Jesus.
Did I lose anybody? Don’t leave yet if I did. It kind of really is.
If you have not watched E.T. for a while, take what I just said, go back and rewatch it, but let me just bring up some points, all right, for this.
I wrote them down.
E.T. is a divine-like being who comes from the heavens to Earth, bringing a message of love, healing, and peace.
E.T. performs miraculous deeds with a deep sense of compassion and also appreciates the simplistic yet profound faith of children.
E.T. uses a speak and spell to communicate, and, you know, communicate profound concepts. Jesus used parables.
Betrayal and persecution as E.T. is hunted by figures of authority.
There’s even a death, resurrection, and ascension sequence at the end.
I can tell some of you are like, Yeah, I’m still not with you.
Okay, I’ve got some visuals, okay? I know a lot of you are visual learners.
Look at this.
This is the movie poster on the left. On the right is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam painting that’s in the Sistine Chapel. It is a direct mirror of that image. It pays homage.
There’s also a very famous painting icon of Jesus, if you will, called the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It’s in paintings and stained glass windows and statues.
Here it is on the right.
Jesus has a heartlight. E.T. has a heartlight.
Are you guys tracking with me yet?
All right. All right, I’ll give you one more. You just need a little bit more convincing.
Jesus’s very first miracle was turning water into wine, and E.T. likes beer.
All right?
