Okay, So I Watched "Jesus" (1979) - Thoughts!

Alright guys, so I finally got around to watching "Jesus" from '79. Yeah, I know, I'm late to the party, right? I'm trying to expand my horizons beyond the usual stuff, and this was a suggestion from a friend. Honestly, I went in expecting something, I dunno, dry or preachy? But it actually held my attention for the most part, even being like, almost 3 hours long! I guess sticking super close to the Gospel of Luke helped with that. The one thing that really struck me was how normal everyone felt. Like, the actor playing Jesus (Brian Deacon) didn't feel like some unreachable deity? He had moments of genuine joy and compassion, and then other times where you could see the weight of everything he was carrying. The scene where he clears the temple? Dude, that was intense! I also really liked the portrayal of Mary. She seemed so gentle and supportive. And John the Baptist? Total badass vibes. I was less keen on the Roman soldiers, they kinda felt like just cardboard cutouts of evil, but hey, maybe that's the point. I will say, the super literal interpretation of everything did feel a little...dated? at times. Like, the miracles felt a bit cheesy with the special effects. But I guess you have to remember it was the late 70s! It's not trying to be modern or anything. It feels very much of its time. Overall, I walked away feeling like I had a better understanding of the story than I had before. So, yeah, not sure if I'd watch it again anytime soon just because of the length, but I definitely think it’s worth checking out if you’re into biblical dramas or just want to see a faithful adaptation. Anyone else seen this? What did you think?