Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

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Verse of the Day

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Today's Quote

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The Passion of the Christ

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5


I viewed this movie last night in a sold-out theater with hundreds of other members of our local church. The impact on me was intense and I am still trying to process what I saw, heard and felt. These are my own reactions immediately and after an evening of thought.

1. Imagery
   Incredible! To the point of either awe-inspiring or ferociously vicious leaving me in tears! I loved the realism and attention to detail I saw in the dress of the Sanhedrin and Roman soldiers. The appearance of the religious leaders - both in dress and mannerisms - made me think of the terms "organized religion," ritualistic and lofty-power-hungry-self-important men. The Roman soldiers made me think of the Imperial Storm Troopers from the Star Wars movies, except for the portrayal of their own individual sadistic inhumanity and brutality.
   
   The movie is not for the weak stomached! It presents a graphic depiction of the last hours of Jesus' life. I've read some reviews online criticizing the amount of violence and gore depicted - mostly from secular reviewers. I pray that a brief study of the brutality of the Romans in their punishment in the first century was examined by these professional "journalists" prior to their judgment. Well guess what? The Roman soldiers were brutal! They were trained professionals and they took their jobs seriously! This included those whose function was to torture. Who else could devise implements of torture that would maximize the pain while allowing the victim to remain alive?!! I don't know if they took as much joyful glee in inflicting their brutality upon others as is shown here. From accounts of the atrocities we've heard over the years of other tyrannical rulers, we can imagine that the soldiers may have indeed enjoyed the power and destruction that they were paid to wield.
   
   From the ominous, agonized atmosphere and Jesus' anguish present at the beginning of the movie in the Garden of Gethsemane to the stark loneliness depicted upon the cross at Golgotha, Gibson certainly used the images and lighting to convey a variety of human emotion and foibles. I could go on and on here, but suffice it to say that I think that the film did a masterful job of using the surroundings - down to a single drop of rain - to help communicate the message.
   
   I wept uncontrollably during the scouring scenes envisioning the physical torture and pain the Jesus endured because of me. At one point I had to close my eyes and began to just thank Him for substituting Himself for me. I have the same tearful reaction each year around Easter though when contemplating the scourging episode, now that I've seen this portrayal, maybe that thankfulness will carry throughout the year. The actual crucifixion, while painfully wrenching in its portrayal, almost came as a relief to me - knowing that His torture was almost at an end.
   
   
2. Actors/Acting
   I guess the best praise that I could give is that I did not think that they were acting. 'nuff said? The actors throughout displayed almost every emotion that a human can express: joy, agony, disgust, ambivalence, fear, remorse, forgiveness, anguish, hatred, etc. I've thought about this next statement and think that I could say that: because I already "know" the story, I could have watched the movie without the subtitles and still understood exactly what was going on throughout. At some point in the film, I actually forgot that I was reading a subtitled film. I loved hearing the names spoken in the original tongue! Every time I heard my Lord's name in the original form, Yeshua, I think that I smiled unintentionally.
   
   The woman that played Mary came across as an agonized mother who only desires to protect her beloved son. The actors playing the religious leaders meshed together well and left me feeling that they were an organized mob willing to do and say whatever necessary to do away with their problem. I loved the facial expressions by the criminal Barabbas as he was released by Pilate (and the crowd). Pilate came across as more sympathetic than I believe him to be , the disciple John as less involved and Judas as more tortured though. And Caviezel's portrayal of a Jesus who was tender, loving and strong presents, I believe, a closer depiction to the real Jesus than many of the previous movie attempts which typically came across as a meek, mild-mannered teacher.
   
   Along with the actors, I must give kudos to those behind the scenes of the film - cinematography, lighting, costumes, location, sets and especially make-up and special effects. Whoever did the effects of the post-scourging upon the human body deserves an award! I have done some study on the effects of the Roman's torture techniques on the human body and flesh, I've heard sermons on it and doctors descriptions of it. Last night I believe that I saw it! It finally hit me when Jesus said that He was thirsty, just how much bodily fluid He must have lost, both in sweat and in blood, during the ordeal.
   
   
3. Story
   Okay, I get that the passion is just about the last hours of Christ's life...but will others who are less familiar with the story get it? Gibson presents the harshest, most violent portion of the life of Jesus and does not present the "rest of the story." I understand that it is not Gibson's job to educate the viewer as to the historical and cultural background of the people and period. But as anyone attempting Biblical hermeneutics knows, the context is vital! And I feel that it is sorely lacking if this movie was meant to influence unbelievers.
   
   I found the story to be fairly accurate and faithful with the artistic license necessary for Gibson to offer 2 hours of storyline. The embellishments offered don't necessarily provide anything unbiblical although other's opinions may differ, especially with the depiction of Satan and with the predominance of Mary seemingly undergoing the same suffering and trial as Jesus. Biblically, she is not portrayed as dominantly as shown in this film.
   
   The flashbacks to other scenes of Jesus' life was a welcomed reprieve from the brutality of His present circumstances. I do question if enough of each story was presented in the flashback to either (a) explain it to an unbeliever or (b) cause an unbeliever to want to learn more about it.
   
   
4. Questions
   Did I "like" the film? No. I don't think that this is a "likeable" film. But then I do not think that there is much about the last hours of Jesus' life that was pleasant.
   
   Would I recommend this film? Yes, to anyone over the age of 13.
   
   When I got home last night, my wife asked me if I thought it would be the evangelistic tool that many have proclaimed it could be. I'm unsure. I don't know if it leaves the unbelieving viewer with enough questions about "who do you say that I am?", what did He do and did He live again.
   
   Well, maybe that's our job - to interact, ask questions, and start a dialogue that uses this movie as a jumping off point.
   
   
5. Effects
   We had about 200 members of our church in the theater. They were comprised of pastors, staff members and various ministry leaders and those very committed to furthering the Kingdom of God through our local church. At the conclusion of the film, the theater was silent. I personally did not/could not talk with anyone. I made my way out of the theater, to my car and drove home. I really didn't even talk with my wife about it much, a couple of minutes maybe, but it was hard for me to put into words what I was feeling and had just seen. Now, the next day, I can and am willing to discuss its effects upon me. Mainly it was emotional. I'm as manly a man as the next man (say that 4 times fast) but the images of my Saviour being beaten, tortured, spat upon were gut-wrenching. I winched at the sound of the whip, I cringed at the hurled insults and epithets and seeing the blood splatter from His body and later run down the cross to the ground just hit me in the pit of my stomach.
   
   < sarcasm >Thankfully I do not seem to be feeling anti-Semitic today (praise God) but maybe that's an after-effect that comes on gradually. Also, I'm not feeling anti-Roman either! < /sarcasm >
   
   I pray that I am able to glorify God by taking the questions raised by this film and pointing the questioner toward the real Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I pray also that many can see the victory of His resurrection - the EMPTY cross - rather than just His suffering on the cross.
   

As an aside, happy 6th birthday to my beautiful son Zachary Robert!

Thank you Jesus for carrying my sin upon Your shoulders to the cross!

Because He lives,
Dr. Larry
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 10:51 AM