March 03, 2004

The Passion of The Christ

I have had a lot of email about the film of the above title. "Passion" has been on my radar for about 9 months now. I wondered how it would be received and what the spin would be on it. Here are some thoughts...

First- Anti Semitism... Its too bad that English is so 2 dimentional. The Koine Greek is clear that the so called "Blood Libel" is focused on the few of the Sanhedrien that held that mock trial and dragged Jesus before Pilate...(going against their own rules and rendering themselves ritually impure prior to passover/the sabbath)... What I think the movie does show is...do you see one Arab/ Palestinian in this film? Is this not a Biblically based account? My friends, The Anti-Defamation League should buy 200 copies of this flick to distribute as it proves that the claim that the Palestinians have always been there is bogus. This film could cause riots, but of a different and more useful kind if you ask me.

Second-I have read all about the "accuracy"of the film. The blood, the gore. I think that I understand better than a lot of my evengelical counter parts why Mel Gibson meditated on the Passion of Christ and the significance the actual wounding of Jesus body has in the orthodox Catholic faith. I believe that this movie was a way for Mr. Gibson to live out this meditation...to see, to even go back into time and to take us back into time to be a witness to the crucifixion. It is an awsome thing and a necessary thing for some. I know that many many people have been touched by this film. I thank God for that.

Third- I have meditated on the Stations of the Cross and found that as I did, I began to glimpse a fragment of the suffering of my Lord. However....as I prayed on this I had a strong sense... and maybe even a "showing" if you will... Jesus suffered and died...endured this horrendous death, so I would not have to experience this myself. I dont have to see an actor in makeup depict it... or allow myself to suffer reliving it over and over again as I often do when I see violence in visual media... I close my eyes to battle scenes, like in the Lord of the Rings, I cannot bear it. How could I stand to watch Jesus being murdered so brutally... I could not... and will not.

I honor Mel Gibson for his courage in bringing the greatest story ever told again to life...He is being rewarded here and will be in the next life as well I think. However I will not be venturing forth to see The Passion...I have already seen it... and my life bears witness to the power of this sacrifice. The Wounds of Christ are the source of my healing and salvation. The are the hope of the world....