A cinema silenced. We left empty chairs, and an eerie silence as no one seemed willing to speak. It is that sort of film. It is confronting, in part beautiful, in part too graphic or shocking for words. My first response to the film was an emotional one. Watching Jesus being flogged knowing, but perhaps understanding, experiencing for the first time, what it means when we read passages such as this:
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)
And these words penned by Stuart Townsend will never be easy to sing:
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away.
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer,
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
(Stuart Townsend - How Deep the Father’s Love for Us)
The truths of Jesus death were brought home as we saw Jesus be nailed to the Cross, by obedience to His Father and His love for us; as we saw Jesus remain silent while the leaders rattled off their accusations; and as we saw Him being flogged, yet later pray for their forgiveness. On this count the film powerfully portrays the physical suffering of Christ, but we only see glimpses of the spiritual suffering of Christ. (Perhaps in the film’s opening, as Jesus prays in Gethsemane).
The snapshots we saw of people were powerful; the Soldier who did not move after Jesus healed his ears. The picture of Pilate and his wife discussing the nature of truth was a striking one. A Roman Guard, who gradually realises that Jesus, was not simply a man (Though the omission of the line “Surely this man was the Son of God” was disappointing); and Simon’s reaction as he was commanded to carry the cross. The film also shows people, both Jew, and Roman, screaming for him to die and laughing as they flog him. It is hard to see the film as anti-Semitic.
These snapshots are a portrait of Human nature, of our rebellion, its price and consequences. But more than that, the film shows us the divisive nature of the Gospel. The ultimate decision of humanity is whether the recognise Christ. Pilate washed his hands of the decision; the High Priest decided he was not their Messiah; even the thieves crucified with him made their own responses. And we too must make a response.
The film it is not something that you go to see, it is not entertainment, it is an experience, a graphic picture of the death of the Saviour; the death of my Saviour. It is powerful. It is a powerful statement. I was moved throughout the film. Seeing Jesus struggle in the Garden, wrestling in prayer, and the memories of his mother; as well as the line ‘Behold I make all things new”. The transposing of the Last Supper with his Death was also heart-wrenching. The single drop from Heaven also was a beautiful moment, it was as if to say that God was watching; God was not unmoved (though that’s all conjecture).
One thing that has been particularly striking for me was the absence of a narrator, or narrative character, the film simply is, the events simply follow, the interpretation is ours. We see how the events appear to simply fall out of control – from the arrest in the Garden, through the trial, and His condemnation, the transposing of the crowd welcoming their King with palm branches, and shouting; chanting as He carries his Cross to Calvary. Yet perhaps in the resurrection we are shown reason, and purpose. I do wonders if this was Mel Gibson’s intent, giving us the pieces, but not putting them together for us; not driving us to the resolution, but letting the events speak.
With the powerful story, and the music, it is a powerfully emotive film and perhaps this is the one concern I have with the film. I do not doubt that God could open people’s hearts through the message of this film; I do not doubt the earnestness of those who turn. And though I think the emotional response in part could be helpful, and even desirable, part of me also asks to what are those who might convert turning, and part of me asks how well will we follow them up? The emotional response will fade, and then the roots they have will matter.
I do have other questions about events in the film, the portrayal of Satan, and the prominence of Mary. On the whole I feel it was faithful, there was not a lot that jumped out and grabbed me as wrong. I am not sure that I see it as an evangelistic film, a film that I’d invite a group of people to see. The feeling I have is that though the film is in part truthful; and the film does leaves questions. The impact of the film is perhaps greater for those who have a deep understand of the gospel. I am not sure that I would see it again. Its sad that I have “numbed myself” to the Gospel, and it took this film to remind me of the heights, and deeps of the Love of God for His Creation, the Love of Christ.
And it is this love, that drove, that constrained Paul (2 Cor 5:14-15) to speak of Jesus; who died for him, not simply died, but subjected himself to live as a human, to be humiliated on trial, and to be mercilessly flogged, then ridiculed as he was nailed to the Cross. We cannot now take sin lightly; having graphically seen a picture of what it may have been like for Christ to deal with sin. Sin is what took Jesus to Calvary, our sin. God has dealt with sin on the Cross - and we therefore must deal with it in our own lives.
The words of Mark 16:8: the feeling of the disciples after His resurrection, resonate in my head after seeing the film, and perhaps in the hearts and minds of those who saw it too.
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
++++
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