The Passion Triggers Questions…
February 26, 2004
Just got back from The Passion of the Christ. Expected to see a few more blog entries in blogdom about it, but maybe it’s already been talked about too much. Sat next to a woman who said, “You can sit here, be a part of our family. I mean, we are all one big family anyway…” Powerful film. Powerful images. Enjoyed the flashbacks to Jesus’ earlier life. Enjoyed some of the obvious Catholic influences (particularly Veronica [correct name, right?] wiping Jesus’ face = stations of the cross). I also enjoyed the “in-between” scenes. What did happen from the time that Jesus was arrested in the Garden to being put on trial? Did he have an encounter with Judas? Who saw him?
But the film raised more questions than anything for me.
I loved Pilate and all his questions about truth. What is truth? Good question…
What exactly WAS the role of Mary Magdalene in the life of Jesus; the Da Vinci Code aside (although I do want to read it still). I loved how they placed Mary Magdalene as the woman from John 8. Were Jesus and Mary close friends? Was it possibly one of those situations where they were like, “You know…it’s pretty obvious we like each other, but our paths are just not headed in the same direction, so we may just have to be friends….” Does it really matter? Is it going to destroy Jesus’ divinity if we allow our imagination to think that there may have been some “connection” between Jesus and Mary?
And what about the soldier whose ear was cut off…? I have honestly never thought about him before. He couldn’t get up after Jesus healed him. Here he was, coming to take care of this rebellious hoodlum Jesus, and then he ends up encountering the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Can’t really slap the handcuffs on him after that…Scripture tells us that one Roman soldier came to the realization of who Jesus really was…but could there have been more? The movie seemed to allude to that fact.
Any movie that can create questions, and begin dialogue, is a winner in my book. Thanks Mel.
Tags: Mel-Gibson, Movie-Reviews, The-Passion, The-Passion-of-Christ
Posted in TV & Film
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
February 26th, 2004 at 4:21 pm
What about the blood and guts? Does the violence absolutely overwhelm and assault…does the message become lost in the gore?
I read the following review this morning from the NY Times…this is what got me thinking. Nevertheless, I am stoked to see this film.
“The Passion of the Christ is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus’ final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath, and to succeed more in assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it…. It is disheartening to see a film made with evident and abundant religious conviction that is at the same time so utterly lacking in grace.”
A.O. Scott
February 26th, 2004 at 4:27 pm
The movie was definitely powerful and thought provoking… I saw it yesterday and am still processing it all. Yes it is gory, yes it is violent, but that’s what Jesus’ death was. We can’t keep sugar coating it-in a way showing all the horrific details helps to even further prove Jesus awesome divinity. Rarely would a man survive that kind of scourging, especially a man who had suffered hemohydrosis (not sure on the spelling, but sweating blood) as Jesus did the night before… its so humbling to see, but even just the glimpse of the ressurection at the end reminds of the hope that comes from Jesus.
February 26th, 2004 at 9:37 pm
Jenny - I think it’s fair to say that, in general, believers are going to encounter this film in a profoundly different way from nonbelievers. That isn’t to say that the nonbeliever’s perspective is unimportant, but it’s essential that we recognize that either having or not having a spiritual connection to the story will fundamentally change your reaction to the whole film, including and especially the brutality.
There are certainly exceptions, but I think this matter of “is it about blood or is it about love?” is fundamentally a question of context and perception. For me, the film offered some of the most moving and soul-engaging connections to the love and hope Christ embodied that I’ve ever experienced. I will never cease to be haunted (in a beautiful way) by the brief but timeless moment when Jesus says, “Behold I make all things new.” I think you’ll get that when you see it. I still can’t replay it in my head and keep my eyes dry.
For me, seeing Jesus wash his disciples feet and hearing his words at that time (words that change me)…seeing him link arms with Simon…watching him write in the dirt as the old men drop their rocks…hearing him express love for his mother and John, forgiving the very men murdering him as they are taking his life (and laughing at him)…for me, that’s hope. That’s love.