I remember Passion Week as a kid, the week leading up to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. My church was bustling with activity all week. My siblings and I were busy memorizing lines and verses for the Easter program. It didn’t mean much to me then.
I hope Christians will take advantage of The Passion of the Christ to explain to an unbelieving world just how significant that week is.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, Christ made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. By Friday, He was dead and His work was finished. Three days later, Resurrection Sunday, He’d arisen from the grave.
What was the purpose of it all? Why did Christ have to be scourged and tortured and killed? Because God is just and perfect. God commanded us to obey His law. But who has perfect obedience? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
A just God cannot excuse crime. There must be a penalty for breaking the law. Until that crime is paid for, we’re under God’s just wrath.
To be sure, God is not fair. If He were, we’d all be doomed to eternal damnation. But God is not fair; He is merciful! Because of God’s love for us, He sent His Son to bear His wrath for those who trust Him. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13
That’s the message I don’t want to be lost in the movie hype.
I hear the movie is very bloody. By focusing on the violence, I think the movie misses the point. Do you ever wonder why the Gospels don’t focus on the blood and torture? Because Christ’s suffering is an act of submission to the Father’s will. “Christ has also loved us, and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2
Jesus Christ gave Himself willingly and gladly.
No doubt The Passion of the Christ will open big. I believe men like James Dobson of Focus on the Family, and Cal Thomas, when they say the movie is true to the Scriptures. Everyone is anticipating this movie. Last night on Family Life Today, the hosts couldn’t suppress their excitement about the film.
James Dobson says:
“I can say that, in addition to being faithful to the essentials of the biblical account, it is easily the most heart-wrenching, powerful portrayal of Christ’s suffering that I have ever seen. Shirley and I were deeply moved by the stark depiction of the brutality and humiliation that Jesus endured on our behalf.”
And:
“As Christians, we often decry the immoral films that Hollywood routinely releases, and rightly so. However, in addition to avoiding movies that are immoral or otherwise disparaging of Christianity, we must do everything we can to support those rare films that, like “The Passion of the Christ,” are both edifying and uplifting.”
On the promotional video I saw, Lee Strobel said, “Friends, this film represents a message that every single person must hear and respond to.” Strobel is the author of The Case for Christ, a great book that lays out a compelling case that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I understand why Christians are embracing this movie, especially after blasphemous films like The Last Temptation of Christ, where Jesus is depicted as a sinner married to two women at the same time and tempted by Satan into believing that His dying on the cross was not His Father’s will.
My point in blogging about this movie is to provide an alternate view. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s movie experience. Just remember that it’s not Christ and Pontius Pilate up there, only a cast of actors.
For believers going to see The Passion of the Christ next week, Ash Wednesday, remember that you still have to do the work of explaining sin and redemption, and God still has to do the work of saving those He’s chosen unto salvation.
Beliefnet.com has posted a number of articles about the movie. Thanks for your thoughtful comments!
