This Week #26 (2-29-04)
The Passion of The Christ
In a bit of a brief departure from my “devotional” thought, I am writing
This Week |
a commentary or review of the Mel Gibson production, “The
Passion of The Christ.” I know many of you saw it with us this past
Wednesday evening, and I pray it is a moving experience in your life.
I have seen it twice, now, and expect I will see it again. I know I will
purchase a copy when it arrives on DVD. I saw more detail the second time
through, and I believe that may happen again each time I see it.
There has been a significant amount of praise and much criticism of the
film, and its producer/director. I too can speak of the extraneous
materials added beyond the Biblical record, the promotion of Mary, the
mother of Jesus, beyond what Scripture would reveal, and inconsistencies
with the Truth of God’s Word.
But rather than do that, I want to say a word about the positive aspects,
at least as I see them. Since I am, at heart, a storyteller, I see the
necessity of “fleshing out” a story so that it makes sense to those who do
not know the narrative as well as many Christians, and no logically
thinking person can deny that much, if not most, of the actual life of
Jesus is not told in the Scripture. I will not fault Mr. Gibson for
telling us the story, albeit as he personally sees it. It is, after all,
his money that produced it, so it is only natural that his view would be
prominent.
What I do see, and clearly, is the cross of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18
tells us that it is the Cross that is the power of God to bring men to
salvation. I agree that the movie does not speak to us of salvation by
grace alone through faith alone, but that is my job as I explain to men
and women this message of the cross so vividly portrayed in the film.
What I do see, and clearly, is the central message of the Gospel, when
Jesus is heard to say, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father but by me.” Can there be a more profound statement
made in relationship to the life and death of Christ?
And what about the violence?, some say. I keep seeing in my mind the very
first scene in the movie, as writing on the screen reveals, “He was
wounded for my transgressions . . .,” from Isaiah. With every lash, with
every slap, with every taunt and jeer, I am reminded that it is my sin
that drew the blood and caused the pain. And knowing my sin, I understand
the lengths to which one must go to be accurate. As I watched through
tear-filled eyes His hands being nailed to the cross, my heart sang with
Horatio Spafford, “My sin, O, the bliss of this glorious thought – my sin,
not in part, but the whole, is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O my soul.”
And for those who might complain there are only a few seconds covering the
resurrection, let me quote my friend Clyde Austin, who stated clearly,
“how long does it take to rise from the dead! ” The stone is rolled away,
the grave clothes are empty, the nail-scarred hand is evident as the risen
Lord re-entered the world. He’s Alive! He’s Alive!
See it! Know it! Feel it! Ignore that which doesn’t fit with your
theology, and tell your brother, your friend, your neighbor, the Good
News.
© Weaver 2004