Passion preview in Ede

Today I joined a preview of 'The Passion of the Christ' for Christian leaders in the Cinemec in Ede. An invitation-only preview like this has some advantages: no commercials, no break halfway the crucifixion, no popcorn.

Of course everyone was deeply moved. It's an intensely dramatic and violent movie, and at the same time a great artistic expression of the heart of the gospel: Jesus Christ who gave his life to reconcile us with God. Personally I liked it more than the 'softer' Jesus movies I've seen. Well-known phrases from the prophets suddenly became vividly real... "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed." (Isaiah 53,5)

The scenes that touched me most were Jesus crushing the snake's head, Peter denying Jesus, Mary running to Jesus when he falls face down, the crucifixion itself and the tear out of Heaven that caused the earthquake.

Having seen the movie, I wonder why so much 'political' discussion has been going on about it. More than other Jesus movies 'The Passion' closely follows the gospel accounts. There's no trace of antisemitism (or the gospels would have to be antisemitic) and it's clear that the underlying forces that came against Jesus were demons of religion, intimidation and death (in fact Satan himself), working largely through the religious establishment of his time.

So I'm not really bothered... well, maybe about the eagerness of Evangelicals to 'use' the movie for evangelism. I don't think 'The Passion' needs that. In terms of artistic quality it's much better than the Evangelical movies produced so far, and God's Spirit will convince people. There's no reason to 'jump' on it and claim it.

Perhaps an appropriate, low-key way to reach out would be to start 'Passion meals' or 'Passion groups' for people who have seen the movie (or want to see it as a group) and wish to process it with others. If they want to discover more about Jesus, Alpha could be a next step. But after that it gets a bit complicated. The radical sacrificial lifestyle of Jesus as expressed in the movie is way beyond where most Evangelical churches are heading.

May God use 'The Passion' to help us refocus on the cross and it's radical meaning. If we look at the cross, there is no room for trivial things like petty programs and divisions, or lookalike nails on a cord.

Comments

[Jan Wolsheimer]

Indeed a very moving film. In spite of some non-biblical scenes (horror kinda scene with kids faces after Judas betrayed Jesus and the devil figure with a child in his arms--> I did not quite catch the meaning of that scene)it's a very good movie.

If you want to know what your life is worth, watch this movie and multiply your feelings with a 1000 and you're not even close to what you mean to God!

[Eddyspeeder]

Marc,

I'm in doubt about the movie right now. Should I go watch it or not? According to what was said on Netwerk tonight (March 14), the storyline is quite distantiated from the biblical sources.

On the other hand, Netwerk's documentary was annoyingly prejudiced in regard to this film, with the negative comments compared to the positive ones in the proportion 15:1. They mentioned exactly one miracle, the striking by lightning, but made it sound as if it was rather a "punishment" from heaven, as they did not tell that the person who was hit just stood up without having a scratch.

Then again, you have been all for this film before even having seen it and you are full of praise about it now you have seen it as well. To what extent are you prejudiced about the film?

Originally I wanted to go see this film. I can take huge amounts of blood and violence, but I think seeing this film will tear me up and will have me walk out of the cinema weeping. But if the storyline is not according to the biblical sources, as mentioned in Netwerk, I think that instead I will walk away angry and disappointed.

In short, my question comes down to this: can you ensure that, other than the things Jan Wolsheimer pointed out, this movie is a 1:1 representation of what is described in the four Gospels?

REPLY TO EDDYSPEEDER:

Netwerk was prejudiced indeed. I was just amazed with Nico ter Linden's
remark about the movie not being accurate at all. But realising that he
doesn't recognize Jesus as the Saviour of the world either, I shouldn't be surprised.

As I see it the movie closely folllows the gospel accounts. It is raw, the
suffering is pictured as horrific as it was. It's not a family movie and you
need a good stomach to watch it.

At the same time it's an artistic interpretation. The elements that Jan
Wolsheimer refers to are Gibson's interpretation of Judas being tormented by
demons after having betrayed Jesus. This is of course not literally in the
Bible, but fact is that Satan used him and he finally took his own life.

Also there are elements in the movie that make sense to people in the
Catholic tradition, but that are less obvious to Evangelicals.

Personally I don't take an 'official' position on this movie. I published about it, and we offer a platform for news and interaction, but different people will experience the movie differently. The important thing for me is that it helps us to focus on Jesus and the cross and gain a deeper revelation/understanding of what His sacrifice means to us.

Marc

[William Cooper]

The question I have is-- was it the physical wounds the Bible is talking about in "--He was wounded for our transgressions" or something much deeper as reflected in the sorrow found in "My God my God why have you forsaken me?" He had already known the rejection of men. He had felt it every day even at home from his brothers, but what about having to undergo rejection by the Father as He bore the sins of his people? Was the rejection of men the cup he wished he could avoid drinking? My mind is carried away from what men did to him. Catholics have been focused on the physical sufferings for centuries even to the point of flagellating themselves, has it produced a pure church? The deep saints who did profound work for God like Hudson Taylor breaking into Satan's stronghold in inland China, or George Mueller taking care of the orphans by faith pointed to the power of His death in its defeat of the devil. "that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil". Was it the physical death on the cross that is referred to in this verse or the cutting off from the Father that he fully tasted at the ninth hour? What is the meaning of death in "He tasted death for every man"? Is it physical death? Since the intelligent nature of man's faith in His death counts before God I am going to place my faith in that cup he drank at the ninth hour not in the fact that he lost his physical life and that he suffered physically at the hands of men. At the end of his time on the cross just before his physical death he was already showing triumph over the devil, testifying to the penitent thief that that very day he would be with Him in paradise. At that point He manifested glory in triumphing openly over the principalities and powers having stripped them of their power as they had drawn out the fullest strength they could muster against him in that "hour and power of darkness" and failed to crush him. So the word death must be referring to something far more profound than his physical sufferings and death.
Bill

[Karen Siemens]

I thought I would cry through the movie. I'm easily moved to tears and never watch gory stuff. I didn't cry at all. They finally got it! A movie portraying the Jesus I know, who was "so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness -- so will he sprinkle many nations"(Isaiah 52:14). He knew what he was doing, counted the cost, paid it and won the victory.

I sense in the my spirit the challenge to follow in his footsteps.

Karen