Field of Daisies

The Passion--Suffering--of the Christ

Suffering is right! I saw the movie last night and could barely take it. I thought I would weep through the whole thing, but I think I was in such shock at the brutality of it (and that He endured it for me, because of my sin...) that I was beyond tears except for a couple of scenes... The first was during the scourging of Christ when the shards at the end of the scourge dug deep into His flesh, leaving huge gashes as the whip was pulled away. (It was the only time I noticed an audible gasp throughout the audience....) The second was as Jesus, beaten beyond recognition, made His way through the streets of Jerusalem toward Golgotha. During one of His many falls under the weight of the cross, His mother watched from nearby remembering a time when as a small child this same Jesus had fallen down. In the flashback she ran to her Son, calling His name; then as she reached Him, she held Him in her arms and said, "I'm here...I'm here..." as she rocked Him in her arms. Then returning her attention to the present, she ran to her now grown Son in like manner, calling His name. Upon reaching Him, she fell to the ground near Him and spoke the same words through tears, "I'm here...I'm here..." It was truly too much to take in.... (Again, the thought kept going through my mind, He did it all for me....)

As the movie ended and the lights came up, for whatever reason, that's when the tears began to flow... I had an almost uncontrollable urge to sob openly, but managed to maintain a degree of composure. As we walked through the mall toward our car, I couldn't help but notice that everything seemed surreal. It's difficult to explain, but something changed in me as a result of watching this movie. The way I looked at the world had changed--probably, because for the first time I began to understand more clearly just what He had done for me....

Joel and I talked about the movie all the way home, analyzing different aspects of it. Biblically speaking, it seemed to be fairly accurate. Some artistic license was taken, as is to be expected, but not overly so. We both agreed that while the physical suffering was clearly beyond words, the one element that was glaringly absent was that of His spiritual suffering after He was arrested. We got a glimpse of intense spiritual agony as He prayed in the garden, but at the pinnacle of His sacrifice, when the weight of all of mankind's sin was laid upon Him, the spiritual aspect was not there. Not that it could've been adequately portrayed, but some representation was needed, I think. Overall, however, it was a well-done cinematic feat--not the usual low-budget "Christian" pablum we're used to. (No offense intended.)

Beyond that it's difficult to find the words to communicate the scope of this movie. There truly are no words to do it justice. I have to say, however, that it was in no way anti-Semitic. Jesus clearly proclaimed at least twice (that I noticed) that this was how it had to be--first when He told Pilate that the only reason he had any authority in the situation was because it was given to him by God; and second, when, in a flashback to His recent Passover dinner with the disciples, He told them they were His friends, quoting the powerful words from Scripture: "Greater love has no man than to lay down His life for His friends..." He told them all that He was laying down His life for them. No, no one 'took' Jesus' life from Him. He gave it freely. Had He not given over His life of His own accord, no one could've taken it from Him. This was indeed how it had to be: the spotless Lamb of God was slain as a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world--including me.

Did the chief priests, scribes, and Judas bear some responsibility for the part they played in the crucifixion of Christ? Yes, most certainly so. But were all Jews everywhere to blame? No. These Jewish leaders and Judas did indeed commit a heinous crime against our Lord, but their sin is on their heads alone. Toward the end, as the earthquake ripped through the temple where those same leaders were gathered, I actually felt pity for them. I don't know if they ever realized that they had actually had their long-awaited Messiah murdered. I doubt it, considering how things have played-out since. But one day they will know for certain what they did, and yes, they will have to give account for their actions. For that, I do pity them greatly.

Is this a movie that everyone should see? No! But it is an incredible depiction of the sacrifice and suffering of Christ. Much caution is warranted when considering taking children to this movie. It is brutally violent and extremely bloody--fully earning its "R" rating. Likewise, it could be a wonderful evangelical tool for those who have not yet counted the cost of their sin.

As for me, yes, I do believe it changed me. I haven't been able to debrief myself fully, yet, but I know that the impact was great.

And no, I will never forget that this is what He did for me.