Review of the Film:
Who wasn’t thrilled when William Wallace rode his horse back and forth in front of the cowering Scottish armies with blue and white paint on his face calling them to fight fearlessly as Scotsman for freedom from English tyranny in now my personal favorite movie of all time, “Braveheart?” (By the way, that’s my idea of a Promise Keepers meeting…) And who wasn’t moved to new heights of patriotism when Mel Gibson ran up the hill directly into heavy canon and musket fire waving the American Flag to win the day over the British in his landmark film, “The Patriot?” Great films; memorable moments; and unprecedented heroism—these are my kind of movies.
Now, Mel Gibson has turned his skillful ability in giving the world the first Christianly based film on the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ that is unparalleled in quality of production, acting, directing, and special effects, etc. No longer do we have to suffer through another TBN wanna-be effort or an old Billy Graham film on the rapture. This is Gibson at his finest; great film-making, brilliant acting, effortless directing, amazing sets; he is Rembrandt painting this epic on the canvas of the big screen as only he can do; and he should be commended for his dedication to excellence. Gibson has this amazing ability to create memorable characters and to capture a volume of words with a single look on a face. It is clear that he is one of the most gifted actor/director/producer of ours or anyone else’s time.
It is also obvious that from reading and listening to Mr. Gibson in numerous articles and interviews that he is articulate, passionate, and thoroughly convinced of this films content. In other words, this was not just another script for him to produce, but a personal expression of faith and belief. This is, by his words, “penitence.” He said in the making of this film, he was “a man under compulsion—arrested by The Passion of Christ.” And, that in this “story of redemption of a selfless act of a living God that faith, hope, love and forgiveness are worthy, necessary messages to put out there today.” I agree. I have no question that he believes with every fiber of his being the message and focus that this movie portrays. This is his personal vision of Christ’s last hours before He died, mixed with accounts from the Synoptic Gospels coupled with the philosophical influence from the writings of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich and her book, “The Dolorous Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is, the gospel according to Mel.
The greatest story ever told… is God’s redemption for man through the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ the righteous. This is divine accomplishment in the face of human achievement. This is the only hope for mankind; our only salvation; this is the only way to heaven and to obtain the forgiveness of sins. This is the good news of the gospel and therefore, this film demands our attention (I have seen it three times this past week).
The Academy Awards
I find it fascinating that the weekend the Academy Awards are patting themselves on their backs, that “The Passion…” has eclipsed the pre-awards hype, has proven that everyday people really aren’t that concerned about what J-Lo will be wearing or Michael Moore is protesting, and that there is life outside of the Hollywood elite. So all-embracing is the talk about this movie that many people find themselves asking in the comber of Democratic Primaries, “are Kerry and Edwards the new replacement for Siegfried and Roy?” Every studio in the business turned down Gibson’s film; initially, every major distributor passed over his movie. And now, on film’s greatest weekend, he has stolen their thunder and robbed them of their self-aggrandizement—oh how I love this… I appreciate you Mel—may your tribe increase!
The Crystallization of Controversy
There has been much controversy surrounding this film like never before in the history of that industry. The anti-Semitism is absolutely without merit—it is trumped up and should be dismissed. It just goes to show you when you have a few disgruntled strategically positioned political individuals what can happen. The other controversy was more subtle—could a film about Jesus, portrayed in the language of His day with subtitles find an audience? Is anyone interested in what really happened the last hours of the Son of Man’s life? The answer we have all found out is a resounding yes. This has ignited churches and individual believers in the Lord Jesus afresh to really share their faith and be unashamed of the gospel. Needless to say, it has also given many a strong visual image of what it meant to die by scourging and crucifixion. You can never hear words again like, “Deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24) without a profound sense of what it meant to followers of Jesus in His day. My concern is if Christians needed a film to excite them about the gospel again and give them an opportunity to share the truth with another, then what does that say about their faith to begin with? That notwithstanding, this movie gives us all a powerful opportunity to talk to others about the Lord; don’t miss this window to tell your friends and family about the “why” of the cross. I have personally shared the gospel with several in check out lines at the grocery store, at a sporting goods store, even at a gas station because this film—right or wrong—has people talking. I love to share the gospel of grace—it is the passion of my life. And now, like after 911, people are open to talk and to listen; will we be faithful to share?
Part of the controversy surrounding this movie—especially among evangelicals is—is it historically accurate and biblically sound? Did Mr. Gibson honor the Word of God in following its account of Christ’s last hours before the cross, or did he take too much artistic license in his portrayal of Christ’s passion? Or, are there other extra-biblical influences, sources and writings that he favored over the biblical account?
IS THIS FILM BIBLICALLY ACCURATE
1. The film does get the basics correct:
The agony in Gethsemane; trial before the Annas and Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin; the questioning and sentencing by Pilate; the inquisition by Herod; the scourging, crucifixion; burial and resurrection. The film also showed, although historically exaggerated, the physical pain and torture that this kind of punishment and crucifixion was like in Jesus’ day. However, keep in mind that the foundational influence for this film was not the gospels of Scripture, but the writings of the Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich in her “Dolorous Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Her visions provided much of the new and puzzling material presented in the movie that people are asking for clarity on. (It is also her visions that Romanists will affirm provides much of the needed detail about the Passion that the Scriptures do not speak to.)
DOES THIS FILM DIFFER FROM THE BIBLICAL RECORD
2. The gospel account of our Lord’s last hours does differ significantly from the film. Some points of interest are as follows:
*When Jesus declares “I AM He” in the garden the soldiers do not fall back on to the ground; (the biblical record states that this as happened twice—why wasn’t it included?).
*Satan and Jesus are presented as being in spiritual conflict in the garden. This again is never mentioned in Scripture. What the Lord was wrestling with in the garden were not the sub-conscience whispers of Satan, but drinking “the cup” and submitting to the Father’s will. The agony of Gethsemane was between the Father and the Son—not between Satan and Christ.
*Demons plaguing Judas after his betrayal are depicted as little children. They chase Judas out into the desert where he eventually hangs himself after the little demons vanish. Their faces change throughout from an innocent child’s face to that of a hellish or goulash demon. This is very perplexing and certainly not part of the biblical account anywhere.
*”The Cup” that is presented in this film is the cup of scourging and dying.
That is not the cup of Scripture that Jesus struggles “to drink” to the point of sweating great drops of blood (something that was also left out of the movie). Wicked men had been scourged and crucified before. Wicked men had given their lives for a cause and received the torture appropriate as Rome determined. Wicked men deserved to die for their crimes and some did so willingly. However, the cup that only the Lord Jesus Christ could drink was the cup of the Father’s wrath that burns against our sin. Christ was our propitiation, which means to avert wrath, before the Father on behalf of the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17). Jesus was not wrestling with the reality of dying or being beaten and scourged—as physically painful and excruciating as those things were. He was wrestling with being forsaken as the wrath of the Father was being poured out on Him as our divine substitute.
*The film shows Christ before the scourging begins as praying to the Father saying, “I am ready now; my heart is ready now…” (Not exact words, my paraphrase—but nonetheless not in Scripture); giving the impression that this was what He did not want to embrace. It was a spiritual conflict that disturbed Him in that insufferable supplication before the Father.
*At His arrest the disciples were sleeping not awake as in the movie. A few more verses left out of this scene as well. (I.E. Peter is to be sifted like wheat per Satan’s request of the Lord, etc.)
*Mary Magdalene is presented as an adulterous woman in this film—not true according to the Scriptures.
*Mary, the mother of Jesus, is elevated beyond the biblical record. In the film she could telepathically communicate with Christ; was the nemesis of Satan during the scourging and the walk down the Via Del a Rosa; when the Lord was dying she runs up to the cross and says, “My son, I wish I could die with you.” Then kisses His feet and is shown with blood on her face referencing her as co-redemptrix with Christ and not as a sinner in need to be saved by grace. She also runs to Christ when He falls to almost assist Him in carrying His cross with Him. The apostles refer to her as “Mother” and not as Mary.
*Jesus’ sermon to the women of Israel is omitted on the road to Calvary as well; but strangely, St. Veronica is included (non-biblical) – the young girl who wipes the face of Christ when He has fallen down while carrying the cross. She offers Him a drink of water and gives Him a clean white towel to wipe His face with. As per Romanist tradition, His face is imprinted on the towel, which she acknowledges in the film, and was considered to be a relic of the Roman church.
*At the scourging, Satan is mulling toward the back of the crowd carrying a baby boy that has the head of a grown man which, sadly to say, looks like Mini-Me right our of Austin Powers. According to Gibson, this was to represent the anti-Christ and give the impression that Satan was taunting Jesus meant to represent that Satan was carrying for his child, but God was not caring for His Son. This again is nowhere in Scripture and who knows the exact origin of such mystical imagery.
*The scourging was exaggerated in the film by Gibson’s own admission. He wanted to bring the audience to the edge of despair, give some relief, and then bring them back to the edge again (the purpose of the flashbacks). (The whip used for scourging had a short wooden handle, to the end of which were attached several leather thongs. Each thong was tipped with very sharp pieces of metal or bone. The man to be scourged was tied to a post by the wrists high over his head, with his feet dangling and his body taut. Often there were two scourgets, one on either side of the victim, who took turns lashing him across the back. Muscles were lacerated, veins and arteries were torn open, and it was not uncommon for the kidneys, spleen, or other organs to be exposed and slashed. As would be expected, many men died of scourging before they could be taken out for execution. We do not know the full extent of Jesus’ wounds, but He was so weakened by them that He was not able to carry His own cross (Mark 15:21)).
*The scourging and beatings were also out of balance with the suffering on the cross and the resurrection. Out of a two hour film, only about thirteen minutes was given to the cross and less than one minute to the resurrection. This is in keeping with Romanist views of the Mass. The focus is on the scourging not on redemption. (Point of reference: Jesus is shown as coming out of the tomb with no clothing—this is not in keeping with the biblical record and definitely not the way to end this film.)
*Pilate in this film is depicted as a benevolent conflicted governor in the Praetorian court almost to the point where you feel compassion for his judicial and political dilemma on what to do with Christ. Again, this is pure fantasy. In fact, historically, Caesar had sent two edicts to Pilate commanding him to stop his bloodlust for more crucifixions or the same would happen to him. This was a wicked mad-man and he weighed no conscionable objections about pleasing the crowd. He was concerned only for his own preservation—not the Lord’s well being.
*The fourteen Stations of the Cross were clearly presented throughout the film; but yet veiled enough that most evangelical Christians would not have noticed them if not previously familiar with them. In fact, in most cases, Romanist theology was subtle rather than overt. But make no mistake about it: this is the gospel according to Rome and not according to the Scriptures.
*The real suffering of the atoning work of Christ was not shown in this film. The real work of atonement and agony began once Jesus was placed on the cross. This is where every sin, ever committed, by every one, that would ever believe, was imputed or credited to Him. The guilt and penalty of our sin was placed on Him. But the most excruciating torment that we can never fully understand in this life was that the eternal wrath of a holy God that you and I deserve in an everlasting hell as the just punishment for our sin, was compressed into time and poured out in unmitigated fury and gall with unrelenting force by God. This was the suffering that the Lord went through on the cross to redeem His people from their sins that was the great weight of torment and affliction—not just the physical lacerations, but spiritual separation. Out of the last twelve hours of our Lord’s life before He died on the cross, six of those twelve hours was spent on the cross (from 9am-3pm). God’s righteousness, justice and holiness had to be satisfied so that we could be redeemed. Christ became our divine substitute. This, again, was the cup no one could drink except Him. Why? It took a faultless life lived; an unblemished Lamb sacrificed, and a perfect High Priest to satisfy God. All three of those things are contained alone in Jesus Christ the Righteous—and God was satisfied.
*There was no divine substitutionary sacrifice described in this film. This movie by Mr. Gibson’s own words was his penitence for his own sins. In a very real way, this movie is what Mr. Gibson would consider to be his "get out of purgatory early card." This is the religion of human achievement—works righteousness—rather than the faith of divine accomplishment.
*The Roman soldiers at the cross did not acknowledge, “surely this man was the Son of God.” Why leave such an important declaration of Christ’s deity out of script?
*In the movie, the temple veil was not torn when Christ declared “It is finished!” In fact, He didn’t declare it is finished in this film, but it is accomplished. This has a different meaning altogether than the biblical phrase, but again is more consistent with Romanism than with true Christianity. There was no showing that the sacrificial system of the old covenant was virtually fulfilled and thus nullified at this moment. This would have been an affront to the Mass and what it represents.
*As my dear friend, James White has said, “Relics, relics, and more relics (straight out of Emmerich). Stations of the Cross, "St. Veronica," the whole nine yards.
*Lastly, many key phrases were left out that are in the biblical record. They are too numerous here to mention and list, but a thorough reading of the Scriptures in the following texts will reveal them to you: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 222-24; and John 13-21.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
3. This is the key question for us… how are we to respond and where do we go from here? Here are a few helpful suggestions:
*Use this film as a great opportunity to share the gospel of grace with another.
*Know your Bible well on the atoning work of Christ. The film leaves out important historical information as to why Jesus was suffering and why He came to earth as God incarnate and became a man. Some important questions I have had to answer to others that maybe helpful for you to consider are: why were the political and religious powers wanting Him executed? What threatened them? Why did the crowds cheer and praise Him as He entered Jerusalem and then only a few days later cry out to have Him crucified? Why did Jesus have to die at this precise time in this precise manner during the Passover Feast? Why was this crucifixtion different from the thousands that had been done before? Where was His death prophesied in the Old Testament and then fulfilled in the New Testament? What was the meaning of His last words on the cross? Was the scourging His real suffering or was there something else more painful that He went through? Is Christ's sacrifice through His death and resurrection sufficient to save us from our sins or is something more required in addition to Him? Does Satan really act like he did in the movie? Who was that baby Satan was carrying around with him? What was the importance of the resurrection from God's point of view and our point of view?
*Be faithful Bereans—Examine what this film teaches with the Word of God; know what it says and be ready to explain the variances with your friends. Just don't be impacted emotionally by this film and walk away--know what you believe; know your Lord.
*Hand out a copy of John Piper’s new book, “The Passion of Jesus Christ.” It gives fifty reasons why Christ went to the cross. Each chapter is only two pages long and is an excellent book to give to anyone uncertain about the “why” to this movie and what our Lord actually did for us on the cross. You might find it very helpful in your own Bible study as well. In fact, you might consider having your Sunday School class or home fellowship group go through this material together. Invite a few friends over for coffee that don't know the Lord and give a copy to them. Take them to the movie and discuss it afterwards.
*Pray for Mr. Gibson that he comes to know the Messiah of his film by grace alone, through faith, because of Christ alone, on the Word alone, to the glory and praise of God alone.
*Lastly, pray for evangelical leaders that are given a national platform on radio and TV that they would speak about these things biblically and not emotionally--giving "a reason for the hope that is in them with reverence and gentleness" (1 Peter 3:15). That they will be loving, yet truthful and bold. That they would not play politics with the gospel, but would be would discerning about Mr. Gibson’s brand of “Feeny based Sede-Vacantist Romanism” and subsequent theology. And that they won’t use this platform as some sort of "faith-based opportunistic capitalism" to forward their own name or sell one of their own books. Such—riding on the coattails of Mel’s popularity will blur and hinder their effectiveness. And may they call others to repentance in Christ.
One thing is for certain, this movie will cause you to think; it will cause you to contemplate why would anyone willingly die for another? Hopefully it will give many Christians great opportunities to share the gospel of grace and fill in the missing pieces for those who are not familiar with the biblical account of the life of Christ.
To God be the glory!
Yours for the Master’s use,
Steve Camp
John 10:10
|
