Obligatory "Passion" Post

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 NIV

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 NIV

For the most part I have abstained from writing about the film The Passion of The Christ because there has already been so much said on all sides of the issue that I wonder if there really is anything new a person could bring to light. Of course the answer to my query is "no, there is nothing new under the sun." But since it has become such a phenomenon in our culture this week I will share my thoughts. They begin with the scriptures above, so if you did not read them carefully, go back and do so now.

Every time I turn on a major news network and listen to debates over Mel Gibson's film it does nothing but solidify the truth of God's Word for me. Everyone is missing the point. Even most Christians, I believe, are missing the point of this film. The most prevalent debate is about stirring up "anti-Semitism"... definition: hostility toward, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews or Judaism. Not only is that a foolish thing to consider... it just isn't going to happen... but even more so, I believe it is a waste of breath for a Christian to try and argue with someone about this. Late last night on ABC Nightline I watched Ted Koppel interview several church leaders from both Catholic and Evangelical churches, a number of Jewish leaders, and a few scholars who were not believers. Obviously the church leaders were adamantly for the film and trying to deflect the criticisms of the Jewish leaders and the scholars. One of the scholars made a comment that further proved the apostle Paul's point. He said something like this (not a direct quote, but close), "When Christians go to watch this film it is going to make them angry when they see how Christ was treated. Whether historically accurate or not, such gruesome portrayal is going to stir up anger at who was responsible. Now who are they going to be angry at? Are they going to be angry at God? Of course not? Who is their anger going to be directed toward? It's going to be toward the Jews." And of course, the Christian leaders went around and around in an unending web of debate with this "scholar."

But it's meaningless. Until the spirit of God penetrates the heart of these people they will never understand. Everyone misses the point. Unbelievers ask the question, "Who is to blame for Jesus' death?" And they are dumbfounded when Mel Gibson, or another Christian answers, "We all are responsible." They don't get it. They are worried about anger and anti-Semitism. But what they don't understand is that this film is not going to stir up anger within the Christian. It's actually very much the opposite. It will stir up a deep love for Christ. You see, the reason the scholar misses the point is because he sees Christ much differently than I do. I see that horrific act of violence and death and recognize that it was his (Christ's) plan to begin with. He did it because he loves me. He did it because he loves the person hitting him in the face and the person driving the nails into his hands. And when the Spirit of Christ enters a person their only response is to react in the same way he reacted. With love and obedience. But it takes the Spirit to understand things of the spirit. The film makes sense to a Christian. It does not, however, to someone who does not believe in Jesus Christ. To the person who does not believe, all that is seen is a physically violent, unnecessarily gory and racist film. To see it only in the physical is to terribly miss the point. And we must understand that the "physical" is the only way a person who refuses to open their heart to Christ is capable of seeing this film.

But I am afraid that even many believers in Christ are, too, going to miss the point because of the physical nature of the film. It is true that Jesus took the punishment for all the sins of all the world. It is true that the punishment he received was an extremely gory, bloody event. It is sad to watch. But it isn't the point. The punishment was not what Jesus was weary of. The thorns, whips, and nails were not why he withered in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God to "remove this cup" from him. What you see in Mel Gibson's film is what the last 12 hours of Christ's life on earth (before the resurrection) physically LOOKED like. But if that is all you see... if that is what makes you upset... if that is what makes you cry... then you've missed the point.

The most horrifying part of the event of Christ's death was not the blood... it was this: the fact that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" 2 Corinthians 5:21. And in other words, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" 1 Peter 2:24. The thing that we must realize in watching this film is what happened in the spiritual realm while Jesus was taking the pain of the nails. The physical pain alone would have been bearable. In fact, if it were just about the physical pain there would be no reason for a movie like this. Lots of men had been crucified in that day. Lots of men had faced death bravely. It wasn't about the physical stuff you see. It was about the fact that for the first time in the eternal life of the Christ, he was feeling what it was like to be completely separated from God. He cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"–which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46. God had forsaken him because of what 2 Corinthians 5:21 and 1 Peter 2:24 says. For the first time in his life, Jesus was covered with sin. All sin. Of all the world. Mine. Yours.

You see, "sin" was the scariest thing. Not nails. But many people will miss that point. If they have not come face to face with their own sin and accepted the grace that Jesus was on the cross to offer, then all they will see is a man being brutally punished. They will miss the point.

Please don't miss the point of this film... you who "have the mind of Christ." And please stop trying to argue with people about the point. Pray that God reveals Himself to whoever doesn't get it. It's the only way things will change. Otherwise, just accept the fact that the presence of Jesus Christ in the world today has the same potential to stir up the same amount of trouble as when He was on this earth 2000 years ago.

Comments

Chris, your comments are very good. From the time I first heard of "The Passion" and the fact that many people found it controversial, I thought, "why should this surprise us?" Unless your heart has been touched by Christ, you probably won't get it. I think the movie will affirm the faith of believers, and God will use it to touch others, as He draws people to Himself. I was moved to tears several times as I witnessed the suffering of my Savior. The only remorse or hatred I felt, was for my own sin, which helped put Christ on the cross. I hope that many people will "get it" when they see the movie.
As Jesus himself said, "Don't be surprised if the world hates you, remember, it hated me first." "Thank you Jesus, for saving a wretch like me."

[Des]

Chris
I posted the above comments. In case you responded, I wanted you to know who posted. I forgot to put my name.
Des