A VIEWERS GUIDE TO, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

by Rev. Richard A. Bolland

as published in the Pagosa Springs Sun Newspaper

             There’s been an incredible amount of discussion in the public media in recent weeks about Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ.  It is interesting to see the subject of the central teaching of the Christian faith being almost completely ignored in all the discussions.  It is the central doctrine of the Christian faith that all sinners are justified by grace through faith in what Christ has accomplished.  From this doctrine, flows all other doctrines or teachings of the Christian faith.   

            What is the connection between the content of Mr. Gibson’s movie and this central teaching of Christianity?  Frankly the movie does not make it very clear.  Therefore, permit me to provide a sort of “Viewing Guide” to The Passion of the Christ: 

1.         In the Garden of Gethsemane:

 It is critical to understand that Jesus Christ is both truly human and truly divine to understand the struggle that occurs in this scene.  Never is Jesus having second thoughts about what needs to be done in order to redeem the world.  As He has previously prophesied three times, He knows that He must be arrested, tried, convicted and put to death and then rise from the dead.  His very real human nature is understandably seeking relief from this terrible course of action, but never to the point of asking to abort the plan.  Indeed, finally the divine nature of Christ strengthens the human nature so that both are in complete agreement that the Father’s will must be accomplished.  There is no turning back! 

Second, the serpent that comes from under the “Satan” figure is a symbolic fulfillment of prophesy given in the Garden of Eden.  In Genesis 3:15, Satan is addressed by God, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your [Satan’s] offspring and hers; he [the seed of the woman] will crush your head, and you will strike his heal.”  The fulfillment of this first promise of the Messiah is depicted in this scene as Christ Jesus kills the snake by crushing its head. 

2.         The trials of Jesus:

First, it is necessary to understand that the trial before the Sanhedrin, (The high Jewish Council) was conducted in a completely illegal manner.  Trials were not to be held at night.  Additionally, when witnesses couldn’t agree on their testimony, the law demanded that the accused be released.  Neither of these things occurred.  This was a first class “Kangaroo Court” seeking a predetermined sentence.  It is also necessary to know that Roman law forbid the administration of capital punishment by the Jewish authorities.  Only the Romans could do this.  Therefore, the charge of “blaspheme” (claiming to be God), was not actionable by the Romans.  So the charges of political sedition that were brought to Pontius Pilate, were not the real reason the Council sought His death.  Pontius Pilate understood that and indicated five times that there was no basis for putting Jesus to death.  However, the primary obligation of the Governor was to maintain the peace, and a riot was being instigated by the members of the Sanhedrin to have Christ executed.  Giving way to political expediency, Pilate symbolically washes his hands of the whole affair and gives in to the mob. 

3.     The punishment of the Romans:

 The gruesome depiction of Christ’s scourging and mistreatment at the hands of the Roman soldiers is absolutely accurate!  It was not at all uncommon for criminals to die from the scourging before they were able to crucify them.  This was in no way Hollywood over playing the reality of the violence.  This was exactly in accord with the gospel accounts.  The one who suffered these indignities was God Himself in human flesh.  It is incredible that God loves us sinners so much that He submitted to this kind of torture. 

4.         On the cross:

  Crucifixion is one of the most brutal, cruel and inhumane methods of execution ever devised by man.  It was a way of combining public humiliation with excruciatingly slow death.  Essentially the condemned was slowly and very painfully suffocated by the process.  In order to breath, a person had to push up with his nailed feet with each breath.  When the loss of blood and lack of strength finally took their toll, the ability to push up was finally lost and death ensued. 

5.         The reason for it all:

  All of mankind fell into sin and condemnation when our first parents fell in the Garden of Eden.  Indeed, all that humanity would ever be were contained in our first parents and when they sinned, they violated the nature, person and will of God, and all who came from them (that would be all of us), likewise and logically were lost and condemned.  Now mankind had three insurmountable problems:  a.)  We are by nature sinful and unclean – therefore unfit to be in the presence of a holy and righteous God, and b.)  We have no personal righteousness of our own and only righteous (sinless) people may enjoy fellowship with God, and c.)  No amount of human effort to behave well is sufficient to please God and remove the stain of sins committed.  Therefore, God became fully human and fully divine in Christ Jesus.  As a sinless man, He keeps God’s unyielding Law without compromise and gives to those trusting in Him His very own righteousness.  As fully divine, Christ offers Himself to the Jewish and Roman authorities to become a substitute sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.  No mere man can die for his own sins much less those of others, but the divine Christ’s life is of such inestimable value that this sacrifice (the fulfillment of all Old Testament sacrifices), is fully adequate to pay for all our sins.  Therefore, we are saved, not by good works, but by faith in what Christ has done.  Faith in the price He has paid.  Faith and trust in the righteousness of Christ as our own.  Faith in His victory over death and the grave in His very real, physical resuscitation and resurrection from the dead. The Christian faith is all about Christ, not about men.  It’s all about what He does, not what we vainly attempt to do. 

Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, is simply the portrayal of the final two days of Christ pre-resurrection life.  It is a powerful portrayal of the height, and depth of God’s amazing love for sinners.  It is a poignant reminder that what Christ endured was done for us!  What Christ endured was to pay for our sins!  For all sinners there is nowhere else to go but to the cross.  Here alone is the forgiveness of sins!  Here alone is our hope!  Here alone is the Christ, the Son of the Living God who suffers, dies and raises to life again for us all! 

            This is not a movie that you will “enjoy”, but it is a movie that tells the truth!