'The Passion' Revisited (David Limbaugh)

Newsmax.com ^ | 7/29/03 | David Limbaugh

[truthandlife]

A few weeks ago, I defended Mel Gibson's upcoming movie, "The Passion," against unwarranted criticism. After having had the privilege of attending a private screening of the movie in Chicago, I am even more convinced of its value.

The movie, which depicts the final 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ, was so deeply moving and profound one cannot do justice to it by attempting to describe it in words.

The closest I can come to a description is to say that viewing it makes you feel almost like a live witness to the historical events (abbreviated from 12 hours to two hours) as they unfolded. It was not like watching a movie from a detached perspective, but rather being inescapably drawn into the realism of the action.

No punches are pulled here, no emotions are spared, no sensitivities are coddled. It is a depiction of suffering, agony, passion and raw, uncensored violence visited on one man (and God) who volunteered for the indescribable torment out of His sheer love for humankind.

I am sure that Gibson chose stark realism not for the sake of shock and awe or sensationalism, but to recreate as accurate a portrayal of the historical events as humanly possible. The viewer sees the scourging because there was scourging, he sees blood because there was blood, he sees pain because there was pain.

Ironically, many of the attacks on the project are based on its alleged inaccuracy. Some Christian "scholars" are panning the movie, without having seen it and based on a purloined and now obsolete movie script, because of its dubious historicity and theology.

Gibson erred, they say, not by deviating too much from scripture, but by trying to adhere to it too closely. These "experts" believe they know better than the eyewitnesses to the events what did and didn't happen and what Jesus did and didn't say. Manifestly, their quarrel is not with Mel Gibson, but with the Bible.

As "The Passion" makes clear in terms I could never adequately express, the Gospel message is not reserved for Ph.D.s and biblical scholars. It is simple enough for children to understand, but profound enough to rescue the entire human race and all of its wickedness.

Certain Jewish groups are criticizing the movie, saying it is anti-Semitic and will inflame anti-Semitic sentiments among those who view it. While anti-Semitism in the world is real and we've even witnessed a disturbing resurrection of its infernal irrepressibility throughout the world in recent years, this movie is not an example of it. Quite the opposite.

The movie endeavors to show the historical events "as they went down," without any editorial comment or innuendo, and especially without judgmentalism. It is not about blame and finger pointing, but love and redemption. It does not convey a message of selective condemnation, but universal hope. After all, as sinners, we are all culpable in Christ's death, as Gibson points out, careful to confess his own responsibility.

I believe one of Mel Gibson's main purposes is to use the medium he knows best to spread the Gospel message, which is essentially one of love and eternal life. And the way Gibson has decided to share that message is to focus on the price Christ paid to redeem mankind.

We are so removed from Christ's suffering that we could, if not careful, view the Gospel as a mere mathematical equation. The sacrificial death of the sinless God-incarnate cancels out the past, present and future sins of all those who place their faith in Him. But this is real life, not an abstract exercise.

God didn't just zap out man's sinfulness by divine edict. Being a God of perfect justice and unlimited mercy, He had to deal with sin – that is, physically and spiritually deal with it. The Son, while still 100 percent God, humbled and demeaned Himself to become man, to suffer all the indignities of human existence, to become separated from the Father with whom He was united in perfect love and harmony, and to suffer His full wrath for the sum of all mankind's sins.

We must understand that for this equation to work, for man's redemption to be possible, Christ's suffering, His anxiety, His despair, His sense of betrayal and His separation from the Father had to actually occur in the flesh. "The Passion" emphasizes the reality of Christ's substitutionary suffering in the flesh. In terms that words alone cannot articulate, "The Passion" homes in on the full value of the ransom Christ paid for all of us in the greatest demonstration and act of love ever exhibited.

[egarvue]

Ok, I gotta ask this again, never having gotten a real, definitve answer: does the movie show the Resurrection as well, or just Jesus's death? Can someone find any definitve proof or statement that says the film will or will not include the Resurrection? Please help a fellow FReeper out...

[ClearCase_guy]

Yeah, but African-Americans are probably under-represented in the cast.

[truthandlife]

According to the movie trailer it looks like they will show the Resurrection. At the end of the trailer they show a snake (representing Satan) being stepped on. Then they show Jesus. If you have not seen the trailer for "The Passion" you must see it. Be warned it might leave you in tears.

http://www.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/ramhurl?f=hollywoodjesus/Passion.rm
(Real Player)

[danneskjold]

Just curious, but what difference does it make knowing ahead of time if the Resurrection is depicted or not?

Again, I'm just curious...

[laweeks]

"Yeah, but African-Americans are probably under-represented in the cast."

Yeah, but Jessie doesn't believe in the Bible anyway, so he probably won't try a shakedown.

[sauropod]

"As "The Passion" makes clear in terms I could never adequately express, the Gospel message is not reserved for Ph.D.s and biblical scholars. It is simple enough for children to understand, but profound enough to rescue the entire human race and all of its wickedness."

This is the sense of the movie that I have had ever since I first heard of it.

This is a MUST SEE!!!

[Numbers Guy]

If you have not seen the trailer for "The Passion" you must see it.

Thanks for the link. The film looks stunning in its realism.

[Russell Scott]

Wait until humans see the fruits of Christ's atonement fully revealed "on Earth, as it is in Heaven". Most people don't even know Armageddon means "revealed". We will eternally be grateful for what he did. He epitomizes the phrase "no pain, no gain". "All that was lost in Adam will be regained through Christ."

[Republic]

Oh yeah-I agree. I am really looking forward to seeing this movie.

Bump.

BTW-D. Limbaugh's review is practically perfect...loved this:

Gibson erred, they say, not by deviating too much from scripture, but by trying to adhere to it too closely. These "experts" believe they know better than the eyewitnesses to the events what did and didn't happen and what Jesus did and didn't say. Manifestly, their quarrel is not with Mel Gibson, but with the Bible.

Nothing like the right perspective.

[joesnuffy]

I see what you mean

[Republic]

On another thread, a few days past, there was a discussion of the one face that seems to exude incredible coldness, unreachable emptiness, evil, as it were. We surmised that it was the inclusion of Satan's presence in the last hours of Christ's life on earth. That face, neither fully male or female, incredibly powerful and otherworldly, is in the crowd seen in the trailer and it stands out-catching your eye-even tho you cannot pinpoint why. So subtle it this portrayal that its sheer horror is exemplified.

[Bob Eimiller]

"Yeah, but African-Americans are probably under-represented in the cast." Yeah, but Jessie doesn't believe in the Bible anyway, so he probably won't try a shakedown

Jesus forgave His executioners. He came to forgive sin... don't use Gibson's PASSION as a platform for attack on any individuals... This movie is too sacred for that.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

I've read quite a few reviews of the movie, and one said the resurrection was "hinted".

Sorry, I cannot remember whether it was an review on FR or one I got in my email.

[DittoJed2]

If there is no resurrection than Jesus was just a man who died. There is no salvation. If the resurrection is not in the film, then the story is incomplete.

[what's up]

At the end of the trailer they show a snake (representing Satan) being stepped on. Then they show Jesus.

That doesn't really indicate a resurrection.

I would be interested to know this as well.

[what's up]

If the resurrection is depicted, I mean.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...Praise GOD that...

...LOVE is the Only Reality and...

...GOD is LOVE.

[TiaS]

This film may be a legacy to his children.

[ditin]

On another thread, a few days past, there was a discussion of the one face that seems to exude incredible coldness, unreachable emptiness, evil, as it were. We surmised that it was the inclusion of Satan's presence in the last hours of Christ's life on earth. That face, neither fully male or female, incredibly powerful and otherworldly, is in the crowd seen in the trailer and it stands out-catching your eye-even tho you cannot pinpoint why. So subtle it this portrayal that its sheer horror is exemplified.

Oh my gosh, thanks for pointing that out. That sent chills up and down my spine.

The person is wearing black, as opposed to everyone else in the crowd, who are in dark gray.

[Republic]

Ahhhhhh----thanks for that--it was the color black, juxtaposed against the grays in the other garments and against the skin on that creepy countenance that draws the eye. Nailed.

[Prof Engineer]

ping

[omronnie]

This film may be a legacy to his children.

---

And to the children of the world..........

[FNG]

I love how the "christians" on here are already bashing this movie because of a question of whether or not the resurrection is portrayed. If the acension is not shown, I guess the film is bunk then, too right? Not showing the resurrection and implying it did not happen are two different things. I feel sorry for christian celebrities. The world is full of "christians" telling them what is "unchristian" about their work. I guess the Holy Spirit needs help convicting people and it is up to "christians" to keep everyone in line.

[pgkdan]

I don't know, but the movie is called "the Passion" and the Passion of Our Lord ended with His death on the cross.

[waRNmother.armyboots]

Yes, it contains the resurrection. This was told to me by a friend who had the privilege of viewing it.

[Imnidiot]

If that was a snake being stomped on, the next person shown apparently is Jesus, in His resurrected body (it's all cleaned up...no blood on His face). All that to say that it appears to me that He IS shown alive after His death.

[what's up]

Thanks...if he's cleaned up, it looks like it probably is the resurrected Christ.

[TomB]

You are correct. This is just another thinly-veiled attack by "real" Christians against Gibson, who just happens to be Catholic. As another poster pointed out, the movie is called "The Passion" which deals with the circumstances surrounding the death of Christ. If the Ressurection is not covered, we are somehow to believe that Gibson either doesn't recognize Christ as the risen Lord, or he hasn't gotten that far in his phoney Catholic Bible to read about it.

Sad. Very sad.

[ditin]

Do you happen to have a link to the thread where the creepy person in the crowd was discussed? I've tried to find it, but there are so many Mel Gibson Passion threads that I'm having no luck.

Thanks.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Lucifer, one of the Arch Angels vying for powers the equal of God's,as a favorite, fallen from grace for envy, coveting God's power and jealousy that he was not the only favorite and beloved of God, and being cast out of God's house in Heaven by Michael, Angel warrior, upon God's command, would have known the Christ, his life and his death, and upon the actual happening was there, not in awe, but in jealousy, anguish, hatred and blasphamy. Helpless to change a thing and knowing that the beginning of his demise was now marked, Satan would have been in a cold towering rage, impotent and invisable to all but God.

That is what I see in the black cowled figure with the black eyes who cannot bear to gaze upon the devine Christ. Hatred, loathing, frustration and the lust of vengence.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Was that Christ at the end of the trailer? I think so, clean and healthy.

[Ann Archy]

Maybe the reason that the disciples didn't recognize Jesus after the Resurrecton is because they saw him CRUCIFIED and bloody. I never did understand that part of the Bible...but now it makes PERFECT sense.

[Republic]

Gez. I have just been on a weird search for the thread wherein the discussion of the male/female satanic character was discussed. I cannot find it. I do remember it began with several shots (photos) from the film-and it was the close up of this creepy visage that received many comments....it was a fascinating thread, imho, and I don't know what happened to it. Freepers DPB101 or TruthandLife might know. Sorry-I sure tried to find it-I even posted to it and it isn't in my comment file, or else I could not find it. Using the keyword passion, I could not locate it.

[ditin]

Thanks for trying.

[msdrby]

Armageddon might stand for something revealed, but it does not mean "revealed".

It is an English corruption of two words, Har Megido. Har means mountain. Megido means His fruitfulness or bounty. Therefore, Mount Megido is literally "mountain of his bounty or fruitfulness." It is a place, a well known place at that, in Israel. Megido was an ancient city and the place prophesied in Revelations to be the location of the immense battle that will be the end of the world.

Tell Megiddo rising above the Jezreel Valley

[Republic]

Interesting-thanks for the insight. I would like to visit this mountain.

Truthandlife-do you know what happened to the the discussion thread about the movie wherein the thread started with some still photos from the movie-and the third pic down, I think, had a blow up of the spooky character in the black head veil that aroused so much interest? I cannot find it and a poster on this thread would like to review it. Thanks in advance.

[safisoft]

Most people don't even know Armageddon means "revealed".

I think you meant to say, "Apocalypse means revealed". The word "apocalypse" did not mean "end of the world" until John the Apostle wrote down the book of the Revelation (note: PLEASE, reader, never refer to it as "Revelations" - the noun apokalupsis is SINGLULAR and comes from the opening line of the last book of the Bible, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..." In other words, the APOCALYPSE in the book of "Revelation" is Y'shua [Jesus] Himself.