July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
There are important lessons in 'Passion' (03/19/04)
Editor's mailbag
To the editor:
If you doubt that the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” has any value except at the box office, then you haven’t seen the movie. It is a powerful insight into the last hours of Christ’s life.
Jesus knew what his mission was and how it would transpire. He knew that Judas would betray him and that Peter would deny, or disown, him. His disciples pledged their loyalty to him, but Jesus told them, “You will fall away, for it is written”; “I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter.”
While Jesus didn’t resist his mission as the promised Savior, He did agonize over it. He went to Gethsemane to pray for help from His heavenly Father. Jesus was fully committed to his purpose, but in his humanness he wondered if there might be a less painful way. Still, He prayed God’s will be done, not His own.
Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver and Jesus was arrested.
His disciples attempted to rescue him but Jesus told them that those who use the sword die by the sword, and that He could ask His Father for legions of angels to save him, but that he wouldn’t because the scriptures couldn’t be fulfilled. His disciples fled.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the gathering crowd called for his crucifixion. Pilate wanted to release Him, but fearing for his own life, he washed his hands (literally) of any responsibility. Pilate was a coward.
Some of the scenes in the movie were unbearable. The words and insults inflicted upon Jesus and the crowd mocking and spitting upon Him were tortuous. I kept saying to myself (and sometimes out loud) how could they do that? How could they be so evil? It became apparent as Satan eerily moved through the crowd, his evil influence demonizing them.
Satan was also present when Judas handed Jesus over to be arrested, and in Gethsemane where Jesus had asked His disciples to stand watch and pray, but instead, they slept.
There is a valuable message here: That our failure to pray makes us an easy mark when we are assaulted by fear and temptation.
Jesus was unmercifully nailed to the cross.
The following is from Matthew 27:45-51:
“From the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness fell over the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ Some of them standing there heard this and they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to him.’ and when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
And from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation.
Personal greed, fear and temptation should make us keenly aware that we need to stand watch and pray.
The best is yet to come.
Ruth Ann Campbell
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
If you doubt that the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” has any value except at the box office, then you haven’t seen the movie. It is a powerful insight into the last hours of Christ’s life.
Jesus knew what his mission was and how it would transpire. He knew that Judas would betray him and that Peter would deny, or disown, him. His disciples pledged their loyalty to him, but Jesus told them, “You will fall away, for it is written”; “I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter.”
While Jesus didn’t resist his mission as the promised Savior, He did agonize over it. He went to Gethsemane to pray for help from His heavenly Father. Jesus was fully committed to his purpose, but in his humanness he wondered if there might be a less painful way. Still, He prayed God’s will be done, not His own.
Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver and Jesus was arrested.
His disciples attempted to rescue him but Jesus told them that those who use the sword die by the sword, and that He could ask His Father for legions of angels to save him, but that he wouldn’t because the scriptures couldn’t be fulfilled. His disciples fled.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the gathering crowd called for his crucifixion. Pilate wanted to release Him, but fearing for his own life, he washed his hands (literally) of any responsibility. Pilate was a coward.
Some of the scenes in the movie were unbearable. The words and insults inflicted upon Jesus and the crowd mocking and spitting upon Him were tortuous. I kept saying to myself (and sometimes out loud) how could they do that? How could they be so evil? It became apparent as Satan eerily moved through the crowd, his evil influence demonizing them.
Satan was also present when Judas handed Jesus over to be arrested, and in Gethsemane where Jesus had asked His disciples to stand watch and pray, but instead, they slept.
There is a valuable message here: That our failure to pray makes us an easy mark when we are assaulted by fear and temptation.
Jesus was unmercifully nailed to the cross.
The following is from Matthew 27:45-51:
“From the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness fell over the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ Some of them standing there heard this and they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to him.’ and when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
And from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation.
Personal greed, fear and temptation should make us keenly aware that we need to stand watch and pray.
The best is yet to come.
Ruth Ann Campbell
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
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