The Parson's Page
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Sermons
  • C David Hess
    • A Raging Moderate
  • About

The Passion of the Christ  

3/1/2004

 
Picture
As  I was going to the theatre to view Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, I couldn’t help but think back to the last controversial “Jesus movie” I went to see, The Last Temptation of Christ. I viewed that film in a theatre in Manhattan in 1988. The film was very forgettable. If it hadn’t been for the controversy, I doubt that few would have seen it. The scene around the theatre was not at all forgettable. There were protestors with signs and bullhorns. There were 40 policeman (I counted them) to control the scene. People’s handbags were searched for weapons as they entered the theatre. Armed guards were stationed conspicuously around us as we watched the movie. All I could think of at the time was “Jesus, you still sure know how to attract a crowd!”

The crowds have certainly gone to see The Passion of the Christ, although I was surprised to see that only a small handful in our service on Sunday indicated that they had seen it. Perhaps it is because the movie is so violent. I had dreaded viewing it for that reason as well.

Overall, I thought the movie was very well done. I cannot say that I “enjoyed” the movie (who could?), but I was glad that I saw it. I found the experience very meaningful.

I would not suggest that anyone take young children to see it. As I indicated Sunday, one mother told me that she took her 13 year old son. Afterwards, he cried in the car. He told his mother that he was glad he got to see it but told her, “Never make me do that again.”

Was the movie anti-Semitic? Not in my view. Mel Gibson clearly indicated his view of who was responsible for the death of Jesus with his only appearance in the film. It was his hands which nailed Jesus to the cross.

The real value of the movie is that it once again gets us thinking and talking about “Who is Jesus?” and “What does his death mean?”

 
©2004 C. David Hess


Comments are closed.

    Parsonally Speaking

    Categories

    All
    Current Events/Hot Issues
    Other Articles
    Personal Confessions
    The Bible & Christianity
    The Church
    The Darker Side
    The Lighter Side
    The Movies

    Archives

    September 2014
    October 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    April 2011
    December 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    December 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    September 2008
    June 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    May 2007
    March 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    September 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    September 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    November 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    December 2003
    October 2003
    September 2003
    May 2003
    March 2003
    January 2003
    September 2002
    August 2002
    April 2002
    October 2001
    September 2001
    July 2001
    March 2001
    December 2000
    November 2000
    September 2000
    August 2000
    May 2000
    March 2000
    January 2000
    November 1999
    April 1999
    March 1999
    December 1998
    September 1998
    August 1998
    May 1998
    April 1998
    March 1998
    February 1998
    January 1998
    December 1997
    August 1997
    June 1997
    May 1997
    April 1997
    January 1997
    December 1996
    November 1996
    October 1996
    September 1996
    August 1996
    July 1996
    June 1996
    May 1996
    April 1996
    March 1996
    February 1996
    January 1996
    December 1995
    November 1995
    August 1995
    April 1995
    January 1994
    February 1993
    January 1993


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.