In the Image
of Christ
Colossians 3:8-11
The Real Passion
I’ve already
heard much about the now infamous movie “The Passion of the Christ,” from it
being a Latin Mass put on film, to the movie that will revolutionize the Christian
faith and become the greatest evangelization tool we’ve ever seen. I haven’t
seen the movie and don’t intend to, because personally, I believe it is an abomination
to God and misses the point. I know many will say, “ How can you say it misses
the point when you haven’t even seen it?” I’ll explain.
Let’s
look at some basic ideas first. You see, nothing good can ever come out of Hollywood,
nothing that will bring glory to God. Hollywood is an industry of the world,
and the world system belongs to Satan. They are against God! One only
has to look at what they stand for and the kind of trash that comes out of their
industry. Hollywood stands against everything that is of a righteous nature.
It cares not for the things of God and actually mocks and ridicules those who
would serve the King. Not only is this true of the industry but also even the
personal lives of those in Hollywood are often devoted to sex and drugs. They
are a big soap opera being played out in real times with real lives. Yes, like
it or not, Mel Gibson is part of Hollywood. He is making money and whistling
all the way to the bank, and now he’s using Christ and the Cross to fatten his
bank roll. "The wicked walk on every side, when
the vilest men are exalted." Psalms 12:8 (KJV)
I have heard the testimony of many who have seen the movie. They say how scripturally
accurate it is supposed to be. But is it? They tell me how intense
it is and how it captures the struggles and the torturous death Christ endured
when He was crucified. I have seen enough movies over the last few years
to know that Hollywood has made great strides in special effects. We need only
to look at some of the recent war movies to see what has been accomplished and
the realism that can be put on the screen. There are special effects so realistic
that they make one cringe. As I hear of people speak of how realistic this movie
is, I have no doubt that it is enough to grab your emotions, and even give you
an idea of the physical suffering that took place before the crucifixion itself.
But God does not deal on an emotional level. "Come
now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 (KJV) God wants to deal with
a person’s intellect and will, not merely have him caught up in the emotion
of the moment. As far as graphic and emotional portrayals go, movies like
“Schindler’s List” or “Saving Private Ryan” can have the same effect on the
emotions as “The Passion.”
There
are many problems with this movie, both from a secular and scriptural point
of view. The movie is made by a devout Catholic, who believes each mass is a
continuation of the sacrifice of Christ. Good Catholics believe the doctrines
of their church, which teaches that you must maintain good works to be saved.
These same people believe Mary to be a co-redemptress. Devout Catholics can
never know if they will make it to heaven or not. They just hope they have done
more good than bad, and that loved ones will pray for them after their death
so that they can be released from purgatory. Catholics do not understand the
true gospel. As it turns out, this particular Catholic, Mel Gibson, has made
many other movies with many questionable scenes. What authority does Mel Gibson
carry in Biblical matters when his own part in the films he makes is characterized
by unrighteousness? "Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Phil 4:8 (KJV)
I
said earlier, “I believe this movie misses the point.” It focuses on the
physical suffering. Granted, the Bible clearly depicts the physical atrocities
our Lord endured before and during the shameful death of the cross. No
matter how close to the scriptures this movie seems to be, in reality it is
way off. It doesn’t matter how alive the special effects and graphics
make this movie seem. What really happened on the cross can in no wise be caught
on film, regardless of who the director is or how good the actors are. You see,
when our Lord was hanging on the cross, darkness covered the earth. God veiled
the three hours of most intense suffering from human eyes. At Calvary something
took place whose depths no man can fully grasp. It was far more than physical
suffering, which is the only thing this movie depicts, and is typically the
focus of the Catholic. The Lord Jesus who was and is without sin, holy
and righteous, took the sins of the world upon Himself. He carried our sins
in His body, the Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:24, and that cannot be
shown on film. It is for the spiritual mind to appreciate, and has no entertainment
value.
Everyone was worried
about the antisemitism this movie would create against the Jews. Even though
the Jews were the main perpetrators in His physical suffering at the hands of
men, we all have a part to play in the reason for His death, which is, our sin
against God. We are all guilty, and Christ died so we could be redeemed to God.
Christ’s death was a voluntary act of His own will, in which He demonstrated
His love and obedience to the Father and His great love for us. This voluntary
act of being made “sin for us,” becoming our Substitute, our sin-bearer, also
meant that He alone must endure punishment for sin at the hand of God the Father,
which was far greater than man’s physical cruelty ever could be. There He hung,
the Son of God, dying for the sins of the world. He cried out, “My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The scriptures never
once give us knowledge of our Lord saying anything during man’s part in His
death. In fact the Bible tells us in detail of His silence with respect to proclaiming
His innocence. It was only when the real price for the penalty of sin
was being paid that Christ expressed anguish. It was God’s punishment
on His beloved Son that paid the price for our sins, not the cruelty that man
poured out on Christ. God is the judge, not man. God is the one who judges sin,
not man. "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise
him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for
sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the
LORD shall prosper in his hand." Isaiah 53:10 (KJV)
In
the garden just hours prior to His death, the Lord asked the Father if it were
possible to take this cup away from Him. I believe the cup spoken of here
had the same mixture as the one we see in Revelation 14. I believe that
it was the wrath of God poured without mixture into the cup of His indignation.
I believe this is the cup that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ drank. He drank
every last dark drop for our sins so we would be spared this horrible ordeal.
What that cup represented was the wrath of God that was to be poured out on
the Lord as He became sin for us. No movie can ever capture what took place
between the Father and the Son that day! How dare anyone try to depict
this on film, and then sell it to the pagan crowd for entertainment and personal
profit! Just like in the crucifixion of Christ, where the Gospel account reads,
“and sitting down, they watched him there,” people go to Calvary for entertainment,
to watch. Man cannot begin to understand the depths of what Christ did
that day 2,000 years ago. "O LORD, thou art my God;
I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things;
thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." Isaiah 25:1
(KJV) Yes, the physical suffering of our Lord was great, but it could
never compare to the wrath of God being poured out against sin. God was punishing
His own beloved Son, who did no sin, and not only was He punishing His Son for
sins He didn’t and couldn’t commit, but He also was punishing Him for the sins
of the whole world. That includes yours and mine. "And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt
10:28 (KJV) The real penalty for sin is not inflicted by man; it is the
judgment of God against sin. Sin can only bring about His wrath, unless it has
been covered by the blood of Christ.
I
hope that you see why this movie isn’t what many are claiming it to be. The
real story has already been written down for all mankind to know. It was written
by the Father of the One who died in our place. Who better to tell the story
than the real author of salvation?
“Death and the curse were in our cup- O Christ,’twas full
for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop, Tis empty now for me.
That
bitter cup love drank it up; left but the love for me.”
Visit our web site for more articles and information at http://www.nlbchapel.org
New Life Bible Chapel
Time
of meetings
Sunday Meeting 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 P.M.
Steve (616) 604-0462
E-mail
steve_@nlbchapel.org
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