THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST [4-star review from Roger Ebert]

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Feb 24, 2004 | Roger Ebert

[AAABEST]

The most significant event was not how He died but that He died.

The fact that he was humilated, tortured and executed in the worst way possible is a very vital lesson.

Loving others is a verb, it almost always takes sacrifice. From a woman working to make her family a meal to martyrs dying for their flock. When Christ asks us to love thy enemy, he literally showed us how it's done in the most extreme fashion.

If he could be ripped to shreds, nailed naked to a piece of wood and laughed at, we can surely put up with insults on an internet forum, forgive our family members for slights and take slaps in the face in order to bring a little more love to the world.

How he died was prophecy and extremely vital.

Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalm 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

[AppyPappy]

I think the movie will be a powerful expression to those "sitting on the fence". I think many people will feel the need to make a life-changing commitment after seeing the movie, especially those people who consider themselves Christians but have never experienced what it means to be a "new creation" in Christ. We live in an image-centered society and this is the perfect vehicle for that group.

But in reality, it's a fictional account of an actual event. I'm just one of those people who can't "get into" a movie because I know that. I see a movie every 10 years or so. Prior to Jonah, the Veggietales movie, the last movie I saw in a theatre was Moonraker.

To tell a secret, I'm badly claustrophobic. That's probably one of the driving reasons to stay away, at least for a while. Don't tell anyone.

[man of Yosemite]

It is incredibly graphic, bringing every horror of the indecency and brutality of man into perspective. The treatment of Jesus is demonic in it's cruelty; gratefully the screenplay shifts back to earlier parts of his life to give the viewer some relief, then jars you back into the suffering as the humiliation continues. It may be too much for younger viewers to handle. I know it riveted me to my seat. You know you're watching a movie, but it is as real as being there, it's shocking.

[AppyPappy]

I don't see it that way. His suffering lasted a few hours. But He left Heaven to come to Earth to Save us. Jesus CHOSE to die for our trangressions. He didn't need to do it and we sure didn't deserve it. I can see how people need to see that in video form but I don't think it can be fully understood.

People can understand a policeman or soldier dying for them. But Jesus' sacrifice dwarfs that by a factor of many times.

I would like to see people's reactions to the scorn heaped upon Jesus in the movie. I was in that crowd(figuratively).

[man of Yosemite]

None of us can redeem himself, for we are all sinners; children of the fallen Adam who bore his seed after his kind, and that kind was a spiritualy dead man, estranged from God and under penalty of death. To demonstrate his profound love, mercy and compassion, God allowed his Son to be born without a physical human father, allowing him to be both sinless and human. He would taste death for everyman by being a substitute, justifying the holiness of God, wiping away the penalty for our sins in his own body. This means that a holy God is righteous to forgive you for your sins, another having taken your place, releasing you from your debt.

It would be far more cruel of God to leave us in the fallen state that we are in. This is especially true if you understand that we are spiritual beings, eternally created for everlasting fellowship with God. How could he NOT redeem us?

[quack]

Can someone answer something for me?In the movie,Satan is shown to be a woman,correct?You know.Black robe,pale skin,shown moving slowly through the crowds and is also at the garden while Jesus prays.

Is this something unique to Catholism?Mel called her something,but I can't remember what it was.Is she indeed portrayed as Satan or is this a demon?

[Uncle Hal]

I noticed the the movie reviewers for the ultra liberal LA Time, SF Chronicle, and NY Times all panned the movie and particularly the violence. They were right in lock step with the political position of the their various newspapers. They would not want to offend their bosses by praising anything Christian.

[sr4402]

This is why I don't read Tomas Paine. Many will not understand this movie and I pray many will ask questions to try to understand this event.

Real love sacrifices. A mother will sacrifice herself that the child might live. A father will go to war to defend his family and his country. Christ sacrificed himself (knowingly) that we might live.

This is true heroism and those who spit on this, spit on Christ himself. But Christ says these words from the Cross "Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they do"

[sr4402]

This is amazing to me, what this movie bring out. Who would have through a movie critic like Roger Ebert would have ever thought of saying or writing something like this. I pray that this movie will move our Nation to repentance and and humility, that God would forgive our reckless arrogance and defiance of His word and grant us healing as a nation.

We truly stand upon the brink. We have spat at the 10 Commandments, refused to let children pray to God, and now want to forsake marraige here in the United States. May the Lord grant true repentance and a complete turn around to Him before it is too late.

[tuckrdout]

Ebert says: "The Middle East in biblical times was a Jewish community occupied against its will by the Roman Empire"

Well, now, he must have this wrong. Wasn't it a "Palistinian community" being taken over by Jews? </sarcasm

[Dead Dog]

I feel there is too much temptation to make Jesus more "customer friendly".

Like "Buddy Christ".

The film "Dogma" was theologically disgusting, however, the criticism of the direction of many churches was definitely valid.

[WestPoint90]

The amazing thing about this too is that he was a carpenter. He was used to carrying beams from horse or carriage to whereever he was building something. Imagine doing that all day long, year in and year out. JC was a man of strength not some skinny weak wuss as He has always been portrayed. He was know weakling. Most of us would have given up and let them beat me to death. He fought himself to keep going because He knew what He had to do. He was determined to accomplish.

[texasbluebell]

I saw Mel interviewed, maybe it was on O'Reilly. Mel agreed with O'Reilly that no one under 12 should go. I suppose it depends on your 14 year old, and how mature she is.

[ought-six]

And then, at the end, He returns to His Father: "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." And He passes.

[man of Yosemite]

Jesus said,"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Our generation is seeing Jesus lifted up from the earth, being drawn to the cross to make our decisions, who do we think the Son of man is. He is putting the question out in front of the world, and the response to that question is life or death. Yes, it is just a movie that Mel Gibson desired to make, but the decisions that are made as we view this picture of the Christ, are answers to a question put forth from God.

[reasonseeker]

I would like to understand this about the event: If Christ sacrificed himself (knowingly) that we might live, then why did He question God's Will when He said: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" If He knowingly knew what He was doing in sacrificing Himself, then he had no reason to question why He was being forsaken. How could Jesus believe that He was being forsaken, yet Christians believe that he WASN'T forsaken, and that it was all part of God's plan? If Jesus knowingly sacrificed so that others might live, then he already knew why God wanted Him to die. So why did He question God? Apparently he did NOT knowingly sacrifice Himself so that others might live. He did not understand the divine mission He was fulfilling while He was on the cross.

[tuckrdout]

To understand, Read Psalm 22. All the Jews standing at the foot of the Cross, knew the Psalms of David...Jesus directed them to Psalm 22 to show that this was all prophesied. He said it so that they could believe in him.

[tuckrdout]

These are the words of Jesus.

Matthew 20:28
"For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

John 10:18
"No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."

[hershey]

I've always believed Jesus's suffering was so great that in the last few moments, He so longed for just one moment of God's mercy, one touch of His Presence, that he cried out in extremis before He died. Jesus was the Son of God, but also Mary's son and human. Because of His suffering and death, we're all redeemed children of God. He gave us the keys to paradise. What a blessing. What a gift.