Posted on 04/19/2025 7:19:33 AM PDT by Salman
It's Easter at SteynOnline. This column has become something of a tradition here at this time of year: my thoughts on Mel Gibson's big blockbuster from twenty-one Easters ago. ...
... back in 2004 it was impressive not just cinematically but as an interesting business model for bypassing Hollywood:
The headline on the Washington Post review summed it up: "'Passion' Is A Gory Take On A Gentle Teacher's Violent End". Somebody's confusing their Gospel with Godspell. A few days before the "violent end", the gentle teacher had been hurling tables around in the temple. And, even if you overlook the rough stuff, rhetorically Christ was as forceful as He was gentle.
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Indeed, although Mel is Catholic, his Passion became a hit thanks to evangelical Protestants – those who believe the Bible is the literal truth and not a "useful narrative" culminating in what the Bishop of Durham called a "conjuring trick with bones". Instead of Jesus the wimp, Mel gives us Jesus the Redeemer. He died for our sins – ie, the "violent end" is the critical bit, not just an unfortunate misunderstanding cruelly cutting short a promising career in gentle teaching. The followers of Wimp Jesus seem to believe He died to license our sins – Jesus loves us for who we are so whatever's your bag is cool with Him.
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(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
I try to watch this movie every Good Friday to keep His suffering in the forefront of my mind, so I can have some semblance of understanding for what He did for me.
G_d can rise from the dead. It is a confirmation to celebrate, but to me, it is not Christ's most inspiring deed.
A human being withstood all that suffering as an act of love for us. He was tempted, possessing the power to avoid the pain and save His skin, and never yielded. His reward? "All power has been given to me." By His example I live... or fail. I tremble before His Judgment of my deeds, the sound of nails being driven into His wrists ringing in my ears. To Him I pray.
amen
Gibson is making a sequel
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