Mel Gibson Defends 'The Passion' [NOT a duplicate]

NewsMax ^ | 6-13-2003 | staff

[Question_Assumptions]

I think that a particular group of Jews certainly had it out for Jesus and were instrumental in his condemnation. But I find it difficult to blame the Jews, as a people, for the actions of a specific lynch mob. So I have no problem with Gibson pointing a finger at the lynch mob, as the Gospels do. But I'm at a loss to understand how this makes all Jews liable for what happened to Jesus.

[what's up]

To be sure, Gospels like Luke portray the Romans in a more favorable light than the Jewish officials. The Centurion whose sons gets healed (more faith than found in Israel says Christ), and the Centurion at the Cross ("Surely this was a righteous man!") are 2 examples. Another is Pilate, who doesn't want to crucify Jesus, but the crowd insists.

The Jewish state treated Jesus badly. God had yelled at them for hundreds of years because they as a nation had had truth like no other State yet they rejected God over and over.

Good Jews believed the truth...the disciples as well as many, many others. But it was time for the Temple to be destroyed and the Jewish hierarchy at that time (not including Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus) and many of the lower classes as well brought it on themselves.

[Stone Mountain]

Kinda true - check out:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/gibson.asp

[KneelBeforeZod]

yeah. I forgot the quote. I'm surprised Rush didn't use it today.

Pelosi was whining about the fact that people who aren't paying fed taxes in the first place won't be getting tax refunds from the feds.

So she said something like "I guess Bush has found a new meaning for the passage from the bible that says 'Suffer little children[sic]' "

Michael Savage is no longer on in my area...too bad. I know he would have loved the clip. I'd like to hear him go in to his rant where he calls people
MORON!!!!

ps. I hope yo didnt' think that "moron" was for you when you first saw this post...

[el_chupacabra]

I am as responsible as anyone for the crucifixion because of my sin. End of discussion.

[Ol' Sox]

What I've read of Mel Gibson's commentary on his movie, and the protestations of the faithless, indicate a complete disconnect.

Gibson's focus is the passion of Jesus during His final corporal hours. The characters surrounding Christ serve either as object lessons or window dressing (and since every letter of the Bible is of value, I doubt that they are window dressing - I just haven't learned enough yet).

The faithless see all that surrounds Christ, but not Jesus Himself. They are blind.

[Lent]

James Carroll, for example, denounced Gibson's film for its literal reading of the Biblical accounts of Christ's passion. (form the link to the above article)

Well excuuuuse me Mr. Carroll. It should obviously conform to your pristine understanding of the scriptures. No room for a "literal" reading and doing so is only worthy of denouncement. Pretty pathetic argument. I believe this is the same knucklehead:

"Writer James Carroll was born in Chicago on January 22, 1943. He has been a civil rights activist, antiwar demonstrator and a Catholic priest, but he left the priesthood in 1974 to concentrate on his writing."

http://library.brandeis.edu/about/nsf/carroll.html

Figures.

[wimpycat]

It might be thrilling, but it is hardly necessary.

[Churchjack]

On a related note, my pet theory regarding the betrayal of Judas:

The journalists that wrote "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" supposed the name Iscariot to be a transliteration or rendition of the word Sicarii, which referred to a radical wing of Zealots, a "Rome go home!" political party.

These Sicarii usually went about armed with knives, ready for incitement and mercenary anti-Roman activity. The authors made quite a lot of the political aspects of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and stretched the NT text and wrung it out until it was unrecognizable.

But it occurs to me, that not much is available of Judas' motivation. Ask yourself: What was that guy thinking? He'd seen the miracles of the loaves, he's seen Him walk on water and calm the storm. He's seen the lame walk, the lepers healed, the blind see, the DEAD RISE, holy cow, and he's gonna sell Him down the river for somewhat less than a king's ransom?

He held the purse of the ministry--would it not have been easier to simply run off with that if he didn't believe the miracles? He's immediately remorseful, after the fact. Yes, he was to some extent demonically affected--but, not like his head was spinning around and blowing green pea soup on everybody's matzoh. Even the demonically obsessed believe their motives and reasons are sound, or at least, their own...What was Judas about?

I believe it possible that the Sicarii handle may be accurate. That, being a politically persuaded individual, his idea of Messiah was a David, a conquering King, a figure of power and lordship, not a servant and healer. I think he may have had in mind that he could force his Master's hand into running Rome off, and re-establishing the glory of Israel. He probably didn't consider that Jesus would just go quietly into the night--and certainly didn't understand (or believe?) in a resurrection.

Maybe I should start another thread...

FREEPmail comments on this subject are appreciated.

[eleni121]

One would assume that these "Christian" bishops and "scholars" would devote a little more of their valuable time to helping millions of Christians around the world who are being brutalized and butchered mostly by Muslims. Instead they these phonies have lots of time to sit around and critique movies...

[Lent]

That was the theory of the excellent series Jesus of Nazareth.

[rogerthedodger]

No, I knew it wasnt addressed to me.

I guess Nancy needs to brush up on her vocab.

[Cincinatus]

I read in some book (not HB,HG, although I'm not sure where) yet another possibility for the betrayal of Jesus by Judas -- it was by prior arrangement between them. Jesus' mission to sacrifice himself had to have him turned over to the state. He asked Judas to do this, in order to fullfill prophecy. Judas did not want to, but in the end, agreed. Judas kills himself from remorse at having been the instrument of Jesus' death.