THE PASSION: WHERE'S THE BLACK JESUS?

World Net Daily ^ | 2/25/04 | Jesse Lee Peterson

[abigail2]

'The Passion': Where's the black Jesus?

Posted: February 25, 2004
12:00 p.m. Eastern

By Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

This past week I was reminded and enlightened.

I was fortunate enough to see an advance screening of Mel Gibson's much-discussed film, "The Passion of the Christ," which details the final 12 hours of Jesus' life. Superbly constructed, the movie reminded me through brilliant illustration of the agony and pain that Christ went through for us, so that we could be saved from sin. Though I am a minister of some 14 years and have read the gospels many times over, I'd never quite grasped the level of suffering inherent in a crucifixion, particularly when it was performed on a man as hated as Christ.

Though by now many of you have heard a great deal about the film in the media, I have a few insights of my own that I will express in this article. Some contradict much of the press; others have hardly been mentioned by anyone – particularly my expectation of what the reaction of many blacks will be. Before I get to that good stuff though, I'll run through some of my basic observations.

First, I don't see how Jews can be afraid of anti-Semitism stemming from the movie. Some sick people will take any excuse to inflict harm on people. (Charles Manson thought the Beatles told him, in one of their albums, to start a race war.) It's beyond the reasonable expectation to stifle and censor messages of good intention just because some crackpot might construe it as the go-ahead to kill everyone. The movie certainly portrayed the weakness of Pontius Pilate and the hatred the leaders of the day harbored for Jesus, but that is to be expected – nay, demanded. Certainly these men cannot be portrayed as well-meaning, kind and generous of spirit! "The Passion of the Christ" illustrated the evil of the ruling elite of Christ's day – and no one beyond that.

Second – and this I'm pleased to report – I believe this movie will cause Christians to re-think their relationship with Christ and come closer to God. Perhaps more encouraging, I predict that "The Passion" will increase appreciation of Christ among non-Christians and open-minded non-believers. I have long discussed that our battle on this earth is spiritual, not physical. That spiritual foundation was cemented with Christ's life and sacrificial death. By watching this movie and then looking within themselves, some will begin to discern the spiritual connection between their life and God's ordained spiritual order. Certain spiritual laws and undeniable truths will become clearer. This movie will revive and re-awaken the spirits of many, and the results will be exciting to behold.

Now to the more interesting observations. How will blacks react to "The Passion"? My answer to this will sound absolutely insane to some – particularly to white readers, who know that all too many blacks are crazy but don't know quite how crazy – but bear with me, because a sizable sector of the American black population will react in the way I am predicting. One main complaint amongst some blacks will be that this movie does not represent black people because in their minds, Jesus was black.

Don't believe me? Then take it from Malik Z. Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party. Shabazz believes "The Passion" is "harmful and racist" because of "one very basic inaccuracy which has been long-promoted in order to bolster white supremacy." That basic inaccuracy, according to Shabazz? "Jesus was not a European white man. Jesus Christ was a black man." Shabazz even complains about the lack of black actors in the film. His motto seems to be: "History be damned – where are the black actors, and where's Jesus' afro!"

This is hardly a scarce notion amongst black Americans. Believe me. I live in the black community. Many believe this! Some of my own relatives even believe this! Therefore, many blacks believe that Christianity is the white man's religion and that Islam is the true religion of black folks!

So for those of you who see "The Passion of the Christ" and wonder how anyone could have suggested that it was anti-Semitic, know that those aren't the only crazy beliefs out there. But more importantly, know that with this movie you are given an opportunity for self-reflection and a chance to reconsider your relationship with Christ and again become one with him, no matter your color.

The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny, and author of "Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America."

[HarleyD]

Roylene

It also says that His eyes were like a flame of fire and His feet were like burnished bronze. That would make one strange looking black dude. :O)

[janetgreen]

Good article by Rev. Jesse. Thanks for posting it, abigail. Personally I never thought about the "color" of Jesus, just knew that he was the Son of God and that he tragically died for our sins.

[Tax-chick]

I like to think Jesus would look a little like Omar Sharif (a Middle Eastern Christian :-), with a beard. Mohammed might have looked a bit like his descendant, King Hussein of Jordan.

Middle Easterners are not black (Hamitic - Arabs will shoot you for saying so) nor white (Japhetic - Indo-European). Arabs and Jews are all descended from Shem, Noah's firstborn. Pretty good lineage!

[NZerFromHK]

You have reminded me of the rather earlier days of telling folks of the gospel of Jesus Christ in East Asia (esp Hong Kong and Taiwan) in the 1980s when I was a child. Even in those times Jesus was considered by many Asians as a Westerner and pastors and missionaries had to emphasise that Christianity is not "Western" in origin - Jesus and His disciples are not "white people".

Of course the gospel has since taken root among many younger generation Asians and the question of whether Christianity is exclusively "Western" is now a moot issue.

[semaj]

"Laugh all you want, but there is a good number of people who believe Jesus is Black."

Well, the truth is Jesus wasn't black or white. Living in the Mediterranean, he probably looked more like a well-tanned Arab.

[AuntB]

Jesse Lee Bump!

[Romish_Papist]

The idiots who ask "Where's the black Jesus?" are fooling themselves. If anything, Jesus would be neither black nor white but mid-eastern in appearance.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***at no time did I see an Isreali bear the features commonly associated with blacks. Not even close. **

If you look at the treasures of Tutankahmen you will see the depiction of his enemies, the Asiatics and Nubians. They have facial features completely different from the Egyptians and each other. The Asiatics were definitly NOT black. Neither were the Egyptians.
As you travel south along the Nile you eventually begin to see some Nubian features in the Egyptians of Upper Egypt.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Laugh all you want, but there is a good number of people who believe Jesus is Black.

I do think that he should have been portrayed by someone with more semitic features, for more accuracy.

[abigail2]

I hope you're right.

[abigail2]

Thank you janetgreen. I'm with you! Have you seen the movie yet? I can't wait. It looks like Christianity is finally getting teeth.

[abigail2]

Hah! I used to love Omar Sharif!

[abigail2]

Hi AuntB. Thanks for the bump...

[abigail2]

Yes, he was a Jew, not a scandanavian!!

[abigail2]

Have you seen it? Sounds like Mel did a darn good job. Maybe another movie he can get someone more Jewish looking. Whatever, REv. Peterson's point is that there will always be those who are jealous, those who hate.

[janetgreen]

Haven't seen it yet. I plan to, but will make sure I have a box of Kleenex with me, I hear it's really disturbing and realistic. Hope this old gal can take it!

[supercat]

Jesus was Jewish. While there may be some room for debate about the exact skin tones of Jews around AD 30, I see no reason to believe that Jesus' skin tone would have been significantly different from other Jews around him.

Therefore, if Jesus was Black, so too would have been the people in the Jewish mob. If Mel Gibson had made his movie with an angry Black mob lynching one of their own after a White government official decides to bow to the demands of their Rent-A-Mob, would that really have been the message today's Black leaders would have wanted to see in the film?

[FourtySeven]

And I thought I'd seen it all when it comes to criticism of this movie. Sheesh.

[Sister_T]

Great response!

[swampfox98]

This article really hits home as to why Christian blacks vote for Democrats, whose legislation and voting pattern goes against Christian teaching. Their thinking has been so twisted by politicians, their ministers and black leaders they almost border on being illiterate.