Some questions about the Passion

[whatsitmean]

While I had no intention of seeing the movie, as the Lord caused things to turn out, it was almost a necessity for me to see it today. I would never have anticipated that to happen. My wife is active with a homeless shelter and had offered to drive some of the guests to the next town where someone had donated tickets for them to see it. At first there were six of them that were going but only one man actually showed up. We agreed that it was not a good idea for her to drive one guy over and back alone, so I went with her. Amazing isn

[Catsmeow]

In an interview with Gibson, I heard him say it wasn't supposed to be. The Crucifixion was the whole point and what he wanted to focus on...anything else would dilute the power of the actual crucifixion.

He was attempting to bring out the "suffering" aspect...not anything else.

That's, of course, his perogative...as director.

[nebula]

I agree about the resurrection scene. I realized that we being who we are, we don't like feeling bad. If the resurrection had been given its due, we'd leave the theater feeling pumped up and excited about the resurrection - and have totally washed aside "the passion" part. This really is the part we need to focus on. We in the Church have a lot of soul-searching to do. We need to return to the cross - the real cross (not the Crusader's cross, but the sacrificial cross - the denial of self cross - the surrendering cross - the dying to self cross - the anthem of love cross).

Suzanne - excellent expression of that!

[tsth]

Thank you Neb,

Brother Dave, will you post your pm to me about your thoughts on this movie? I thought they needed to be shared.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[nebula]

whatsitmean -

I'm sorry.

I am sorry your feelings towards Catholicism marred your ability to see Jesus.

I am so sorry you were not led to a rending of your heart.

I am so sorry. So sorry.

Edited March 1, 2004 by nebula

[Guest LCPGUY]

As for the resurrection, it wasn

[Guest LCPGUY]

I agree about the resurrection scene.  I realized that we being who we are, we don't like feeling bad.  If the resurrection had been given its due, we'd leave the theater feeling pumped up and excited about the resurrection - and have totally washed aside "the passion" part.  This really is the part we need to focus on.  We in the Church have a lot of soul-searching to do.  We need to return to the cross - the real cross (not the Crusader's cross, but the sacrificial cross - the denial of self cross - the surrendering cross - the dying to self cross - the anthem of love cross).

Suzanne - excellent expression of that!

This really is the part we need to focus on.

Nebula,

this is the first time I have a disagreement with you. I think you got it completely backwards. The passion should not be our prime focus, the resurrection should be our prime focus with the passion right behind. Christianity falls or stands on the resurrection, not the crucifixion. If it all ended with the passion, we would have no risen Savior... no salvation.

Sorry to disagree...

In Him,

John

[nebula]

Funny you should say that.

I was just reading this quote from another web site, and I was planning on sharing it - somewhere. Might as well be here.

It can do this because it will help to restore the cross as the center of our lives

[whatsitmean]

whatsitmean -

I'm sorry your biasness against catholicism was greater than your love for Jesus.

I guess you get out of the movie what you were looking for.

I am so sorry you were not led to a rending of your heart.

I am so sorry.  So sorry.

I did get out of the movie what I was looking for. I was looking for the real message that was written into it, not something I wanted to make out of it.

I do the same thing with the BIBLE. I look for the message that was written into it. The message of the movie did not line up with the message of the BIBLE.

AS for bias against Catholicism, think reformation and inquisition.

[Matthitjah]

Sister Suzanne,

God Bless I will share if only people will understand my thoughts are partial and incomplete. Please understand this . I saw it only an hour ago.

I need much more prayer and contemplation as well meditation. I always and I mean always desire to know how, what, where ,when, and why. Including the very circumstances I went under.

Also under the very recent revealtions I have had about the Two Kingdoms and what our part in both are. While we are still here and in these fleshy tents.

I think the most stunning thing to me was how the Lord embraced the Cross. Loving His Father. SONSHIP! What does a good obedient Son do? Despite the very precious cost.

Forget the Catholicism!

Three main concepts came to me even as I wrote to sister Suzanne tonight.

Pious Religiousity, Sin (Lost), Apostate Christianity (Ashamed of Christ).

Hope eternal!

The brutality of the Romans was the delight the world takes in sinning.

Some more thoughts coming even now. I am still numb.

What part would I have played? What part have I played? Having been Catholic what part do I play by not forgiving them even as Jesus forgave the Pharisses?

SIN is killing people. It takes delight in its actions! What part of the Romans am I responsible for? You know maybe when your flicking channels and stop somewhere you oughta not be? How may times did I flog Him? In my wild youth? How many Stripes did I inflict? That later healed me?

I weep even now!

Ummm? I couldn't fathom the scene where Mary is wiping up His blood off the flogging floor. Here comes the woman who was to be stoned and the flashback to Christ drawing that line in the sand . Then scribbling. As if to say STOMP! YOU WILL GO NO FURTHER! Then her reaching out and caressing His foot and seeking repentance as the stones were dropped.

He goes to the Cross and says, Again STOMP! YOU WILL GO NO FURTHER! As the devil writhes in agony.

Anyway here is the incomplete PM I sent to sister Suzanne;

Sister,

I just saw the film. I am somewhat still numb.

I can't get past the accurate portrayal of Religiousity.

I was most stunned by the scene of Peter denying the Christ. I wept openly here. When Peter says depart from me I am so unworthy, I am wretched etc... I can not tell you how many times I felt like that.

I don't think it needed the ressurection either. You basically saw that when you saw the end and saw the nail prints.

I also could not get past the physcological warfare going on with the devil.

When they had scourged our Lord on the back and I was weeping. I was like thanks be to God its over. Then they turned him over and continued and His flesh looked like Bologna. I could almost, actually I could feel the anger and hatred of the World. The sin was thick in the air as the Romans delighted in what they were doing. I could only think of how much He Loves us.

This was the central theme. How much he Loves us despite our sin. To pray for the Priests after they had just mocked Him. The two thieves on the Cross pointed once again to two children one of promise and Hope. The other of sin and despair (Flesh).

Notice how keenly the Lord was on mission even under the pain of the Cross . He set His gaze deliberately towards the man seeking Salvation and repentance.

Also I was dumbfounded and still in shock at how He beheld the Cross and actually Loved it. Knowing this was His Fathers Will. He Loved the Father soo very much it was His only goal.

I also saw nothing but Hope and Love for the Jews. It was played out in the man carrying the Cross. Here was an undoubtedly Jewish man. Interlocked with Christ carrying His burden for generations. He like the Fleshy Jews of the World despite the burden kept saying. Only a little further, its almost over. Like the Jews of today. They must come to the shock and horror of the end to see and then in shock lock eyes with Christ realizing that it was He. HOPE springs eternal in Christ even for them.

Just some things I am contemplating having just seen it an hour ago.

I am still stunned and unable to take it all in.