I have written several posts about the Passion over the last few months. Recently, several of these have produced some very interesting comments. This post addresses a few points which I disagree with. I felt it was more fitting to deal with these in a new post rather than in the comments on an old thread.
Point 1: THIS MOVIE IS PLAINLY RACIST
Racist against whom? Is it racist for its portrayal of the Romans as mean-spirited? But then some Romans (Pilate and his wife and the Centurion) were shown to be decent people. Is it racist for showing the Jews as power-hungry? But then some Jews (Jesus, Mary, the disciples, Mary Magdalene, etc.) were shown to possess virtue. Perhaps it was racist against the people of Cyrene; after all, it is an African city. Was Simon singled by the Romans because of his race? (Ok...I'm tired of refuting this mindless statement with mindless sarcasm.)
Point 2: This Movie changed [God's] word. Jesus wasn't a boxing bag when he was taken from the garden. Where does it say in the KJV 1611 Jesus was punched so many times especially punched off of a cliff???
The cliff business was definitely extra-Biblical. There is no evidence either for or against it, but it is unlikely that it actually happened. However, the treatment of Jesus at the hands of the Temple Guards is not A-Bibilical. The scripture states that he was beaten by the Temple Guards in
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke and
John.
Point 3: You need to do some more research on Mel before you watch this movie because some one saw that he wanted to put something in it they wouldn't let him put in it. He said that he wanted to put in the movie that the Jews were cursed because they crucified Jesus, that isn't in God's word either.
Actually it is:
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Matthew 27:24-25
This does not mean that the Jews are under a curse (at least any more than non-Jews). I believe that everyone was cursed because of the sin of Adam and that of every person after him. Fortunately, this very movie emphasizes the antidote:
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians 3:13
Finally, I have read many places about how over the top the violence is, especially the scourging. I believe it is reasonably accurate. I already shown (above) where Christ was beaten by the Temple Guards. He was then made to suffer a Roman flogging (John 19:1). I have read complaints about the number of lashes given by the Romans in the movie, but the limit of 39 (40 less 1) is a Jewish limit (Deuteronomy 25:3). The Romans were not bound by any limit.
The beating is very brutal by today's standards and difficult to watch (and stomach). However, I did not find it unreasonable for the time period. Isaiah prophecies that the Messiah would be beaten so horribly that he would be unrecognizable:
Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness
Isaiah 22:14
I think we have to keep in perspective that this is just a movie. We own the 1977 film Jesus of Nazareth on video and usually watch it near Easter. It is also just a movie. Both films attempt to follow the Bible and pull it off fairly well. Both have content which I think is incorrect. (Here is one example from The Passion: When Christ finally makes it to the top of Golgotha, they rip his robe from his body which directly contradicts John 19:24.) Yet I find both helpful in visualizing the road that Jesus walked and the choices he faced.
You are more than free to notice and point out minor inaccuracies in this film. You are also free to decide that these minor inaccuracies destroy any virtue in the remainder of the film. I personally find that very sad, but I completely respect your right to do so.
