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Passion Q &A
Larry d. Wright
Many
have seen the film The Passion of the Christ and here are the most
frequent questions and my responses. NOTE: The sources I have used are cited at
the end of is work.
Click
for a response to the question...
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Why
did Mel Gibson make this film?
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Is
the film anti-Semitic?
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Why
does the movie have to be so violent?
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Was
there really a snake in the Garden of Gethsemane?
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What
is the significance of the dove that Jesus saw?
-
What
was the meaning of all the flies?
-
What
about the bread and wine?
-
Who
was the lady who brought the cup of water to Jesus while He was carrying His
cross to Golgotha?
-
I've
heard that Mel Gibson used as a source for the script used a book written by
a nun in the 19th century. Is that true?
-
Did
Jesus really fall off the bridge when the Temple Guards were leading Him
from the Garden of Gethsemane?
-
Were
the scourging scenes realistic? What would the crucifixion really have been
like?
-
I've
heard the movie is based on the "Stations of the Cross." What does
that mean?
-
What's
the deal with the character representing Satan and the baby that is being
held?
-
What
was the meaning of the white cloths that Pilate's wife gave to Mary?
-
Did
children really chase Judas to his hanging? What about the carcass on the
field beneath the tree where Judas hung himself?
-
-
Why did Mel Gibson make this
film?
Mel
Gibson, devout in the old Roman Catholic tradition who favors the Tridentine
Latin Mass, describes his film: "I think of it as contemplative in the
sense that one is compelled to remember ... in a spiritual way, which cannot be
articulated, only experienced."
Gibson
explains the genesis of his film: “The past three years forced me to focus
heavily on the Passion...I went to the wounds of Christ in order to cure my
wounds. And when I did that, through reading and studying and meditating and
praying, I began to see in my own mind what he [Jesus] really went through... .
It was like giving birth: the story, the way I envisioned the suffering of
Christ, got inside me and started to grow, and it reached a point where I just
had to tell it, to get it out” Quoted by David Neff, "The
Passion of Mel Gibson: Why evangelicals are cheering a movie with profoundly
Catholic sensibilities," (http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/passion-passionofmel.html).
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Is the film
anti-Semitic?
Personally,
I do not think that it is but as a Christian Gentile I cannot see it through
Jewish eyes.
To
me, Mel Gibson makes it clear that the suffering of Jesus Christ's was carried
out not for himself but for others, because of the
sins of humanity and by the sins of cruel men. I see a clear
presentation of Christ's substitutionary death for humanity. Gibson does this
from the beginning with the quotation from Isaiah 53:5. I see this as the key
hanging on the front porch. Gibson masterfully includes a dimension in his
telling of the story that reveals the fact that he understands that the real and
effectual drama that takes place is in the unseen spiritual realm.
It
is sin that killed Jesus! As long as we fight over, “Whose sin?” then we
miss the point. We must move above earthy arguments and gain a heavenly
perspective to understand the death of Jesus.
In
his interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN, Mel Gibson explains, "You're
seeing the big realm. It's not about us; it's about principalities. And it's
about the big war that's going on. . . . The big realms, the dark and the light
realms are battling over us, and the battle happens. We can't see it, but it's
there. And that is what I wanted to show in the film . . . that the diabolical
shows itself, and at times the divine peeks through, so you look under the
surface and there it is. You're looking right at it."
From
the opening scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane the Devil attempts to impede
Jesus' resolve to go to the cross. Twice the camera takes viewers above
the cross to offer God's view of the crucifixion. One view entails a divine
teardrop that triggers the earthquake that accompanies the crucifixion. That was
my favorite scene in the movie! The other view entails Satan's frustrated cry of
defeat in failing to prevent Jesus' crucifixion.
From
high above Golgotha, these two views make it evident that the death of Jesus is
to satisfy the Heavenly Father's purposes, not ultimately to satisfy the
interests of Satan or of mere humans on the stage in Jerusalem, Jewish or
Gentile. Jewish religious authorities, whose petty interests move them to
protect their place of influence both with Rome and with the Judeans, render
them important earthly players who, unknown to them, fulfill God's purposes on
the earthly stage of the heavenly drama of Christ's Passion. Likewise, Roman
governing officials and soldiers, who seek to suppress Jewish insurrections so
that their time in unpleasant Judea may pass without incident, unknowingly do
God's bidding as well as they attempt to placate Jewish authorities who find a
Galilean peasant rivaling their authority as religious leaders of the people.
Similarly,
pathetic Judas, whose frustration and avarice hatch a plot with the Jewish
priests to betray his leader, finds himself caught up in the drama of God's own
making that far transcends his selfish interests but sadly brings him to his own
tormented demise. Thus, as the movie begins with the text of Isaiah 53:5, "He
was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are
healed", so the film closes with a clear message for those with eyes to
see that the story is that of God's provision of redemption by the sacrifice of
his Son, Jesus Christ, on behalf of others.
Each
viewer will approach the film differently depending upon one's own paradigm and
viewpoint, whether Catholic or Protestant, believer or unbeliever, pastor or
pew-sitter, biblical scholar or not. All who view the film will be exposed to
the gospel of Jesus Christ with powerful images and biblically derived dialogue.
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Why does the
movie have to be so violent?
The Passion of The Christ is brutal and violent! It
is not surprising at all, but to be expected that Mel Gibson would be criticized
for making this movie and for its depictions. Remember, this is not a
documentary; it is an artist’s rendering of the Passion of the Christ. He has
admittedly taken artistic license and interpretations as all moviemakers do.
I agree with
James O. Davis, Cofounder/President/CEO of Global Pastors Network who said,
"My response then and now is that "R stands for Redemption and it was
royal red. For too long, the world has not seen, heard, and felt what
the crucifixion was about for Christ. The English word,
"excruciating" comes from the word, "crucifixion." If you
want to know what really is excruciating, then you MUST go and see The Passion
Of The Christ. Your life will be changed for the better and for
eternity."
Perhaps
none of us have ever completely realized the depth of Christ’s payment for out
sins. The movie is violent because the last twelve hours of Christ life were
violent, extremely violent.
READ:
In addition to the account of the passion in the Gospels, Isaiah 53:1-12; 1
Peter 1:17-25; Hebrews 9:11-28.
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Was there
really a snake in the Garden of Gethsemane?
In the movie when Jesus is
praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, a snake slithers through the body and out
from under the robe of the Tempter. Jesus is praying and agonizing in
preparation for what he is about to endure. The snake moves menacingly
towards Jesus. Jesus looks the Tempter in the eye and defiantly crushes
the snake underfoot, and resolutely turns to meet his captors. This is my second
favorite scene!
There is no literal snake
in the gospels account of Gethsemane but clearly Satan was present in an
agonizing way. The snake in the Garden of Gethsemane symbolizes temptation and
evil. In Eden, the garden of creation, Adam and Eve were enticed by the
serpent to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. Because
they heeded the promptings
of the serpent and rejected God’s instruction, mankind was infected with evil.
Consequently, the relationship between God and the human race was fractured.
The law of the universe
dictates that a holy God cannot interact with people who are tainted with sin.
But even in Eden, the scene of that unthinkably horrible cosmic tragedy, God
foretold of the coming Deliverer, the Messiah who would crush the power of evil
under his foot. God said the snake would “strike the heel” of the
Messiah, that is, inflict pain and injury on him but ultimately, the Messiah
would triumph. Evil would be totally crushed. The consequence of
mankind’s choice in the Garden of Eden would be reversed by the choice Jesus
would make in the Garden of Gethsemane.
READ: Genesis 3:1-15.
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What is the significance of the dove that Jesus
saw?
As the soldiers drag Jesus
to the commencement of his trial, He looks up and sees a dove flapping its wings
overhead. The sight appears to strengthen and comfort him.
Doves and turtle-doves were
the only birds that could be offered in sacrifice, as they were clean according
to the Mosaic Law (Genesis
15:9; Leviticus
5:7, 12:6; Luke
2:24). The dove is an emblem of peace (Genesis
8:8,10), purity (Psalm
68:13), and devoted affection (Song
of Songs 1:15, 2:14). But above all, it’s a symbol of the
Holy Spirit (Genesis
1:2; Matthew
3:16; Mark
1:10; Luke
3:22; John
1:32).
The sight of the dove
reminded Jesus that, just as He was anointed for ministry at His baptism
(Matthew 3:16), so He is anointed by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit to face
this dreadful hour. The dove also reminded him of the love of his Father
and that his Father was pleased with his self-sacrificial obedience.
READ: Matthew 3:16; Luke
3:22.
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What was the meaning of all the flies?
In one scene the buzz in
Judas’ head grew louder. Flies. There were flies everywhere!
They were swarming in droves around him. He couldn’t get away. Finally,
in despair he fastened a rope around his neck and hung himself.
One of the names of Satan
is Beelzebub, which means “the Prince of Demons” (Matthew 12:24, 27;
Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18; John 12:4-6). In Semitic speech the term may
have also been understood as “the master of the house” (Matthew 10:25b).
The Hebrew word for Beelzebub literally means “lord of the flies.” The
buzzing of flies that preceded Judas’ suicide symbolized that Satan had used
and defeated Judas.
READ: John
13:2, 21-28
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What about the bread and wine?
As Christ’s body is
brutalized and his blood begins to flow, he thinks back to the bread and the
wine that he shared with his disciples at the Passover meal. The Passover was
also called the “feast of unleavened bread” (Ex. 23:15; Mark 14:1; Acts
12:3), because during its celebration no leavened bread was to be eaten or even
kept in the household (Ex. 12:15). In Hebrew tradition, leaven (yeast)
symbolized sin. Prior to eating the Passover meal, participants searched
for forbidden leaven and discarded it. Then, and only then, did the
ceremonial meal begin.
The Passover meal contained
symbolic elements of roasted lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, some minor
condiments and four cups of wine at specified points. Of the three pieces
of unleavened bread, which were kept in a three-layered pouch, only one piece
was removed, broken, and shared. The four cups of wine were called
the cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption, and
the cup of hope.
All the elements of the
Passover meal related back to the historic event of the deliverance of the
Hebrew people from bondage. But at the last supper, Jesus indicated that
these traditional elements foreshadowed deeper spiritual truths. He said
that the bread symbolized his body, and that the cup symbolized the covenant in
his blood (a covenant is a legal contract). Jesus knew that when he gave
his body (which was free of sin just as the bread was free of leaven) to be
broken – and his blood to be spilled – that he would secure sanctification,
deliverance, redemption, and hope for all people. Jesus was the Passover
lamb. He was the bread. He was the wine. He was the One in
whom all the symbols found their fulfillment.
READ: Exodus
12:14-20; Matthew 26:20-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
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Who was the lady who brought the
cup of water to Jesus while He was carrying His cross to Golgotha?
Although
the Roman guards cast her aside, this matron named Veronica has not been cast
aside by church history. Although she is not mentioned in the Bible, the story
of Veronica and her veil has been around since the 4th century. In the
movie, you'll notice that she hands a towel to the fallen Christ, who dries His
face with it. When He pulls the towel away from His face, you'll notice an
imprint of His likeness. This towel has become known as the "Veil of
Veronica."
Like
many traditions from the ancient church, many Catholics revere the veil because
it is said to have the imprint of Christ's face on it. Again, the story does not
have a Biblical corollary, but it provides an illustration of deep devotion and
service to the Savior. The name "Veronica" means "true
image" (from "ver" for truth and "icon" for
image.)
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I've heard
that Mel Gibson used as a source for the script used a book written by a nun in
the 19th century. Is that true?
Mel
Gibson has said on several occasions that the movie was inspired by the writings
of a nun named Anna Catherine Emmerich, and it would be difficult to
overestimate her influence on Gibson's explanation of the story of Christ's
final hours before the cross. In fact, Emmerich's meditations from the 18th
century provide many insights into Gibson's film-making motivation and selection
of scenes. A public-domain PDF of Emmerich's book, The
Dolorous Passion of Jesus Christ our Lord, is available to read
at www.emmerich1.com/THE_PASSION.htm.
The book details Emmerich's many spiritual visions related to Jesus.
Many
of the scenes found in the movie are found in Emmerich's book. Some of her
visions are extraordinarily unusual, and the reader should be mindful that this
is simply one person's perspective and imagination of the events. While we view
the book alone as the inspired Word of God, such extra-biblical sources as the
work of Emmerich are to be regarded as inspirational but not infallible.
Emmerich's thoughts are helpful for understanding Gibson's movie and for a
believer's personal reflection.
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Did
Jesus really fall off the bridge when the Temple Guards were leading Him from
the Garden of Gethsemane?
This
does not appear in the New Testament text. Rather, this is one of the places
where director Mel Gibson was inspired by the writings of Emmerich.
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Were
the scourging scenes realistic? What would the crucifixion really have been
like?
The
Journal of the American Medical Association. JAMA printed an article called
"On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ" in its March 21, 1986 issue.
Dr. William D. Edwards (Department of Pathology at Mayo Clinic) and a pastor
named Wesley Gabel wrote the study. The study is accompanied by extensive
illustrations by medical illustrator Floyd Hosmer. To access this description,
go to the web page of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale (www.fbcnet.com)
and click on The Physical Death of Jesus in the Passion Q & A
section. Please note that this description and its illustrations are
intense and extremely graphic.
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I've
heard the movie is based on the "Stations of the Cross." What does
that mean?
The
Stations of the Cross is a pattern of devotion practiced by Catholics and those
in more liturgical traditions. Each of these "stations" tracks an
event along the "Via Dolorosa," as Jesus walked from Pilate's court at
Antonio Fortress to the site of the crucifixion. If you consider the
fourteen stations of meditation, you'll see a pattern emerge which is reflected
in Gibson's film. The links below provide a glimpse into each of the fourteen
stations:
1.
First
Station Jesus is condemned.
2.
Second
Station Jesus takes up his cross.
3.
Third
Station Jesus falls 1st time.
4.
Fourth
Station Jesus meets Mary.
5.
Fifth
Station Simon Helps
6.
Sixth
Station Veronica
7.
Seventh
Station Jesus falls 2nd time
8.
Eighth
Station Jesus speaks to the women.
9.
Ninth
Station Jesus falls a 3rd time.
10.
Tenth
Station Jesus is stripped.
11.
Eleventh
Station Jesus nailed to cross.
12.
Twelfth
Station Jesus dies on the Cross.
13.
Thirteenth
Station Jesus taken down.
14.
Fourteenth
Station Jesus placed in tomb.
Typically,
Protestants don't focus on the Stations of the Cross, but understanding them to
be informative. When Protestants do reflect on the Stations of the Cross, they
usually use a shortened version that has more historical background:
Station 1: Pilate
Condemns Jesus to Die
Station 2: Jesus Accepts His Cross
Station 3: Simon Helps Carry the Cross
Station 4: Jesus Speaks to the Women
Station 5: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
Station 6: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
Station 7: Jesus Cares for His Mother
Station 8: Jesus Dies on the Cross
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What's
the deal with the character representing Satan and the baby that is being held?
According
to Gibson's representatives, this is an illustration of the Anti-Madonna.
Throughout the film, extensive opposing interplay exists between Mary, the
mother of Christ, and Satan, who is portrayed androgynously but clearly with
feminine features. The Madonna, illustrating Mary holding the Christ-Child in
her arms, is revered throughout Christendom. The Anti-Madonna is intended to be
an illustration of humanity gone terribly wrong.
In
an interview with Christianity Today Mel Gibson said, “It’s evil
distorting good. What is more tender and beautiful than a mother and a child?
So the Devil takes that and distorts it just a little. Instead of a
normal mother and child you have an androgynous figure holding a 40-year-old
baby with hair on its back. It is weird, it is shocking, its almost too
much-just like turning Jesus over to continue scourging him on his chest is
shocking and almost too much, which is the exact moment when this appearance of
the Devil and the baby take place.” Christianity
Today article by Mark Moring, "What's Up
With the Ugly Baby?
(http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/news/040301-passion.html)
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What
was the meaning of the white cloths that Pilate's wife gave to Mary?
Again,
this event does not appear in the New Testament Gospels, but it does appear in
Emmerich's book, which inspired Gibson. Even then, Emmerich simply says the
linens were "sent" to Mary, not personally delivered by Claudia.
Still, the scene exhibits great empathy between Pilate's wife Claudia and
the mother of Jesus.
Emmerich
writes: "When Jesus fell down at the foot of the pillar, after the
flagellation, I saw Claudia Procles, the wife of Pilate, sent some large pieces
of linen to the Mother of God. I know not whether she thought that Jesus would
be set free, and that his Mother would then require linen to dress his wounds,
or whether this compassionate lady was aware of the use which would be made of
her present. At the termination of the scourging, Mary came to herself for a
time, and saw her Divine Son all torn and mangled, being led away by the archers
after the scouring: he wiped his eyes, which were filled with blood, that he
might look at his Mother, and she stretched out her hands towards him, and
continued to look at the bloody traces of his footsteps. I soon after saw Mary
and Magdalen approach the pillar where Jesus had been scourged; the mob were at
a distance, and they were partly concealed by the other holy women, and by a few
kind-hearted persons who had joined them; they knelt down on the ground near the
pillar, and wiped up the sacred blood with the linen which Claudia Procles had
sent."
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Did
children really chase Judas to his hanging? What about the carcass on the field
beneath the tree where Judas hung himself?
These
are dramatic inventions employed by Gibson, but described by Anna Catherine
Emmerich in her book.
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This event appears neither
in the Gospels, nor in Emmerich's book. However, the raven has traditionally
symbolized death, as in Edgar Allen Poe's classic poem.
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Sources:
1.
Explore
The Passion of Christ (www.thelife.com)
2.
Questions & Answers from the wed page of First Baptist Church of Fort
Lauderdale Baptist Church (www.fbcnet.com)
3.
The
Dolorous Passion of Jesus by Anna Catherine Emmerich can be viewed and read at: www.emmerich1.com/THE_PASSION.htm
4.
www.thepassionofchrist.com
5.
There are many articles and reviews at this site: www.bible.org
(click on the Passion icon)
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Back
Click
here for Rev. Wright's review of "The Passion of the Christ".
