by Jon R. Welker

I have thought that I should take advantage of a unique moment in time – the release of Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of The Christ. Many others are commenting on it, so maybe you can bear to read and consider my thoughts. First, I know it would sound much more intellectual, or “critical,” if I were to “talk of shortcomings.” But I’m not going to do that. Instead, at the outset I’m going to let you know I thought it was a good visual experience. In fact, I thought the movie was a work of art, and, to me, it was “breathtaking” because there were a couple of times where I could hardly catch my breath due to the emotion it elicited.

One almost doesn’t want to talk too much about it because it’s something you want to personalize so that the after-effects linger on. At least that’s the way I felt. Yet I also believe that it’s an opportunity for us to strengthen our appreciation of the Biblical accounts as variously depicted in the movie. I am aware that there’s been a lot of controversy as to whether the tortures, etc., were overdone and too gory. Yet I hope you’ll see by the Scriptures quoted herein that, if anything, it may not have completely told the whole story. Scripture seems to indicate in Psalm 22 that Jesus probably was not even clothed, that He may have been completely naked on the Cross – and that would have added to the humiliation in that people were staring at Him.

“...They pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.” Psalm 22:16-17

“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men....” Isaiah 52:14

Let me here reference what people might call “artistic liberty” in the flashbacks and the use of different imagery. Mel Gibson has been quoted as saying that he felt that the Lord wanted him to do this movie, that it was something Divinely inspired. I think that is somewhat evidenced by his placement of certain Scripture quotes which indicated he had meditated upon many passages in the Bible relating to the Passion. Consider for example that Mr. Gibson shows a serpent coming out from under Satan’s robe, and then Jesus crushes it with His foot. That is referenced in the Book of Genesis.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise [crush] thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

And then there is another connection which could refer to Satan’s seed being at enmity with the Lord’s seed, for when the camera shows a child-type midget, or “imp,” which Satan was holding, that was to me, in a sense, his seed. That imp turned with a mocking look at Jesus. Please understand, I do not claim to know what Mr. Gibson meant to portray by that scene, but that’s what it elicited in me. Satan’s seed, as it were, was challenging what the Lord was doing. Consider the Scripture which states:

“He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken.” Isaiah 53:8

Couldn’t we view that imp and Satan as asking that question: “If You die, who shall declare Your generation...?”

The various scenes depicting demons reminded me of what Mikkel Dahl had stated, that of any time in the history of this planet, the time of Jesus’ passion and crucifixion was when all Hell was let loose, and all the power and forces of darkness were at work. And so the depiction of various demons and devils with Judas and the children and other places, along with Satan’s presence, was, if anything, under-done. I’m not making that a criticism, I’m just again indicating that Mel Gibson seemed truly inspired to put something like that in his movie which depicted the intense spiritual warfare that was going on at that moment in history. It was a spiritual war and continues to be, a war in Heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). And I believe that Mikkel Dahl would have appreciated that, too. Also, I think he would have appreciated the fact that the man who played Jesus was quite manly. He was well built, not in the sense of “muscle beach” types or body builders. He looked the part. It appeared to me that he was probably a tall man, too. Jesus, according to Mikkel Dahl, and also supported by the Shroud of Turin image, would have probably been over 6 foot. Therefore, I think that was good casting because there was nothing feminine about the actor, nothing that would detract; it depicted our God, and as Mikkel Dahl would say, not “sissified.” I have heard that the actor who played Jesus was 33 years old at the beginning of the movie being made, and of course, the initials of his name are J.C., Jim Caviezel. How intriguing.... Jesus Christ was 33 at the time of the events portrayed in Gibson’s film! By placing the flash-backs regarding Jesus’ statements that, “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:12-13), again showed inspiration and much thought.

It would appear that Mel Gibson was quite familiar with the image on the Shroud of Turin, and the research regarding it. Even the depiction of the flogging, showing Jesus being turned over, resembled the Shroud image which reveals that the person was flogged all over, front and back.

The Shroud image also shows tremendous gashes and bruises on Jesus’ knees, indicating that He must have fallen many times in His journey to the Cross. Mr. Gibson has been criticized for his depiction of that, but he obviously gave much thought and research to it. In the 3-D depiction of the Shroud, and the plaster mold formed from that image in the accompanying picture, it very much appeared like His one eye was swollen shut, and that a welt from being struck across the cheek was present.

Any other “liberty” taken in the film I understand was based on traditions within church history. I would have preferred that Mr. Gibson would have followed the evidence of the Shroud of Turin which shows that the nails driven into Jesus’ hands were not placed in the palms, but towards the wrists. Instead, he chose to reflect the Roman Catholic Church’s tradition as often shown in pieces of art and crucifixes. Yet I am able to overlook that. And of course, former and present Catholics would recognize one of the stations of the Cross which is not mentioned in the Bible but has historical tradition: that, of course, being Veronica and the veil with which she is said to have wiped the face of the Lord. Supposedly, like unto the Shroud, that veil which contains bloodstains does exist. So, it’s possible that such did happen. We could similarly view the raven which was depicted in the movie as being over the one criminal. Again, it was added for effect, but who knows? There may very well have been birds of prey gathering where there was blood. The Book of Revelation refers to such circumstances.

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.” Revelation 19:17-18

I felt one of the most poignant scenes of the movie was when Jesus is shown as a child, falling, and then the camera resumes filming the fall of Jesus under the burden of carrying the Cross. Placing the statement: “Behold, I make all things new” (from Revelation 21:5) at that moment, was masterful. In a sense, nothing would ever be the same in reference to Satan’s claim upon the human race as a result of what was about to be accomplished. Notice that Scripture verse refers to the One Who sat on the Throne. We are elsewhere told that it was the Lamb that was on or in the midst of the Throne.

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

Many people, especially a lot of film critics, don’t know the Bible, at least not well enough to realize the other verses in Isaiah 53, Isaiah 52 and Psalm 22, etc., which share additional comments regarding the physical appearance of the Lord as a result of His tortures; or as Mikkel Dahl used to say, “The tortures of the damned, as it were.”

As I viewed the movie unfolding, and Jesus crushing the serpent under His foot, etc., this thought came to mind: the very medium of movies, which has so polluted the minds of the present generation, the Lord was using, as it were, to crush Satan under His foot.

I know there have been attempts at trying to discredit the film as too gory and excessive, anti-Semitic and such, but I thought that if any group was depicted as evil it was the Roman soldiers. It was they who were portrayed in a much worse light, and made to look uglier, with bad teeth and so forth. Anyway, as we have learned, there are good Jews and there are bad Jews, just as there are good and bad people among any race or ethnic group. If anything, the movie just depicted the corruption of the priesthood, and that also happened in the Roman church as well. And it continues to happen in church organizations into our day.

I also thought that quoting various statements by Jesus in His talks with the disciples, as well as clearly identifying the events with the Passover, was good. He even included Jesus’ statement: “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6) – which is a real touchy one for a lot of people. And, the flashback scene in which Jesus tells His disciples, “This is My body which is given for you,” should help the unbeliever, and a generation of young people who have never been churched, to better understand what Christ did and the Lord’s Table....

Jesus was also shown saying:

“My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36

That’s something to keep in mind because there are so many things that seek to draw us into the enticing deceptions of this world. He prayed for the strength to be able to complete the Father’s Will. (Read the article herein, entitled “Is Christ the Lord Glorified In You?”.) That was His desire, and to complete that was what motivated Him. When He prayed to the Father that He might have the strength to endure, or if the cup could pass, it was always the Father’s Will which was foremost in His mind and heart. It has been asked how could any human being be able to endure that much pain. Let’s not forget that He was a man among men, but also in the Garden of Gethsemane an angel did come and minister to Him and strengthened Him.

“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.”  Luke 22:41-43

So He was given additional strength to endure. People who are not as familiar with the Bible could wonder about various aspects of Christ’s agony as depicted in The Passion of The Christ movie. For instance, the multiple smitings. But yet if you look at the Scriptures in the Old and New Testaments, it does say that He was smitten for us (Isa. 50:6; Isa. 53:4; Matt. 26:67; Lk. 22:63; Jn. 18:22-23, 19:3). And in the Gospels we are told that He was smitten and spit upon several times (Matt. 26:67, 27:30; Mk. 14:65, 15:19). So, as Isaiah prophesied, He would be marred almost beyond what was human. It would seem that Mel Gibson must have been aware of these Scriptures and why the Passion of Christ was truly “gory.”

“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men....”  Isaiah 52:14

When many people leave after viewing the film, everything else seems quite a bit petty by comparison. Mikkel Dahl, in his Frame This Prayer in Your HEART article, wrote: “Mine Father ... This day help me rise above the petty, mean and sordid....” We fail so many times in that very way. I am also made to consider how the Lord can raise up someone like Moses or Daniel, or whomsoever, for a special purpose. He uses people. He raised up a Martin Luther, and many other people. Now He has prepared a man like Mel Gibson to get His message sent out to multitudes: “Jesus IS the Lamb that was slain”!

When we come before the Lord we should keep in mind the pattern of the Tabernacle and enter with the only acceptable sacrifice – which is the Passover Lamb – and be cleansed by His shed blood. “By virtue of Your work completed on Calvary, Lord Jesus, I am free from the guilt and the stain of sin.” And in public I often start that way in prayer because that’s what I cling to.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11

As the High Priest in the Old Testament sprinkled the blood, or splattered the blood in various places, in like manner the audience viewing The Passion of The CHRIST film were metaphorically splattered in blood! If you remember, it is recorded in Matthew 27:25:

“Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.”

It’s a good thing for that!

May God bless this film in order to reach a whole generation of youth as well. And consider the idea that the Return of the Kingmovie, based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s trilogy, was closely followed by The Passion of The Christ! That’s how the King is going to return: as The King of kings, clothed with a vesture dipped in blood!!

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16

Think of it: the 2 most attended movies in history in their first 5 days or so were Return of the King and The Passion of The Christ! Tolkein was also a Catholic Christian, instrumental in C.S. Lewis’ conversion. And, Return of the King deals with the last battle against the evil forces destroying (Middle) Earth! The Lord is returning with wrath, to take vengeance upon those who know not God and obey not the Gospel of Jesus.

“...The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ....” II Thessalonians 1:7-8

If this is a momentous and Divinely inspired film, I believe that these are indicators to us of something very important about to happen. At the appropriate time the Lord will come, but He also wants to remind those who have a relationship with Him how they overcome the enemy: by the blood of the Lamb! And to remind all people that anyone also has the chance, through the blood of the Lamb (the Passover Lamb), to be redeemed and forgiven.

Mel Gibson also connected the “why is this night different from other nights” question of the Passover seder and Exodus 12, to the events about to unfold in Gethsemane.

“And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?” Exodus 12:26

New Living Translation: “Then your children will ask, What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?”
[Or as in the Passover seder: “Why is this night different from all other nights?”]

Now, I think it would be good to review some of the more important Scriptures regarding Jesus’ Passion, and some portions of related literature from Shepherdsfield. It is my hope that this Shepherd’s Letter will aid in your meditation of Christ’s finished work on Calvary for you!

Isaiah 52:14
“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men....”

Scofield commentary: “The literal rendering presents a shocking picture: ‘so marred from the form of man was His aspect that His appearance was not that of the Son of man’, i.e., not human. This was the effect of the brutalities described in Matthew 26:67-68; 27:30.”

New Internat’l Version: “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....”

I think that word “appalled” doesn’t mean what people are saying about the movie being so gory. They were appalled at His body which was so disfigured.

Young’s Literal Translation: “As astonished at Thee have been many, (So marred by man His appearance, and His form by sons of men.)....”

LXX English Translation: “As many shall be amazed at Thee, so shall Thy face be without glory from men, and Thy glory shall not be honoured by the sons of men....”

New Living Translation: “Many were amazed when they saw Him— beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know He was a person....”

New Jerusalem Bible: “As many people were aghast at Him — He was so inhumanly disfigured that He no longer looked like a man....”

Complete Jewish Bible: “Just as many were appalled at Him, because He was so disfigured that He didn’t even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man....”

That says a multitude; did Mel Gibson go too far in depicting Jesus’ torture? I think not....

Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

As I have already stated, that’s the same Scripture which tells us about the seed of Satan versus the seed of the Lord.

New Internat’l Version: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”

Darby Bible: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; He shall crush thy head, and thou shalt crush His heel.

Bible in Basic English: “And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by Him will your head be crushed and by you His foot will be wounded.

New Living Translation: “From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”

As I previously mentioned, to me that’s what was going on when the movie showed Jesus literally crushing the serpent under His foot, and later, when that imp was shown turning around with a mocking look towards Jesus. He was defiant; you could see there was war between them.

Psalm 22:14-18
“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint....”

That was depicted in the movie, at least on the cross, when they were stretching Jesus’ arms.

“My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.”

Bible in Basic English: “My throat is dry like a broken vessel; My tongue is fixed to the roof of My mouth, and the dust of death is on My lips.”

The man playing Jesus captured this with the motions of his mouth.

New Living Translation: “My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead.”

KJV: “For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.”

Again, they looked and stared upon Him because He probably was naked; no loincloth. I’m grateful the movie did not depict that, because it would have been distracting for the audience. There was nothing Jesus could have done about it. He was mocked, He was ridiculed and humiliated.

We are including an insert of the four Gospel accounts of the Passion of Christ so that you might use it for devotional reading and meditation. It is a gift to you. But here let me reference the Revelation 21:5 passage, so poignantly referred to in the film:

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”

As I somewhat already stated, there could be a tendency to think that a lot was added to the movie, but if you will read these Scriptures, you’ll see that the basics are all in the Bible accounts, even the depiction of Jesus’ sweat mingled with blood (Lk. 22:44). He knew what He was going to be facing. Mikkel Dahl has written that Jesus wasn’t asking for the ordeal to be canceled, but that He might be able to have the strength to endure. He was praying for strength to endure.

What a marvelous Savior!