I’ve never done a movie review and I don’t really mean this to be one. However, I feel compelled to make a few observations concerning The Passion of the Christ. I would particularly like to address two key criticisms that are being voiced regarding this film: (1) the movie is too violent, and (2) the movie is anti-Semitic.
On the issue of violence I’d bet anything that those making such claims probably enjoyed The Lord of the Rings! That, however, is not the important issue here. A more pertinent question is, “What do the scriptures say?” After all, a movie about events in the Bible has only one real critic – the Word of God. Let’s look at a couple of verses from the Book of Isaiah:
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”
The Bible records that the Lord’s face was so disfigured that he no longer resembled a man. It says that people could not even look at him.
Isaiah 53:2, 3
“He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him… we hid as it were our faces from him…”
Most of the films that I have seen in the past about the Lord Jesus Christ show a pale, weak human being who on the cross is allowed to have a small trickle of blood drip from his forehead. That would not seem to be at all consistent with the recorded Word of God. We can’t, however, portray the truth when it comes to the Bible. No, we leave that for the so-called reality shows. I applaud the producers of this film for considering what the scriptures actually say.
On the accusation of the film being anti-Semitic or of using the Jewish nation as a stepping stone to make a Christian point, I’d have to say the critics have completely missed the mark. First of all, I have to this date never seen a film about the death of Jesus Christ that lays the blame squarely where it ought to be laid – at the feet of Satan. In this particular film, there is no doubt as to this fact.
The orchestration of the actual events of the crucifixion involve both the Romans and the top religious Judean leaders. Of the two groups, the Lord Jesus himself singles out the religious leaders as the ones who are to blame more than the Romans. And I do believe that the Lord was the most important Semite of all time. However, even He leaves no doubt as to who is the actual source of the evil.
John 14:30
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
And note what this scripture says about who God holds responsible for the crucifixion:
I Corinthians 2:8
“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
So, if you think the film is too violent – you’d be quite correct; the Scriptures have long since revealed that to be the true nature of the devil. And if you think that the film is anti-Semitic, take a close look and make sure you aren’t substituting anti-Semitic for anti-Satan. However, regardless of the violence and the orchestration of evil events by the devil, the open tomb at the end of the film is about as happy as an ending can get.