Friday, February 27, 2004
The Passion of Jesus Christ. Everyone is talking about it. The film depicting the last twelve hours of Jesus' life and death is going to be the biggest grossing film concerning Christ in history. Period. And the most controversial.
Why? 1 Cor 1:23-25 predicted a long time ago how the message of the Christ and His cross will be received.
Paul said "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
The message of the cross has always been controversial. That is because it is the blood which saves us - the blood of Christ.
Many are shocked at the graphic nature of the film but the spittings, beatings, floggings, etc. But to those who read the Bible, they are nothing more than reality. The Passion may be accurate "reality show" ever - and a lot less violent than many action hero films. The difference is that this violence served a purpose. Christ's death was intentional. Like He said in the film, nobody took his life, he freely gave it.
As far as the question "Who killed Jesus" goes, we have to remember that that it's not really important who actually drove the nails. What is important is that Christ's reason for choosing to die that death. It was so that people like you and me could experience forgiveness. And I need that.
I've often heard it said if I had been the only one who had sinned and needed Jesus to die, He would have done that just for me. And it's true.
Jewish friends need not shoulder the indictment of Christ's death alone. All of us who have sinned put Jesus on the cross - and that is all of us.
(When a Midwestern church placed a sign in front saying "The Jews Killed Jesus" and it appeared on the local news, my wife Judy noticed the clip on one of many cable networks. It popped her cork and she called the church. Reaching the associate pastor, she asked for the pastor and he said "He's on the phone with someone from CA." She said "That's interesting, I'm from CA." She expressed concern over the message they were sending and the associate said "Our pastor does things without thinking sometimes" and went on to explain that they would be putting up a retraction. I was thankful for Judy and for the retraction. It's important to remember that we all contributed to the need for His death and can all benefit from His saving grace.
The Passion of Jesus Christ will touch many lives. It may be, as some have said, the largest evangelistic tool in this century. If so, it's because it's the heart of the Christian message. Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day. And that is called "THE GOSPEL". That's why it will be the film I like the least and need the most. And in my mind, I need to view it every day.
Why? 1 Cor 1:23-25 predicted a long time ago how the message of the Christ and His cross will be received.
Paul said "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
The message of the cross has always been controversial. That is because it is the blood which saves us - the blood of Christ.
Many are shocked at the graphic nature of the film but the spittings, beatings, floggings, etc. But to those who read the Bible, they are nothing more than reality. The Passion may be accurate "reality show" ever - and a lot less violent than many action hero films. The difference is that this violence served a purpose. Christ's death was intentional. Like He said in the film, nobody took his life, he freely gave it.
As far as the question "Who killed Jesus" goes, we have to remember that that it's not really important who actually drove the nails. What is important is that Christ's reason for choosing to die that death. It was so that people like you and me could experience forgiveness. And I need that.
I've often heard it said if I had been the only one who had sinned and needed Jesus to die, He would have done that just for me. And it's true.
Jewish friends need not shoulder the indictment of Christ's death alone. All of us who have sinned put Jesus on the cross - and that is all of us.
(When a Midwestern church placed a sign in front saying "The Jews Killed Jesus" and it appeared on the local news, my wife Judy noticed the clip on one of many cable networks. It popped her cork and she called the church. Reaching the associate pastor, she asked for the pastor and he said "He's on the phone with someone from CA." She said "That's interesting, I'm from CA." She expressed concern over the message they were sending and the associate said "Our pastor does things without thinking sometimes" and went on to explain that they would be putting up a retraction. I was thankful for Judy and for the retraction. It's important to remember that we all contributed to the need for His death and can all benefit from His saving grace.
The Passion of Jesus Christ will touch many lives. It may be, as some have said, the largest evangelistic tool in this century. If so, it's because it's the heart of the Christian message. Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day. And that is called "THE GOSPEL". That's why it will be the film I like the least and need the most. And in my mind, I need to view it every day.
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