The Passion Of The Christ


The movie opens up with a black screen with Isaiah 53:5 written on it.
I was soon to understand more of what this verse of Scripture truly meant.
As the movie begins, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He is agonizing. He is weak.
Immediately my mind goes back to the many times I read the gospels.
The many times I read the gospels
and never truly understood His pain and agony in the garden.
Yes, I read many times about Jesus' agony
and how His sweat was like drops of blood. (Luke 22:44)

For the first time I was able to get a picture of what could have taken place.
The movie portrayed Jesus' agony and seemed so realistic.
You could get a picture of how heavily burdened He was.
But, reality hit me when I realized that this burden He had was one He felt
for what He was about to do on the cross for me.

As I watched Judas betray Jesus, I was immediately brought to tears.
I thought of the time in my own life where, just like Judas, I walked with Jesus.
I accepted him into my heart as my Lord and Saviour.
I promised to serve Him with all of my heart.
I promised to walk in obedience according to His Word.
But, just like Judas, there came a time in my life where I turned my back on this man
who died for me.
Instead of thirty pieces of silver, I chose my own sinful life of passion and pleasure.
I chose my own will and walked away from my Lord.
I would soon realize that I had nailed Jesus to the cross over and over again with my own sin.

But, I guess what impacted me the most was the torture and scourging Jesus went through.
The beatings began with rods or whips and each time it hit the flesh of Jesus,
it pierced right through my heart.
Some may have seen this as a lot of blood and gore, but for me, I did not see that at all.
I kept thinking to myself that He chose to endure this for me.
For me... so undeserving of this man's love and sacrifice.
As the beatings continued, I began to ache inside more and more.
I thought for a moment that I would stop breathing.

Just as I reached that point was when the "cat of nine tails" was brought forth.
I had heard throughout history that this was used to scourge Jesus
and had no concept of what it was.
As the man to do this was carrying this toward Jesus, I could hardly look.
I thought to myself... how could anyone have a heart to do this to anyone?
It seemed so inhuman and cruel. It seemed so animalistic.
Yet... this was going to be used on my Lord... my Saviour... the Messiah.

The first scourge ripped right through my entire body.
To watch the tips of this weapon rip and tear the flesh of my Saviour was just too much.
Tears were falling hard at this point.
It was through this that I realized the magnitude of Christ's love for me.
The more he became unrecognizable the more I realized how many times
I had taken advantage of that wonderful love He has for me.
I realized that I have no reason to EVER complain about any suffering I think I may have.
I realized that we humans do not know what suffering really is.
I thought of all the times I complained... all the times I murmured about this and that...
all the times I whined like a child... all the times I was bitter at my circumstances...
all the times I was angry at God for allowing this or that in my life...
I saw the wretched person I am who nailed Christ to that cross.

I hurt so much inside. I still do.

As the movie continues, I saw Jesus through His mother's eyes.
There were different scenes that showed what she must have felt like.
As a mother myself, this also crushed my heart.
What must it have been like to watch her son go through this?
She hurt deeply to see her precious son go through this.
Yet... she knew why He had to do this.
And she accepted it.
She not only saw Jesus as the boy she had raised and spent precious time with,
but she knew Jesus was also her Saviour.
She knew her need of a Saviour.
I thought about my own sons.
I thought of how selfish I was when it comes to my children.
I thought of the many times I want to hold on to my children as if they belong to me.
I realized that my children are truly God's gift to me
and I know more than ever how important it is to raise children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
They are not here to please us: Although God gives us that pleasure.
They are here for God.
They are His children and I realize that I must do as Jesus' mother
and allow my children to do whatever it takes to fulfil God's plan for their lives.
I cannot hold on to them forever because they are only loaned to me.

Each time Jesus was tormented by Satan, He never gave in to Him.
Because Christ lives in me, I have the power inside of me to say no at all times.
The way this movie portrayed Satan and his temptations
really gave me a better picture of how real Satan is.

When the time came for Jesus to be laid on the cross it was very hard to watch.
I did not realize what a crucifixion entailed until this movie.
The technique used to secure him to the cross was one I had never thought of.
Yet it made perfect sense as to why it was done.
It was such torture and cruelty.
By this point in the movie, I am aching inside so badly that I have become numb.
I can no longer feel anything because reality has hit me so hard.
I cannot stop crying.
I want to run and hide to a secluded place to be with my Lord.
I want to fall down on my face in prayer and just weep at the feet of my Lord.
I don't want to be with people.
I want time alone with God.
I want the chance to say I'm sorry once again.
I grieve inside.
My life will never be the same.

The movie ends with Jesus on His way out of the tomb.
The last thing I see is the scars in His hand where He was nailed.
A picture I will never forget.

Some people slowly get up to leave and go home.
Most sit in silence while the credits move up.
An understandable stillness takes place as everyone else sits there
heartbroken and numb.
Sniffles are heard.

It is time now to gather with my church friends.
Most want to go eat somewhere.
I am still in tears. Lord, help me. How can one think of food?
I do not know what to say.
My heart is still hurting and I long to be alone with God.

I go eat with our church family. It is hard to fellowship. I am quiet.
I cannot stop thinking of what I just saw.
I keep getting flashbacks of my Jesus all mutilated.
Then I see the nail-scarred hands once again.
I take comfort now that because of this tremendous sacrifice...
because of what my Lord endured... by His choice to do it...
I am made whole and complete in Christ.

By His stripes I am healed...
It took those stripes by the "cat of nine tails" ripping the flesh of Jesus for me to be healed.
There is no greater love than this. He laid down His life for me.
I will never look at the cross the same again.
In the movie, there is one part where Jesus embraces the cross.
This hit me hard.
The very thing that is being used to kill my Lord is the very thing He chose to embrace
and cling to in order to pay for my sin.
I think of the words to the song,
"The Old Rugged Cross"...
I will cling to the old rugged cross...

Forever... my Lord and me...

Yvette Burleigh
February 25, 2004

Editor’s note:
from
Making A Difference
the monthly online magazine from
Beloved King Ministries

Mel Gibson’s epic movie was released on February 25th and,
as the last few days of each month are spent finishing Making A Difference,
I haven’t yet seen it. 
I’m sure that, like me, readers will have already read a number of reports
by professional journalists and film critics and so, for this month’s editorial,
I am pleased to share an ordinary Mum’s report. 
BKM’s own regular contributor, Yvette Burleigh and her family were fortunate enough
to get seats on the world premier opening day
and this is what she has to say about this much talked-about film.

I haven’t made any changes to Yvette’s commentary
and am hoping that next month’s mailbox column
will be filled with YOUR comments about “The Passion.” 
By then, I imagine that most readers will have seen the movie
and so detailed reports won’t be necessary.
However, I do believe that readers will be eager to learn how different people reacted to it
so please share your impressions and reactions through the pages of this magazine.
 

PS: Meritorious as Gibson’s personal commitment of $25 million was,
I heard that, after the first day, he had already made $60 million! 
Was that on his agenda or not?  We may never know and, besides, does it matter?
Many producers have staked personal funds on movie dreams in the past.
Some have succeeded and some have not. 
Is Gibson’s almost instant success a clear indication of the honour of his dream? 
Well, God knows for sure! 
If this film brings only one soul to love Jesus as their Saviour,
Mel deserves everything God gives him.

 

~Made with Love!~