The Passion

[Michelle in KC]

There is a HUGE controversy brewing across the country about Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. While not wanting to start a heated arguement here, I want to say that I for one and so looking forward to seeing this film. I have already bought 3 tickets to it and plan to take my daughter, Emilee, almost 12, to see this. She is also excited about this opportunity. I think that this is the ultimate reality show. But it's not a show. It's proof that God so loves us that he LET his ONLY Son DIE for US! US! How are WE worthy of that kind of love? I know it will be a gruesome show, but it will also be an awakening to see how things were at that time. I urge you all to go see it. Please see it with an open heart and mind. And please remember that God loves us this much. Michelle.

angel angel angel angel angel

[carly]

Michelle, I'm glad you posted about this movie. I can't wait to see it, but know I will be sobbing watching what He went through for us. I saw the Shroud of Turin last spring when it came to Omaha, it was so touching. I didn't realize that they didn't put the nails in His hands, they put them in His wrist. Mel Gibson is brave to produce this film. I hope things are going better for you.

[felineperson3]

I already knew I wanted to see this movie when it gets in our area and after reading this there is no doubt. I feel one will probably never be the same after seeing this movie. I am also posting an article about Mel Gibson which made me admire him even more although I already thought he was great!!

A News Anchor's Perspective on "The Passion of the Christ"
Jody Dean
Dallas/Ft. Worth anchor, CBS News

There have been tons of e-mails and forwards floating around recently from those who have had the privilege of seeing Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ prior to its actual release. I thought I'd give you my reaction after seeing it last [week.]

The screening was on the first night of "Elevate!" a weekend-long seminar for young people at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. There were about 2,000 people there, and the movie was shown after several speakers had taken the podium. It started around 9:00 and finished around 11:00...about two hours in length. Frankly, I lost complete track of time - so I can't be sure.

I want you to know that I started in broadcasting when I was 13-years-old. I have been in the business of writing, performing, production and broadcasting for a long time. I have been a part of movies, radio, television, stage and other productions - so I know how things are done. I know about soundtracks and special effects and make-up and screenplays. I think I have seen just about every kind of movie or TV show ever made - from extremely inspirational to extremely gory. I read a lot - and have covered stories and scenes that still make me wince. I also have a vivid imagination, and have the ability to picture things as they must have happened - or to anticipate things as they will be portrayed. I have also seen an enormous amount of footage from Gibson's film, so I thought I knew what was coming.

But there is nothing in my existence - nothing I could have read, seen, heard, thought or known - that could have prepared me for what I saw on screen last night.

This is not a movie that anyone will "like". I don't think it's a movie anyone will "love". It certainly doesn't "entertain". There isn't even the sense that one has just watched a movie. What it is...an experience - on a level of primary emotion that is scarcely comprehensible. Every shred of human preconception or predisposition is utterly stripped away. No one will eat popcorn during this film. Some may not eat for days after they've seen it. Quite honestly, I wanted to vomit. It hits that hard.

I can see why some people are worried about how the film portrays the Jews. They should be worried. No, it's not anti-Semitic. What it is, is entirely shattering. There are no "winners". No one comes off looking "good" - except Jesus. Even His own mother hesitates. As depicted, the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day merely do what any of us would have done - and still do. They protected their perceived "place" - their sense of safety and security, and the satisfaction of their own "rightness". But everyone falters. Caiphus judges. Peter denies. Judas betrays. Simon theCyrene balks. Mark runs away. Pilate equivocates. The crowd mocks. The soldiers laugh. Longinus still stabs with his pilus. The centurion still carries out his orders. And as Jesus fixes them all with a glance, they still turn away. The Jews, the Romans, Jesus' friends - they all fall. Everyone, except the Principal Figure. Heaven sheds a single, mighty tear - and as blood and water spew from His side, the complacency of all creation is eternally shattered.

The film grabs you in the first five seconds, and never lets go. The brutality, humiliation, and gore are almost inconceivable - and still probably does not go far enough. The scourging alone seems to never end, and you cringe at the sound and splatter of every blow - no matter how steely your nerves. Even those who have known combat or prison will have trouble, no matter their experience - because this Man was not conscripted. He went willingly, laying down His entirety for all. It is one thing for a soldier to die for his countrymen. It's something else entirely to think of even a common man dying for those who hate and wish to kill him. But this is no common man. This is the King of the Universe. The idea that anyone could or would have gone through such punishment is unthinkable - but this Man was completely innocent, completely holy - and paying the price forothers. He screams as He is laid upon the cross, "Father, they don't know. They don't know..."

What Gibson has done is to use all of his considerable skill to portray the most dramatic moment of the most dramatic events since the dawn of time. There is no escape. It's a punch to the gut that puts you on the canvas, and you don't get up. You are simply confronted by the horror of what was done - what had to be done - and why. Throughout the entire film, I found myself apologizing.

What you've heard about how audiences have reacted is true. There was no sound after the film's conclusion. No noise at all. No one got up. No one moved. The only sound one could hear was sobbing. In all my years of public life, I have never heard anything like that.

[felineperson3]

Hi to all,
This was an e-mail I received some time back so I thought I would pass it along in addition to the News anchors write-up about the new film--"The Passion of Christ"--Quite astonishing and very inspiring to say the least.

Here is a true story by Paul Harvey. Pass it to anyone who you think
would find it interesting and inspiring. You will be surprised who this
young man turned out to be. (Do not look at the bottom of this letter
until you have read it fully.)

Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State
to Australia to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of
this man's family was a handsome young son who had aspirations of
joining the circus as a trapeze artist or an actor. This young fellow,
biding his time until a circus job or even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards which bordered on the worse section of town.

Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked
by five thugs who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money
the young fellow resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body brutally with clubs, leaving him for dead. When the police happened to find him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue Wagon.


On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and
they immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When
he was placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that this
young man no longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all his teeth were gone, and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull.

Although his life was spared he spent over a year in the hospital.
When he finally left , his body may have healed but his face was
disgusting to look at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired.

When the young man started to look for work again he was turned
down by everyone just on account of the way he looked. One potential
employer suggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as
The Man Who Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had
thoughts of suicide. This went on for five years.

One day he passed a church and sought some solace there.
Entering the church he encountered a priest who had seen him sobbing
while kneeling in a pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to the
rectory where they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him to such a degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if the young man would promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's mercy to free him from his torturous life.

The young man went to Mass and communion every day, and after
thanking God for saving his life, asked God to only give him peace of
mind and the grace to be the best man he could ever be in His eyes.

The priest, through his personal contacts was able to secure the
services of the best plastic surgeon in Australia. There would be no
cost to the young man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend.
The doctor, too was so impressed by the young man, whose outlook now
on life, even though he had experienced the worst was filled with good
humor and love.

The surgery was a miraculous success. All the best dental work was
also done for him. The young man became everything he promised God
he would be.

He was also blessed with a wonderful, beautiful wife, and many
children, and success in an industry which would have been the furthest
thing from his mind as a career if not for the goodness of God and the love of the people who cared for him. This he acknowledges publicly.

The young man was and is Mel Gibson.

His life was the inspiration for his production of the movie "The
Man Without A Face." He is to be admired by all of us as a God fearing
man, a political conservative, and an example to all as a true man of
courage. And to think I admired him before I knew any of this! He is
quite a man!

Paul Harvey

[jaime15]

Michelle,
Great topic! I'm anxious to see this movie as well.

Carley,
Your two posts moved me to no end. I got goose bumps and teary-eyed as I read the first one about the journalist. I'm not sure I could make it through the movie now. But something moves me to go see it in the theatre not wait til it's on video. (This coming from a girl who can't stop cring everytime we have a play during Easter sunday at our church. And we all have known for a long time the end to and beginning after Christs death.) I'm sure we'll all be truly amazed and left with tons of thoughts and wonderment.
Mel Gibson has always been one of my favorites. I, too, never knew that story about him. What a remarkable man.

[Michelle in KC]

TODAY is the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. On the front of Bobby Labtone's car is the Passion. How wonderful is this?! This is a great testimony to his love of God and his faith. AND ~ wouldn't it be great if he finished FIRST??? Dreaming and praying, Michelle

[Michelle in KC]

This opens on Wednesday!!! Is everyone ready? Have you bought your tickets yet? I have. I can hardly wait. Michelle

[felineperson3]

Michelle,
I'm like you--I can hardly wait!! My husband & I have tickets and plan to go with another couple to see it Wednesday night @ 6:30.

[jaime15]

I wish we all lived closer together! We could reserve a row for IC'ers. blink

Hubby has to take a day off this week so I told him we needed to run and see if it was showing for the matinee. (Hopefully less crowded since school is still going on.)
Did I make a mistake by not getting an advanced ticket??
PM me after you see it..Only one more day! grouphug

[felineperson3]

hi Jaime,
One of the churches here in our town bought out the entire theater for the night and we were just lucky and happen to know the right people to get the tickets from. I am so anxious to see it! I'll let you know my review after I see it.
hat

[carly]

They added afternoon showings here as well. That would be a good time to see it, but my 13 and 14 year old are going to see it with us. I can't wait. I am so tired of people being so negative to Mel Gibson. It takes a lot of courage to make a movie like that instead of the dumb, R rated garbage that is out there. Let us know how it is, those of you who see it right away.

[Michelle in KC]

My town, Mountain Home, AR has approximately 11,000 people in it. Out of 10,000 advance tickets printed, 5,000 are already sold. How wonderful is that??? I am really excited about it.

BUT ~ you also need to check out the website. There are great movie clips to watch and listen to the music. It also loks a little scary. But I am going to go see what Jesus did for us.

My daughter is getting excited, too.

Michelle

[mayray518]

The scenes I have viewed on TV look very gruesome but realistic. I am definitely going to see it.

[carly]

How old is your daughter? Do you think my 13 and 14 yr. old boys are old enough? Thanks!

[Michelle in KC]

Hey Carly. I would use your own judgement. My Emilee is vey much into her bible verses. She is also very mature and responsible. And I have told her a lot and she has visited the passion website and is aware of the blood and reality of the situation. I can't full-heartedly recommend you taking your children. Because, you know them better than I do. Sorry I can't give you a better answer. GOod luck. Michelle.