- Should the stories of the Bible be put to film? | written by Tim Jackson
Some Christians may object to a filmmaker creatively depicting stories from the Bible. For the most part that response is one of fear, some of which may be justified, while the rest may be unfounded.
Those who have a reverence for the unchanging nature of the written Word of God may fear that the integrity of the biblical account will somehow be distorted or misrepresented by a filmmaker who may yield to the pressures of the financial bottom line. We see this happen all the time when books are published and then the rights sold to do a film. For those who have read the book, the film is rarely, if ever, as good as the book; one film cannot contain the details of a whole book. Plus, the producers and directors are given "creative liberties" to enhance and embellish the original material for the visual medium of film.
Something different happened with The Passion of the Christ. This is a unique film in that it has been produced (funded), directed, co-distributed, and the screenplay co-written by Mel Gibson. His reason: He is passionate about protecting the content of this film from large publicly held production companies that are driven by the financial success or failure of a film.
Christians need not fear that a film, even a film about Christ’s last 12 hours of suffering, will ever replace the sacred Scriptures. No film, no matter how well done, can ever be a substitute for the written Word of God. Mel Gibson hopes that more people will be drawn to read the biblical account of Jesus’ life, just like the Lord of the Rings trilogy of films has skyrocketed interest in Tolkien’s books.
back to the top
- What are the challenges of putting Bible stories on film? | written by Tim Jackson
A good film can bring any story to life. Good preaching does the same thing. A pastor uses a palate of words to paint a vivid picture when retelling a biblical story. The filmmaker uses a palate of words, pictures, and music to set the mood and tell the same story. The best films could be made if someone would simply take the stories of the Bible and accurately portray them in a real-life form on the screen, because the Scriptures are intended to deal with real life. And in many respects, that’s what Mel Gibson has done with The Passion of the Christ.
The New Testament accounts of the suffering of Christ don’t tell us everything that happened during those fateful hours. So much has been left out–and intentionally so. The purpose of the Gospels isn’t to give us a blow-by-blow description of every detail of the scourging and crucifixion procedures. There was no need for the New Testament authors to provide that information because it was common knowledge to their first-century audience. They had all witnessed those kinds of torturous events. The intent was to focus on the person, purpose, and passion of Christ.
The challenge in making a film that portrays events that are part of the biblical record is one of integrity–to make films that reflect biblical accuracy and historical authenticity, while being aesthetically appealing to a broad audience that is not limited to Christians. The challenge for the filmmaker is to harness the technology of the modern film media to authentically retell the stories of the Bible.
For the most part, Mr. Gibson has produced a compelling film that has met that challenge with integrity, authenticity, and creativity.
back to the top
- Is the film anti-Semitic? | written by Tim Jackson
The objections that I’ve heard and read from the film’s detractors–especially those claiming that the film is anti-Semitic–are simply baseless and biased. I intentionally looked for anti-Jewish sentiment in the film. I didn’t find it. Instead, I was pleased to find accuracy and balance throughout the film concerning the different ethnic groups that were involved in Jesus’ execution.
The film accurately follows the New Testament account of how Pontius Pilate and Herod attempted to get out of trying Jesus’ case by passing Him back and forth between them before Pilate finally yielded to the insistent demands of the Jewish leadership for Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:16). Both the Bible and historical records confirm that the Romans and the Jews were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. But the choice to willingly submit to death by crucifixion on trumped-up charges was Jesus’ decision that was made alone in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Gibson took great care not to vilify the Jews in the film. He intentionally omitted at least two clear references to their guilt in the matter recorded in the New Testament accounts: the incriminating words that the crowd roared back at Pilate when he washed his hands of the responsibility for Jesus’ death, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25); and any inference to the Jewish leaders’ objection to Pilate’s order that a notice be fastened to Jesus’ cross proclaiming Him "Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews" (John 19:19-22).
The New Testament account makes it clear that both the Jews and the Romans were responsible for the execution of Jesus. But on a much more personal note, the apostle Paul emphasized the theological reality of Christ’s death when he wrote less than 30 years after the crucifixion: "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). Again, Jesus didn’t have His life taken from Him, but He willingly laid down His life as a ransom for all mankind (Isaiah 53:6; John 10:15, 17; 15:13).
Those detractors who claim the film is anti-Semitic have more of a beef with the message of the Bible than they do with Mel Gibson’s film. Frankly, their outcries seem to betray more of an underlying fear that the film may result in a resurgence of passionate faith in the suffering Christ of the Bible, not anything that smacks of anti-Semitism.
back to the top
- What makes The Passion of the Christ different from other films? | written by Tim Jackson
Most films produced in Hollywood are designed to entertain the audience by helping the viewer–through laughter and tears, sadness and joy, grief and hope, fear and love–to escape the cares of life for a brief time. The Passion of the Christ offers neither entertainment nor escape. Instead, it provides a raw and personal encounter with the sufferings of Christ, pulling the viewer into this singular event that changed the course of human history.
Christians in general, as well as biblical characters and themes, have not been well-treated in many films. This film, however, which débuts on February 25 (Ash Wednesday) and runs about two hours in length, focuses only on the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life in an authentic way that invites the viewer to see for himself what the passion of Christ was all about.
back to the top
- Why would I want to see The Passion of the Christ? What value is there? | written by Tim Jackson
The old adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words" is true. While there is power in passionately telling a friend about an event that you participated in, there is far more power in actually sharing the experience with them. Seeing firsthand the suffering that Christ endured for the sins of the world is what this film is all about. Reading about it, hearing others talk about it, and talking about it yourself can have a deep impact. However, once you see it for yourself, see what Christ endured to provide forgiveness and freedom from your sin, it will transport the truth out of the abstract and theoretical realm and into the reality of a vicarious experience with a vividness that cannot be fully captured in words.
For me, the exhortation of Hebrews 12:2-3 will never be read the same again:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
This film gives a unique perspective that only a cinematic production can provide–a realistic glimpse of what Jesus suffered for us.
back to the top
