After The Passion

by Michael Brandenburg

Mel Gibson's 2004 movie, The Passion of the Christ, has now left its impact on theater audiences, with many of Christian faith praising the film, and others speaking critically of it.

Among the latter are those who are claiming that this movie is anti-Semitic.  They have noted that it was a large crowd of Jewish civil and religious leaders who clamored for Jesus' death in the film and pressured the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to yield to their demands.  And since that time, through the Holocaust of the World War II era and other persecutions, the Jews have been forced to "take the rap" for the death of Jesus.

But it is all of mankind not just those of a particular race, nationality, or religious conviction that is responsible for the death of Christ.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  (Romans 3:23).  Yet this horrendous sacrifice of the Son of God was ordained by God the Father to make eternal life possible for an otherwise undeserving mankind.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life  (John 3:16).

I was among those who saw The Passion of the Christ when it played in theaters in the spring of 2004, and although this movie ended on a high note (with Jesus shown alive again in His resurrected state), I would rather have seen the story continued through the accounts of the second chapter of the book of Acts.

Here, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), the apostle Peter preached a powerful, Spirit-filled message to a primarily Jewish audience (verses 5-6) that left them asking, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" when they realized that their own personal sins were responsible for Jesus' death on the cross (verses 36-37).

Peter, though, had good news for those who wanted to do something about their condemned state.  He said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (verse 38).

Some 3000 people out of that crowd responded to that call (verse 41) to become the first harvest of believers to come from the Gospel-preaching work of the original apostles.  Now united in a common purpose in life, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people (verses 46-47).

Their changed hearts led to lives that were changed for the better.  But it was God's love for them that started this process rolling, for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Inspired!