Garth Rattray THERE'S NO denying that the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ, will go down in history as a 'big picture' (an epic) in its own right. Religion aside, try not to miss this big picture and when you watch the film, don't miss the big picture either. Be careful not to be drawn into the mundane physicality of the story and miss the greater spiritual truths evident within it. Some people of the Jewish faith have condemned the film as anti-Semitic and someone even wrote, "Mel Gibson has his parking space reserved in Hell". Certain portions were so blatantly embellished that they prompted my wife to remark that it's the gospel according to Mel. Children can watch the movie as long as their parents prepare them for the on-screen brutality.
REAL, WORLD-CHANGING EVENT
Many films are far more violent and gory but what sets this production apart is the fact that it recounts the very basis of Christianity and portrays a real, world-changing event that was played out some two thousand years ago. We humans flock to horror movies and action flicks because we feel safe in the certain knowledge that it's all make believe, a figment of someone's imagination acted out by professionals on the silver screen. We court danger by proxy, consciously choosing to be temporarily duped as we go along for the adrenaline-fuelled ride, all the time knowing full well that we will return to the reality of our regular lives when the film ends. But this film is not the figment of someone's imagination, it details what it was like to be mercilessly tortured and crucified.
The story of Jesus' last hours on Earth tugs at the most hardened heart. There are several layers to the movie. Even if simplistically viewed as a two-hour film depicting cruel and unusual punishment culminating in an unjust execution, one needs to remember that Christ was not so much the victim as he was the victor. Close to the end of the movie there is a brief Mel Gibson inclusion where Satan howls lugubriously when Jesus died because although he tried to sway Him from sacrificing Himself for us, Jesus stayed the course and saved our souls (my hero).
The story holds several important lessons. It teaches that in spite of the contemporaneous existence of good and evil people, we should love one another and be prepared to sacrifice if we are to seek after our Heavenly Father. We must lose something physical in order to gain something spiritual. It's all a trade-off, we can't have it both ways. We don't have to get nailed to a cross, we only have to sacrifice a little for one another. Money is not always the answer, sometimes people need a little of our time, respect, patience and understanding.
We could argue all day about who killed Christ, was it the Jews of the time, the Roman soldiers, religious zealots or politicians? In fact, Christ didn't lose His life, He gave it willingly for us. Jesus said that what we do unto one another, we do unto Him. It stands to reason that we "crucify" Him repeatedly every time we hate someone, physically or psychologically abuse someone, take advantage of someone or fail to help someone. You will therefore appreciate that hopelessness, desperate need and hunger should never exist in a truly Christian society.
FREE WILL
Our God-given free will allows us some choice in how we live our lives, but free will comes at a price, the possibility of "sin". Whatever we do here in the physical plane has serious repercussions in the spiritual realm. No matter your station in life, the fact that you exist means that you were born to perform an essential role in this world. We all play an invaluable part in the lives and the spiritual development of others. The lives of some people provide a positive example for us to emulate but others provide strong negative stimuli from which we shrink. Jesus remarked that He was born to suffer and die to save the world, the film begs the question, what role will you play?
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
