Passion Movie Thoughts

Clearly the bloodiest, most gruesome film you have ever, or will ever see. And that is fitting, since the reality of what Jesus endured for the sins of the human race exceeded anything the film could capture, no doubt. Take a minute and re-read Isaiah 52:13-53:12 before you read on, if you can.

It would take a very callous man or woman to not be deeply moved by the event of Jesus' mocking, scourging, and execution. And yet, "all is not well" in our generation of false Christianity. Several examples could be provided, just from the movie showing itself, but here is one that typifies the utter likeness of today's religion to those who murdered the Lamb the first time: A seventy year old lady in our theater stood up three rows in front of us and called out to the rows behind her to start a "wave" -- knowing full well we were waiting for a bloody, unrighteous crucifixion to begin. She was playfully calling out to her friends, dancing around, waving her arms left, then right, and achieving her goal to some extent, to get others in the theater to starting rocking and waving in sequence. Someone else, ten seats down, a rotund woman in her fifties, suggested "body surfing" someone to the front of the auditorium and back. As if this was a high school football game or frat party -- instead of the Lord of Glory, and our big brother, about to be shredded and murdered. There were other equally disturbing signs of a seriously degenerate counterfeit Christendom all around us, before, during, and after. Some "cried" during the movie, and were smiling and joking after the movie, implying that this was, to them, all about "emotion" -- rather than CHANGE.

At least for the ten of us who knew why we were there, and certainly for others present as well, the peek into the Messiah's bloody Covenant Act of love was staggering, and a call to CHANGE.

Evident, from 21 years of daily "inside" view of "Catholicism," were the errors, obsessions, and blasphemic "relic" and "Mary-worship" hints throughout. However, I'm sure by design, the average "protestant" wouldn't be able to identify most of it as it happened. While Mary's name is barely mentioned in any of the four Gospels, during the account in the Bible of the last 12 hours of Jesus' physical life in a single physical body, and, other than Acts 1:14 where she is one of many, GOD and Jesus' Disciples never mention her again in the Bible! Other than asking His friend, John, to look after His mother, rather than her other physical sons, James and Jude (who were not yet His Followers), Mary disappears. She is not "venerated." She is totally absent from any "place of honor" to even those who knew her and Jesus face to face. In spite of the sentimental and concocted stories in man-made religions that elevate her to mystical authority and honor, the BIBLE (God, John 1:1) records a very different Story. Mary is NOT asked her opinion in the Church crisis of Acts 15. She wasn't even invited, as far as we know, to such a serious and important event in the Church. Mary wrote no Scripture. Mary is not the focus in any way of any "veneration" or "worship" by those who knew her, and walked with her Son. She isn't even MENTIONED by God, in His Bible, but one time in passing, in the sixty years of recorded LIVE Church history. There is no possibility whatsoever that her "veneration" today was done by those who were truly Christians in her day. The Bible proves it did not happen, and must not happen today, either. She was the focus or center of nothing, in God's Record and Teaching. She was a good lady, beyond question. But Mary was just a disciple like the others, and wasn't even a "leader" in any way, according to the Bible, God Himself. I like her a lot. But "Mary worship" or "Mary veneration" is blasphemy. She, herself, wouldn't appreciate 800 million people being taught by their leaders to use her to blaspheme, by praying to her, or idolizing her in a way that those who KNEW her and were personal friends of Jesus NEVER DID, according to the Bible Record. Why would WE do something that no one who actually KNEW Jesus and KNEW Mary ever did? She was never worshipped, she was never a leader, no one ever sought her teaching, no one ever saw her do a miracle, and none of the Bible Writers ever even MENTION HER NAME AGAIN in the next 60 years recorded in the Bible, while she was living or after she died. Even her death, or any events surrounding her last years on earth, are never even mentioned by any church or any apostle or Scripture writer, or anyone who knew her, and Jesus, personally, face to face. There was no "mary veneration" or ANY such thing done by anyone then, or now, who really knows God -- as proven by those who we KNOW knew God, and did no such thing. It would be wonderful if this paragraph had not been necessary, but amidst the tens of thousands who have written, are many who have been deeply harmed in their walk with God in their pasts by the teachings and perversions of religious institutions. Magic water? Ring kissing of men wearing dresses? Magic candles? Well, it's obvious what the fruit of this unBiblical superstitious non-christian world is. Amongst those tragic teachings is "mary veneration" which is so deplorable and sad. Many were taught to do this "pray to mary" thing from infancy and now feel they must defend this sort of thing -- despite the fact that the men and women who KNEW Mary... did no such thing. It is a hoax, and very dangerous. And now, the writer of the music score for the movie claimed to get some of the music directly FROM Mary? This is witchcraft, and bears no resemblance to the Church that Jesus started and is recorded in the Bible. None of those we KNOW to be "leaders" because Jesus selected them EVER taught or practiced such a thing as "Mary veneration."  Mother Theresa quoted shamelessly "We are saved by MARY" -- which is, of course, total blasphemy according to Jesus and the Apostles. You can see how there are Salvation issues at stake. NEVERTHELESS, the average "non-Catholic" would barely pick up on any of the voodoo "relic" scenes, or the Mary stuff. And, for that I am grateful. It will not be a distraction for the majority of viewers.

[We would energetically recommend, however, totally avoiding the garbage of the "making of" the film in the books and on television and interviews, about "special effects" (devastatingly cheapening the portrayal of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God), and the souvenirs being sold on the website. Please, don't allow this nonsense to ruin the reality of the exchange of His perfect life, for yours.]

While a child would perhaps be thrown "over the edge" to witness such cruelty and pulverized flesh "beyond human recognition" (Isaiah's Prophecy), I don't know of an adult that would not be helped by such a vivid understanding of the utter COST of their sins. In the movie, the man ordered to carry Jesus' execution instrument, the tree He would be staked to, claimed, "Take note! I, an innocent man, am being ordered to carry this cross for a condemned man." HOW OPPOSITE is the reality of our situation. If anyone leaves the "showing room" of Jesus' execution without clearly thinking, "NO ONE IN THIS ROOM NEEDS JESUS MORE THAN I DO"...... they have missed it. Entirely.

The 15 seconds devoted to His Resurrection in this film may be unfortunately short, considering the ramifications of His VICTORY over death, hell, and sin....... but there is something to note, even in the brevity of the scene. Watch carefully. LOOK AT HIS RESURRECTION EYES. He doesn't say a word, but his EYES say, "THIS ISN'T OVER.  THIS HAS JUST BEGUN.  AND I'M READY.  LET'S GO."

Let's go!

In the Lamb's Love and Endurance,