The Passion of the Christ

What is your image of Jesus?

Is it Robert Powell in "Jesus of Nazareth",
or maybe Max von Sydow in "The Greatest Story ever told"
or maybe it is the wonderful animated version "The Miracle Maker"

Last night we watched Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" at Church.

If you've never seen it I would say it is a "must see".
There are lots of films which show the death of Jesus but none which capture the utter brutality of death by crucifixion. It was meant to be excruciating. Watching a crucifixion was designed to act as a deterrent - you would see the agony of the condemned and so you would toe the line.

When it came to punishment the Romans knew what they were up to!

There are two possibilities to consider when looking at the man Jesus nailed to a cross.

Either he was deluded about himself, in which case he must have been a complete madman to even consider dying in this way (and you have to say looking at the evidence Jesus did nothing to prevent his death by crucifixion)

OR

Maybe he was who he said he was - God himself come to restore the relationship which we had spoilt because of our wrongdoing - to break down the wall which we had built between us and God.

Don't take my word for it. Read some of the things Jesus said and decide for yourself whether you thought he was mad or not - because if he wasn't, if there is just a chance that he was who he said he was - then it changes everything.

Why not watch the film for yourself and then just ponder the idea that he went through all that pain because he wanted you to know just how much God loves you!

Now there's a thought!