The Passion of the Christ

​by Helen Jesze, 20th March 2015

With Easter nearly upon us, I was thinking of a few years ago when Lent and Easter were to be remembered for an unusual phenomenon ­­ cinema-­queues, two or three deep, stretching far into the distance; a pastor draws out his savings and buys tickets for his 6,000 strong congregation; among those waiting there’s an expectancy, yet a dread of what is to come, a staring at the crowds who pour out after the last showing – not laughing and chatting discussing the film, but numb with shock, or covered with a holy awe, many faces with streaming tears…as one lady put it with wonder in her voice: “To think He did ​that for me!” ​Newspapers writing welcome or scathing reviews, chat­ shows, advertisements screaming this title …

What was causing such a reaction? What was the blockbusting film that rivalled “Lord of the Rings”, “Harry Potter”, “The Titanic” ? It was Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” ​that shook America and then caused huge waves in England. There have been many films depicting Christ’s life and suffering. Yet this one was more graphic, the torture shown more terrible. It was not a film to enjoy. Indeed, it was not intended to be enjoyable, but to show more clearly the human side of the Christ in his suffering and what the Man went through.

Whether you and I ever saw this film was our own choice or possibility. Yet the fact remains that God’s Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah, did suffer excrutiatingly for us. Although scenes portrayed on celluloid can show the physical torture, yet they cannot describe the mental and spiritual suffering he went through. As he struggled and almost died in the Garden of Gethsemane, drinking the cup of suffering his Father offered although his frail humanity dreaded and recoiled, sweating literal drops of blood from his forehead —­­ the sign of his extreme mental torment as he took the guilt, shame and sin of the whole human race upon himself — he was so broken and crushed that God sent an angel to strengthen him or he would have died there.

At the scourging ­post under the Roman cat­-o’-­nine-­tails each edged with pieces of metal or bone which gouged out the flesh, ripping his back apart until the white bones showed through – thirty­nine stripes which could make a man mad in its agony – this also nearly claimed him but he must not die before Calvary. For it was at Calvary, hanging​ on the cross between​ Heaven and Earth that the Christ paid the supreme price for our sins. ​He was no martyr dying for a good cause. He was not a helpless, hapless victim but he gave his life willingly to satisfy God’s demands, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep.

Who was and is this God who makes such demands? A God who was so moved and holy that it was impossible for him to look on his Son as he hung there. The Christ who had known the presence and companionship of his Father from Eternity experienced this turning away and screamed out: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!” (Matthew 27, 46)

​Some have said this God is sadistic, that he rejoices in death and suffering, but this is not so. He allowed his Son, Jesus Christ, to go this way to redeem Mankind, you and me, from our sin and the end-­result of sin for the human­-race – eternity without God in Hell – and there is no redemption without the shedding of blood. The countless animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were only to cover sin and were a shadow or foretelling of the supreme sacrifice which would one day be made by the Sinless One. How can a God of love allow such a place as Hell? The Bible tells us that it was made for the devil and his angels, not for Man made in the image of God, whom he loves with an unquenchable, unconditional love. However, if I choose in this life to ignore and live without God, how will I want to live in Eternity with him? Man has a free will to choose his eternal destiny and although God is longing to make us his children, he gives us the right and freedom of choice.

Whatever we may think of Mel Gibson’s film, yet every born­-again Christian should be glad that held up for millions to see at that time of the year was a graphic display, a pointing to the fact that Easter has nothing to do with bunnies and bonnets, but everything to do with the fact that Someone died for us. We had a friend, Hal Herman, who had been a photographer in the Hollywood studios when they first opened. When war came, he was sent to the battle zones to photograph the war. In steaming jungles, in cities and open fields he recorded the terrible scenes, with men being blown to pieces and the stench of death all around.

He was the first person to take photos after the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and, to use his own words, “All the questions of the past months and years grew to a great cry and ache inside me, to which I had no answer”. Going back to Hollywood after the war, Hal could no longer work in the artificial world of films. He turned to oriental religions but found no answer. Life seemed pointless, without hope or direction.

“It was Palm Sunday night. I sat smoking a cigarette and reading from a New Testament a lady had given me. The words held no meaning, but the thought came: It is not very reverent to smoke while reading this holy book. I quickly stubbed out my cigarette and that was the last one I ever smoked! I read that Isaiah the prophet had predicted the sufferings of Jesus and the words suddenly sprang to life. They told me: You can be saved now, at this moment! The living Jesus came and stood beside me in the room, and the glory of his presence was overwhelming. He spoke in my heart: I died for you, I love you.”

That night, Hal was soundly converted. He became a flaming evangelist of the Good News. Friends bought him a large tent which he shipped to Germany, putting it up among the ruins in Berlin, near the border of the Russian sector and Potsdamer Square. Thousands who had lost their “god” of Hitler came with empty, seeking hearts and took Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Hal married a beautiful pianist and violinist, Mildred, and they travelled in numerous countries preaching and playing. My husband, George, interpreted for them many times in Germany. They continued to travel and minister until shortly before Hal died at the age of ninety­six!

Yes, it is possible today to know this Christ​. I have experienced Him and many of you have, I know. But if you have never asked him to become your very own personal Saviour, I would encourage you, urge you, to do it now, and write and tell me about it! So I wish all my Devotionals just for you!!​​Readers a truly Happy Easter​, and when you eat your Easter eggs, remember that this symbol of new life in an egg is to remind us of the new life which Jesus wants to give to every one who will accept it, because of the Passion of the Christ​.