Facts and figures re Mel Gibson’s ’Passion’ movie
12 years ago he started thinking about it
1774-1824- German nun’s life
$25-$30 million of his own money
$48m- box office gross by day three
48- Mel Gibson’s age
38053 page views of discussion site since January
$27.99 xtra large Nail pendant
124- amount of minutes spent showing Jesus being flogged, slashed, thrown off a bridge, nailed to a Cross and speared
4- amount of words used in Luke to describe the crucifixion of Jesus
2- amount of minutes in film spent showing Jesus raised from the dead
53- verses in last chapter of Luke, detailing Jesus’ resurrection
1- how many ways Jesus said there was to God (John 14:6)
Just suppose… Jesus is right and He is the only one way to God.
Just suppose…there is a staggeringly intelligent Devil who hates us all and want to prevent us getting right with God.
What tactics would the Devil use?
Why we should not watch the passion of Christ
1. The film is a 2-hour commercial for Catholicism [show McCarthy leaflet]. I LOVE CATHOLICS AND WANT THEM TO GO TO HEAVEN.
a. Why is this bad? Because Catholicism adds and takes away from the truth.
i. It adds: good works on top of faith in Jesus to earn our salvation; Mary is the sinless co-redeemer of mankind; purgatory; paying money to get people out of purgatory; praying to the dead; praying for the dead; it adds tradition and the Pope to the teachings of the Bible, and claims them both to be infallible. The RC church teaches there is no salvation outside of itself, and so Mel Gibson believes that all non-Catholics are going to hell, including his wife
ii. It takes away: it says that Jesus’ death on the Cross is not sufficient to do away with our sins, and we need to eat Jesus in the Mass as much as possible. Mel and J.C. went to Mass every day during filming to be “squeaky clean.” Catholics do penances and various other rituals (infant baptism, extreme unction, etc.) to do away with our sins; through its many additions it entirely undermines the Bible’s authority and the uniqueness of the teachings of Jesus and His disciples
b. The film follows the 5 sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. What is the problem with this?
i. 50 Hail Marys (“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”) and 5 Our Fathers (55 beads)- Jesus forbids, Matthew 6:7. Also, The Rosary proves Catholic idolatry of Mary, for they pray ten prayers to their mother of God for every prayer to God Himself. They believe Mary hears prayers better than God, and she can touch His heart by reminding Him of the breasts he suckled as an infant. Jim C says This film is something that I believe was made by Mary for her Son."
ii. 1) Agony in the Garden, (2) the Scourging, (3) the Crowning with Thorns, (4) the Carrying of the Cross, and (5) the Crucifixion. These are not mysteries in the Bible, they are descriptions of Jesus’ last hours. The Bible doesn’t focus on Jesus’ physical suffering as much as it does His spiritual sacrifice: Mark 15:16-25; Romans 5:6-11.
c. The film also follows the 14 stations of the Cross and exalts Mary way above the Bible’s depiction of her. It includes Veronica wiping Jesus’ face and a lot of focus on Mary urging Jesus to Calvary. Why is this bad?
i. There is no such thing in the Bible
ii. We are not to remember His death in this way- rather through the Lord’s supper- 1 Corinthians 11:26
iii. The Bible forbids old wives’ tales (1 Timothy 4:1-7)
iv. Veronica’s towel is worthless and Mary regards herself to be a sinner and like all human beings in need of a Saviour (Luke 1:47). There is nothing in the Bible that said she urged her Son to his death. Mel Gibson describes her as “the morning star”, which is a title reserved for Jesus in the Bible. "I’ve been actually amazed at the way I would say the evangelical audience has – hands down – responded to this film more than any other Christian group." What makes it so amazing, he says, is that "the film is so Marian."
d. It invites the adoration of the Crucifix: “Catholics adore the crucifix. What is a crucifix? It is a cross with a longhaired man wearing a loincloth hanging on it. It cannot be Jesus: He had short hair, no loincloth, and is on a throne in heaven. You have seen it in Catholic churches, hospitals, and homes. It is a crucial icon in Catholic worship. They must have one with them at all times, and they must be buried with one. If they pray before one, they get a reduced sentence in Purgatory. What is Purgatory? Another one of their ten thousand inventions!” God forbids making objects to ‘assist’ our worship of Him (2nd Commandment), as they actually turn into idolatry. Jesus is not on a Cross, He is risen and seated in heaven, and will come again as a victorious King. The Bible says that anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed- Jesus was cursed for us, but now he is blessed forever with His Father and all the angels in glory.
2. The Bible condemns images and likenesses of God
a. Exodus 20:4- Catholics removed the second commandment and divided the 10th one into two, so as to keep ten: neighbour’s wife, neighbour’s goods. Deut 4:15-26
b. God prefers to communicate Himself in words- 2 Timothy 1:13; Jesus didn’t allow a pictorial remembrance to be made of Him, and God says in Isaiah 40:25- to whom will you liken me
c. People prefer to make their own version of god in fables, i.e. movies- 2 Timothy 4:3-5
d. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith; faith not sight; photo/friend analogy
3. Another Jesus
a. Bible warns against inventing other Jesuses (2 Cor 11)
b. Jesus is only known by the Scripture, not by mystic German nuns
c. How can you tell the false Jesus? By comparing ‘it’ to the Bible- 1 John 4:1-
d. The movie Jesus makes people sob sentimentally; the real Jesus requires repentance and faith in what He has done for us
e. It is so popular- the real Jesus has never been and never will be popular- that’s why they killed Him- broad/narrow; last days- having a form of godliness but denying its power, from such turn away; Exodus 23:2
4. A different Satan- not a woman under a black cloak- he is an angel of light, extremely attractive and even appearing good at times
5. A different account- Veronica and her towel, Pilate’s wife bringing towels to Mary, Jesus falling on the way to Calvary, Mary wiping his blood from the pavement, Mary holding him after he died. DO NOT ADD (Revelation 22). His blood be on us, and on our children- DO NOT DELETE.
6. Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth! He came to bring a sword! Read it in Matthew 10:34-39. He was set for the rise and fall of many in Israel (Luke 2:34-35). There was a great division among the people because of Him (John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19). Mel’s idea of Jesus coming and dying to bring peace for all men is ludicrous in light of the Bible record of Him. He and His cousin, John the Baptist, warned that generation of the horrible judgment coming for rejecting the prophets and the Son of God.
7. The movie does not call anyone to repentance. There is not a single call for repentance, righteous living, or self-sacrifice. It does not convey the essential element of the gospel – the commandments of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:20). The true gospel is not sobbing about fake blood dripping out of fake wounds. The gospel of Jesus Christ is crucifying your fleshly lusts through self-denial to follow Jesus Christ’s holy life against this wicked world. He and His apostles preached repentance (Matt 4:17; Acts 2:37-38).
8. Crucifixion gore is not the gospel (R-rating). The apostles did not sit in dark rooms and describe the details of Jesus’ scourging. Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost was typical and should be reviewed intently. Just 50 days after the crucifixion, here is what Peter preached: you wicked Jews have crucified Jesus, but God has raised Him from the dead, and He is now seated in heaven as your Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:32-36). And the result was not sobbing about scourge blows, but repentance out of fear of judgment (Acts 2:37)!
How & why we should discover the true passion of Christ
1. Pray, read the Gospels and Romans & pray again
2. Understand what Jesus did for you on the Cross
a. don’t focus on the temporary gore, focus on the eternal gift of forgiveness through Jesus’ blood- Bible says, “Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9); “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5)
b. don’t feel sorrow for Jesus- “Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves” (Luke 23:28); be sorry for all your sins, confess them to Him, understand that He has paid the price for them, and you will be forgiven- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
c. Don’t admire Jesus as a crushed martyr; submit your life to Him as your crowned Master. Jesus died to be your Saviour, but He lives to be your Lord and is coming again as your King.
Jesus’ true passion is not for you to feel sorry for Him or get tremendously moved for a few days about the intense physical pain He went through. After all, many men have been crucified. No, Jesus’ true passion is that you should hear His words and believe. He says,
• “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14,15)
• “Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24)
• “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Jesus’ true passion is not that people should watch movies about His suffering, but that many people from all around the world should realise what He has done for them in paying the price for sin, in taking God’s anger upon Himself for our sakes, and rising from the dead so that we might be forgiven and live forever with Him when He returns. That is His true passion: our salvation. Will you put your faith in Him today?
