Holy Week gives 'that' film a particular pertinence,suggests Frank Sellar. An apt time to ask ourselves why Christpaid the ultimate penalty for our sins.
Why did Jesus suffer so much and die such a horrible death?" Thousands of us have asked this question as we have viewed The Passion of the Christ in cinemas across the land. Many have raised the question only in the superficial sense of "Which specific group of people may be held responsible?" The New Testament alone answers the deeper question "What did Jesus achieve in his passion and death?" The Biblical evidence is clear that at least six groups or individuals are to some degree guilty for slaying Jesus.
The Jewish Sanhedrin. The gospels tell how this ruling council assembled in the palace of the high priest, Caiaphas, where they plotted Jesus's arrest in order to kill him.
Judas. One of the 12 disciples who went to the chief priests and asked "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" For 30 silver coins Judas pledged to betray Jesus.
Herod. He was the puppet king over Galilee and happened to be in Jerusalem for Passover. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, and St Luke records Herod's glee at the encounter. He hoped to see a miracle, which Jesus adamantly refused to provide. Herod then joined in the mocking.
Pilate. As Roman governor responsible for the peace of Judea, Pilate alone had power to free or to crucify. He found no basis for the charge against Christ but fatally, under pressure from the crowd, gave in to their fanatical cries.
The crowd. Ordinary people, fearful and easily led, preferred to liberate Barabbas, a guilty murderer, rather than set Jesus free.
Satan. Both the Biblical text and Gibson's film trace Satan's subtle, unmistakable deadly malevolence against God's Son.
What happened at Calvary demonstrated that something was fundamentally wrong with human nature, and it was precisely because of human rebellion against God's goodness that His plan of salvation was mapped out.
Personally, what struck me most forcefully while watching The Passion was not so much that "the Jews" killed Jesus, but rather that it was Jesus the Jew who died for me!
On the cross God paid the penalty for our guilt. The New Testament emphasis is not so much that Jesus suffered, but that he suffered for us. This is the theological point that any film faithful to the Biblical text must attempt to interpret.
Thus in the opening shots of The Passion there is a lingering reference to some verses from the Old Testament: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrow yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions and he was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Wonderfully, God's aim through the evil and suffering directed at Jesus was to eternally overcome evil and suffering, for Christ died in full cooperation with the one he knew as "Abba" (dear father). Jesus's last words on the cross were "It is accomplished" for through his death, he conquered death, bringing everlasting life to all who believe.
If we choose a superficial view of Holy Week events, then it is predictable we may blame Christ's death on those who were there on that first Good Friday, but if we delve deeper we will recognise it was God's considered way to bring about everlasting hope to all who place their trust in him.
Octavius Winslow understood this when in the 17th century he wrote: "Who delivered Jesus up? Was it Judas for gain? Or Pilate for fear? Or the Jews for envy? No! It was the Father for love".
To grasp this at Easter is to comprehend, through the help of the Holy Spirit, that the crucifixion of Christ achieved eternal life for all who are prepared to repent and passionately own him as Saviour and Lord.
Rev Frank Sellar is minister of Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church, Dublin