"The Passion"...Anti-Jewish...?

[Lured In]

While I have yet to see the movie, I have intently been listening to much of the media coverage and associated interviews with 'folks in the know'.

What I continue to hear is the claim that the movie is anti-Jewish by placing the blame on the Jews for Jesus' death. I have yet to hear a clear biblical response to this on the news.

While the movie may seem to portray that to some, it is important to be able to clearly communicate why that concept is Biblically incorrect. (Regardless of whether or not the movie actually portrays it.) Additionally it is important that we fully understand this as well. I know for me personally, it oftens takes much time for me to digest something and search God's word for an answer. It is my hope by posting this, others will be solidified in this as well.

The Jews did not kill Jesus, as some may say. He GAVE his life freely out of love for us. John 10: 15-18: "...I lay down my life for the sheep ... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." (paraphrased)

It is impossible to believe in an all powerful God and also believe that someone took His life. Remembering that Jesus could have stopped this at any point and simply said, 'its not worth it' only further solidifies his love for us. Jesus was not a weak, helpless victim on the Cross. He was full of power, strength and love for His creation and was determined to fulfill His promise.

While I know this, I don't want this to be lost on me when I watch the movie or talk to others about it. graemlins/hearton.gif

Thanks for letting me share. :wink:

[Jimmy Carl Black]

I have always believed that a few fearful leaders called for/initiated the events leading to the crucifixion. It's always been hard for me to accept racism of all kinds. When it comes down to it, the priests, Jesus,the mob and the deciples were all of Jewish descent.

[Chromaflage]

I have not yet seen the movie; however, I know many that have. So far the only time I've heard about antisemitism is from the mainstream media - again creating an issue that does not seem to exist. I've heard Jewish people indicate that the movie is in no way antisemitic.

Further, Jesus himself was a Jew. Like Mel said - it wasn't the Jews that killed Him, it was humanity....not as great of an 11:00 sound bite as inciting uninformed preconceptions.

Yes, Jewish people were instrumental in Jesus' death. Yes, there were a lot of Jews that called for his crucifixion. Yes, the Jews, "God's chosen people" rejected Him. But so did a lot of gentiles.

I spoke with my sister last night after she saw the movie and she indicated that to the best of her knowledge it was absolutely biblical and did not contain a shred of antsemitism.

ORS

[Amahnee]

I went to the first showing in Sandy at yesterday's premier. I was in tears for most of the movie and for hours afterward. We've read it in the bible. But until I actually witnessed and appreciated His suffering through this movie, I didn't really feel it. This is a very powerful movie. I did not feel any resentment against any party. This movie is not about hate, it's about love.

[happybrew]

I didn't feel it was anti-semitic. In fact, it portrayed an anti-semitic leering of a Roman soldier in a very negative light, using it to accentuate their cruelty. I thought the focus was entirely on certain members of the Sanhedrin, who were not portrayed as unanimuous in their condemnation of Jesus. Many Jews were portrayed as sympathetic to Jesus. Pilate was also portrayed as sympathetic to Jesus, but the Roman soldiers were portrayed as very cruel monsters who took glee in horrific torture and abuse. Even those members of the Sanhedrin who wanted Jesus crucified were portrayed as rather disgusted with the way in which it was done.

happybrew

[DAB]

Lured In.
You are so correct.

John 10:14-18
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
NIV
DAB

[feisty's wife]

Spare me...anyone going to buy a nail?

[SalmonJeff]

for the first time I am going to post in the chapel.

I am a seminary student of 3 years and I have not seen the movie but have heard about it so many times I dont feel the need to :grin: .

However the emphasis on his death to me is not as important as the resurection because if Jesus does not rise it is all for nothing. ( 1st Corinthians 15) the fact that that the movie only spent 1 minute and 5 seconds on the resurection and My profesors thought it was about 12 seconds on the resurection to me ruins the punch. Him beeing beaten is a fact and the events that transpired are " mostly fact"( from the movie aspect) I however dont read of as much Satanic activity as it portrayed or read of Mary coming up to the cross and kissing him and getting covered in his blood. The biblical punch to me is " ok " at the very best. and it is my opinion and only mine that poor biblical teaching is not made up for by length. I would rather not have the movie than have it portrait biblical mis truth's and false hoods. again this is only my 2 scents.

But again I would have liked to hear of more emphasis on the resurection because without it we can not be saved and through it is the only way to be saved as the gospel is clearly spelled out in 1st Corinthians 15:1-5. I would have hoped that the gospel would have been given if you think of all the people that saw it and the gospel was not clearly given. to me that is a missed opurtunity and I would have been overwhelmed with joy if they would have devoted time to the resurection or even in the end just ran the gospel in the credits ( 1st Corithians 15:1-5) But I have to remind myself that it is hollywood and that this is satans world system( eph 2:2).

Anyway that's what I think... :tongue:

[roadsend]

"I would have liked to hear of more emphasis on the resurection because without it we can not be saved "

I think you are talking about a different movie. This one was about the Passion.
Wait for the sequel. I'll bet it starts with the Ressurection and ends with the Ascension.

[SharkbaitHoHaHa]

The resurection is not what saved us. It was his suffering, being nailed to cross. Dying for our sins on the cross.

The resurection is for us to know that he is alive, and that he defeated death.

You can not have Jesus just rise from the tomb and not die. For the death is part of it. that is the only thing that saves us is his death not his reserection.

There is a little part of a song I can remeber that goes:

"To see my sins apon that cross"

It does not say apon that tomb but the cross.

It was not the nails that healed him there but my sins (our sins)

[happybrew]

I think His death and resurrection are connected. His death was atonement for our sins. His resurrection was the conquering of death, that we may all have eternal life. A lot of people, feeling the weight of the sins they commit, focus only upon the atonement, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. However, Christ came, not just to atone for our sins, but to bring us to eternal life. His resurrection conquered death for us, that we, too, might have eternal life.

happybrew

[SharkbaitHoHaHa]

Happy Brew:

I know that when he arose it is part of the whole thing but what Christ did on the cross saves us. He arose to defeat death and prove he was God by arising from the dead. IT is a part of it. The resurrection does not save us. If he did not arise from the dead he would be mear man and not God.
If I sound as if I was saying that his resurection did not meananything I am sorry. It does. IT means a lot to me but when I see and read on what he did for me on that cross. IT gives me a better undrestanding of his love for me.

[SharkbaitHoHaHa]

When we except Christ we get eternal life. When he died apon the cross he bridge the great divide between Man and God. So when he died apon the cross he showed us away to have eternal life. John 3:16 For God so Loved the World that he GAVE his only begotten son the whosoever believe in him should have eternal life.

So if we believe in him we get eternal life. Salmonberry has not seen the movie and he feels no need to because he says he has read so much about it and why see it when you can read about it.

I disagree. There have been many a movie about Jesus. Each one does not really show how much he suffered. The Bible says he was beat beyond recognition. The other movies do not show that: this one does. That is not all of it. I feel Mel Gibson did a great job of showing people what Christ did for us and that he arose and defeated death. I would have liked to see Mel put the assent ion into heaven.

[SalmonJeff]

[ 03-07-2004, 07:29 AM: Message edited by: Salmonberry Jeff ]

[SalmonJeff]

this is why I dont post in the chapel I think :shrug: .

However I will finish this post and wish you all the best.

Sharkbaithoahoa I completey understand your point of view and it has been written about allot!! I do not agree with you at all. But I dont want a fight on a public board. I would encourage you to read the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians. Paul clearly puts a huge amount of responsibility on the resurection and does not just waive it off as a proof of life.

1st Cor 15:16 for if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised:17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain. you are yet in your sins.

if the cross took away my sins then that would contradict this verse becasue it seems to me that the resurection had a little to do with it. If Christ is beaten and dies on the Cross and does not rise then it is for nothing ( 1cor 15:13-14).

You make a broad point of trying to disprove what I said but you give little support to the resurection beeing just a proof of life.Your theology makes a few assumptions that make room for allot more. For instance what if Christ just dies on the cross based on the statement that the cross work takes care of sin then would it matter to you if Christ died becease it seems as though it is just for his sake? according to you we would get all of the benefits anyway and you make it out as though it was just kind of "ho hum". also read romans chapter 6. romans chapter 8. as well as numerouse other pasages. They revolve around our postition IN CHRIST which demands the resurectionan and puts some importance on it . How could Christ be a high priest without it?

Also if you know Greek or know someone who does look at the parseing in John 3:16 and when you do the work and parse and decline it out you might have a knew understanding of the verse. Also that verse only tells me to belive it does not tell me what to belive? as the gospel does in 1st Cor 15:1-5

[SalmonJeff]

sharkbaithoahoa

the gospel 1st Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also recieved that that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;And that he was burried and that he rose agin the third day according to the scriptures and that he was seen of cephas, then of the twelve.

a litle different then John 3:16 but what would I know I just go to seminary! I am not in anyway attacking you personaly. as you have me. I am not takeing what you said and changeing it in any way. as you have me. I am not questioning what you know and throwing away sound seminary training which is not bible college but a masters course after college. As you have me. I am not makeing broad un supported statements and poorly trying to make it personal. Look at JOhn 20:17 Mary is not permitted to touch him because he is yet to ascend to the father. Why is that? but when he is on the cross it is ok?? I am not one to argue over things with people I do not know. But you give no biblical support of any of your statements you make broad generalizations with no support. You make fun of my hard work and throw it out becasue you base your theology on the experiences and make that worth more then biblical knowledge. if you didn't you would have a biblical defense which you don't. I no longer want to discuss this for the sake of beeing caught up in disputations. why dont you look at 2nd timothy 3:1-5

[SharkbaitHoHaHa]

why did you even take it personaly? I am sorry that you have a diffrent vie than me but you do not need to put down the strong faith I have in Jesus Christ. A lot of times we get cought up in studing God's word and not letting God show us what he wants us to learn personaly. Jus tbecause you go to Seminary does not mean that you know god or Jesus more than I do. Stop playing the I am better because I can quote scripture and I go to Seminary.