Dear Friends

In the last few weeks, there has been much coverage in the media about the film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ by Mel Gibson. It is a film depicting the events of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ leading up to His crucifixion. It has been viewed by some as controversial because of the way these events have been portrayed. Having seen the film, I certainly found it no way anti-Semitic but found myself challenged the truthful brutality of the suffering that Jesus would have experienced

Often in life, the question is asked ‘Why does God allow suffering to exist?’ and it is not a question easily answered. And here in the film is portrayed the suffering that Jesus endured on the Cross. If the truth be told, this is the greatest suffering anyone could have undergone, for Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world – He suffered and died for all our sins. If there was ever a time to ask ‘Why?’ this was it yet on this occasion it can sadly be easily answered. Jesus suffered and died because a debt was owed to God for the sins of mankind and the only way it could be paid was through God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, dying on the Cross.

Yet, God, in His love and mercy, does not end the story at the Cross. For we celebrate at Easter that Jesus rose from the grave alive and He is alive today! And with Jesus’ Resurrection, it became possible for any person no matter what kind of life they have led to seek God’s forgiveness, to be restored to a relationship with God and receive the gift of eternal life. That is why the film ends with Jesus rising alive from the tomb to give us all hope and know how much God loves us. John 3:16 states it best, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
May God bless you this Easter.

Paul Wood
Captain

External Link to the Passion of Christ http://www.iconmovies.co.uk/passion/