Passion.

The entry is dedicated to Trav, who told me that I should blog about my recent thoughts on the Passion of Christ movie as he did a while back (check out his entry if you haven't seen it).

Here are some thoughts I had this time watching....

I don't understand the evil baby. I'm insanely curious as to what the idea behind having satan carry an evil looking baby around in the movie was. And for that matter - my own personal interpretation of satan has never included satan being a woman. With a man's voice. But I'm not saying this as a criticism of the movie or the way they went about it - I truly find peoples different interpretations of the same thing to be fascinating.

One thought I had that I don't remember wondering about the first time I watched the movie was what it must have been like for his friends and family to witness him being treated that way. I think about watching my Dad, my sister, my child be abused in that way and I wonder how they could even stand to watch. How their hearts must have broken to see someone they loved dearly be scorned, mocked, beaten, abused. How much worse must that have been knowing that not only was he not experiencing any of that because he had to or deserved to - but he chose to endure it for those very people who were treating him so.

How thankful I am that such a sacrifice was not asked of me, for I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I would not, could not do as he did. I am thankful for a God of grace.

I've always been a fairly soft-hearted soul. I cry when others cry. I want to save any and everyone. I'm easily inspired by a movie or song. That's just my nature. And so it was impossible for me to grasp how anyone would want to hurt someone the way those people hurt Jesus. Jesus who by nature was so gentle, so loving, so accepting. How could people hate him so much they would want to watch him suffer? I watched the movie as the men were beating him over and over with the whips - laughing as his blood splattered on their faces and my heart ached. I can think of no man or woman no matter how they have treated me that I could do this too. How satan can grip the hearts of men and teach them to hate in that capacity is and should be terrifying.

I wonder often and the movie brought these feelings to the surface yet again...why? How could he possibly love us...ME enough to endure such pain. Scorn. Torture. Daily I know I am not worth such suffering and yet even if I had been the only one, he would have died to save me from my sin. To break down the barrier that could have forever kept me from being allowed a relationship with him. He died for me. He suffered for me. Oh how grateful I am and how much more grateful I should be.

I leave you for now with this song...which make me cry everytime I hear it because I am that girl.

Why? - Nichole Nordeman

We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I'd finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide

We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes

So I said "Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I'll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can't you do something?
He looks as though He's gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
Daddy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?"

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide

So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross

And it said, "Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can't You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?"

"My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I've heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You'll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father's side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die"