During several of the scenes of Jesus’ arrest, His inquisitions, His scourging and His crucifixion, there are
flashbacks, remembrances of Mary, His mother, Peter and John and also for Mary Magdalene. There is the
memory of Jesus playfully cajoling with His mother outside the carpenter’s shop, the vision of a young boy
falling and skinning a knee and the worried, anticipatory look from His mother. Every parent can identify
with that look. It’s when your little one stumbles or falls and your heart takes a momentary pause, until you
know your child is safe, or, just what remedy he requires from you, a pat, a kiss, a sympathetic coo. There are
the realizations of Jesus prophesying His rough and rude treatment, eventuating in His crucifixion, which
come to the forefront of the minds of His twelve disciples as the events take place. There is the flashback to
the Sermon on the Mount of Olives when Jesus preached to eschew vengeance and retaliation “But I say
unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). That is never an easy assignment and it
certainly wasn’t for Simon Peter, who launched a frenzied attack upon a virtual army of Caiaphas’ guards
and servants, which Jesus allayed. At the table, during, what is now called the Last Supper, as Jesus pre-
dicted His betrayer would arise from within this very room, the scene flashes back to Judas Iscariot before
Caiaphas, being paid thirty pieces of silver for the betrayal his Master, greeting Him in the garden with a
kiss, the greeting of a friend. This, too, fulfills prophecy; “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). During the public humiliation of
Jesus in His trials and beatings, there is a flashback from the viewpoint of Mary Magdalene, as she sees
herself crawling on hands and knees, as one unworthy to approach Jesus, Who receives her and forgives
her. I heard an interview on TV with the actress who portrayed Mary Magdalene, in which she said she
wanted to show the person of Mary “as more than simply a prostitute”. That seems to be the typical Holly-
wood opinion of Mary Magdalene and that is the spirit in which she is always portrayed. However, someone
would have done themselves and us a favor if they had spent a little more time in the biblical record of the
New Testament. The Bible nowhere ever calls Mary Magdalene a prostitute, or even intimates that she was
involved in prostitution. She was a sinner, to be sure, just like you and me before we trusted Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. The Gospels name her and refer to her as the one from whom
Jesus had cast out seven demons and absolutely not one word linking her with prostitution or making her a
common streetwalker. It is true that Jesus forgave those who were prostitutes and still does, but, Mary
Magdalene was not one of them. Let’s not read something into the Scriptures something that is not there. 
Eisogesis is a poor tool for inductive biblical interpretation and sloppy hermeneutics. Read it for yourself;
“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of
whom he had cast seven devils” (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2). There are only a handful of verses that address
Mary, but none of them makes her anything but a sinner, saved by grace. That is wonderful news for you
and me. One further note here, regarding the English text just cited, “seven devils” should more accurately
read “seven demons”. There is only one devil (slanderer, false accuser, “the accuser of the brethren”) and
that’s Satan (the adversary), the supplanter of the purposes of God. These seven were not he but his emis-
saries. The word in the original Greek is daimonia, demons not diabolous, devils. I threw that one in for free,
since it dealt with the English biblical text and really didn’t have anything to do with the movie. 
 

The Tomb

     The scene closes on the cross, as claps of thunder are heard breaking behind the still form of Jesus and
as an earthquake shakes up the residents of the city, splitting rock and masonry walls in the palaces of the
instigators of the events of the day. Then, there is calm and we see only a black screen, as though the movie
had concluded. Then, just as that thought begins to form, there is a thin ray of light on the upper right of the
movie screen. As the shaft of light widens, a beam of light falls upon the stone crib where Jesus’ body had
lain, bare, except for the grave clothes, still wrapped as they had been when Jesus was in them, just as the
Scripture declares. The head wrappings, according to the Bible, were still wound about, as though the head
were still in them, but as empty as a Chinese paper lantern and lying separately from the body wraps which
were lying upon the stone slab, collapsed in upon themselves when the body passed through them. Not a
word is spoken, but it is evident that Jesus had been there and that He no longer was. He had risen from the
grave, as He had foretold to His disciples. This scene quietly suggests something I’ve taught for years, that
the stone was not moved so that Jesus could get out. It was rolled away so the disciples and the women
could get in to view the bare slab and the grave clothes, lying, empty, upon it. It is very interesting how well 
this movie is playing in the Arab world who do not believe in the resurrection of Christ. In fact, the Koran
emphatically denies it and asserts that Jesus never died on the cross, in the first place. And it further denies
that Jesus is the Son of God, that Allah has no son. That is true enough, since Allah is not the God of the
Bible, but Al Ilah, the moon god of the Arabic panoply or pantheon. The whole religious system was created to oppose, in counterpoint, everything Christianity stands for.

     Was the resurrection real; is there any evidence that will stand the test of time? Yes and it has for two-
thousand years. We have the New Testament record and in that we have more primary historical evidence
for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead than there is that Julius Cæsar crossed the Rubicon River, which
is widely accepted as historical fact (Julius Cæsar, TheGælicWars). Then, there are the First Century his-
torical records of secular society which are replete with references to Jesus of Nazareth and His resurrection,
though, not always believed as fact. Still, that it was taught in the First Century and believed by some is
evident. The  prince of First Century historians is an unbelieving Roman Jew by the name of Flavius Joseph-
us. He wrote, in chapter 3 of his Antiquities of  the Jews, “Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man,
if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, -- a teacher of such men as receive the
truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the [the]
Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross,
those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the
divine prophets foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of
Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.” Even the Essene community at Qumran, the
writers of Dead Sea Scrolls, made mention of Christ, His resurrection and Christian worship in their many
writings found in clay jars in the burial caves near the Dead Sea, dating no later than the Second Century,
A.D.

     I am very thankful that the creators of this film decided to carry the message to its legitimate and logical
end, the garden tomb and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. For without the resurrection there is no
gospel, no good news, no hope for anything beyond the grave, no Kingdom of God if God did not raise the
King from the dead. We would be still dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and the most pathetic
persons on the face of the earth because we would have put our faith in an event that did not take place, as
the apostle Paul succinctly put it; “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some
among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is
Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:
whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But, as the movie asserts, in a very moving and striking manner and as the Bible
clearly teaches, Jesus arose from the dead. Peter testified, at Pentecost, that it was impossible for death to
hold Him; “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he
should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24). In that He rose up from death He prepared the way we will follow in our
resurrection, if we believe Him and trust in Him for eternal life, we and all those who have already tasted of 
death who also believed. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also
in the likeness of his resurrection: 6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9  Knowing that Christ being
raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10  For in that he died, he died
unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God” (Romans 6:5-10); “But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man
in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 5:20-23).
Paul further asserts; “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if 
we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from
the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once:
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:5-11). Jesus testified of Himself, “Then an-
swered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said
the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he
spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered
that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John
2:18-22 ); “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man
taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18); then, in Revelation, Jesus further said of
Himself; “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,
Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17-18).
 

An Appeal

     No mere man can or could ever be anyone’s Savior, not even if he dared to die for another. And no one
who is not without sin could ever die as the sacrifice for sin. A dead man is only a dead man and is without
hope for himself, therefore cannot represent an eternal hope for anyone else. “For when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet perad-
venture for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:6-10). Have you ever
called upon the Lord Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive your sin and be your Savior? Those who have
trusted Him for forgiveness and eternal life have already received it, not, will receive, but have received it
and have already passed from the realm of death into the realm of life. Jesus said so. “Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Won’t you call upon Him, right
now and live? “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13, em-
phasis added).
 

Concluding Statement

      To my surprise, I basically liked this film. It is, probably, the most accurate portrayal of these events that
I have seen. That does not mean that there are not some inaccuracies in it that could not have been address-
ed better. However, we must keep in mind that God is going to work and judge according to His own Word,
the Bible, no matter what any movie or any opinion of mere humanity says. Therefore, we need to be very
sure that what we are approving of meets the biblical criteria of accuracy and not personal opinion or emo-
tional appeal. I see the potential of using this film, or, at least excerpts from it as a tremendous graphic teach-
ing tool in presenting illustration for what the Bible is teaching, which I also believe was Gibson’s intent. We
have to be very careful about putting a blanket stamp of approval upon anything as good and then, trying
to find an appropriate biblical text to justify it, as some have done in the past and, no doubt, will in this case.
Movies and books are transitory tools that will rise and fall, attitudes and opinions change with the wind,
sensory impressions are imperfect guides to truth. There must remain a static, stable, absolute source for
truth and there is -- the Word of the Living God. That is the only true constant; “Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35); “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and
praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy
name” (Psalm 138:2); “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). “It is the Word of the
truth” by which we are to be led; “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteous-
ness on the right hand and on the left” (2 Corinthians 6:7); “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13); “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need-
eth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15); “Of his own will begat he us with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). I have already heard
from those who would say that the movie writers only exercised their own interpretation and, anyway,who’s
to know who is right and who is mistaken? Well, the Bible says what is right and what is “mistaken” (liberal
code word for “wrong”). Secondly, God already anticipated your response and led the New Testament writ- 
ers to include this admonition; “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private inter-
pretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21); “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profit-
able for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Accept that which is scriptural in the
portrayal, use it and benefit from it, then, use it to help others to know the truth that will set them free, spirit-
ually, forever — “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32); “If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). What about the rest, the add-on material?
Recognize it as literary fiction and dismiss it as such. The gospel of Christ has no equal, anywhere. It needs
no embellishment. “Give diligence to show yourself unto God, approved, a worker who [continually] needs
not to be ashamed, [continually] handling correctly [the] Word of [the] Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, my literal
rendering from the Greek NT).

     When we consider all the images of the film and when we consider all that Jesus literally endured to pay
the penalty for our sin, we cannot help but join the hymnist in his refrain of gratitude and love for our Lord
and  Savior Jesus Christ. It is in considering Him that we can muster the strength, the faith and the fortitude
to face tomorrow and the tomorrows beyond tomorrow, “lest we faint” from world weariness and fail our
Lord. “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and
faint in your  minds” (Hebrews 12:3). I pray the words of William Featherstone will find a home and full
expression in each of our hearts; That God will use this dramatic film and these comments to draw people to
Himself and give us each the spiritual strength to stand and speak on His behalf, as He commanded us to.

     Now, Father, use this message to save and to restore for Jesus’ sake. Amen.