Mel Gibson misses the point

In Holy Week we hear the words of the Song of the Suffering Servant in the Prophet Isaiah: “..so disfigured did he look that he seemed no longer human”. Hearing these words reminds me of the 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ”. It is a violent and brutal depiction of the sufferings of Jesus. Many people flocked to see this movie when it was first released; many Christians still watch it again every year on Good Friday. I can’t but help think there is a problem with this movie, it misses the point. It seems to me that “The Passion of the Christ” is so focussed on the physical pain of Jesus (there are many violent and brutal scenes) that it detracts from something else… something more important.

The Prophet Isaiah in the opening lines of the 4^th Song of the Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12 which we hear on Good Friday) says “See, my servant will prosper”. The Hebrew for the word “prosper” implies “prudence” or “insight” – prudence or insight into God’s plan? That’s exactly where Mel Gibson’s film falls short – it lacks insight.

If you read the accounts of the Passion in the Scriptures the Gospel writers do not focus on the physical pain of Jesus. What they focus on is something much deeper, much more profound. The Passion for the Gospel writers is not a test of physical endurance (like Mel’s film seems to be!) but a drama of the heart. What the Gospels emphasise much more, it seems to me, is the pain of Jesus’ heart and therefore the pain of our hearts.

We do suffer physically (so did Jesus), but it is the deeper ‘heart-suffering’ that causes us the most pain. This is what caused Jesus the most pain.

What is the drama of his heart during these last few days of his life?

Loneliness. Betrayal. Humiliation. Being misunderstood. The victim.

These are also our dramas and therefore Jesus shares in the dramas of our hearts. How?

When we are lonely: Lonely in relationships or lonely when relationships break up. Lonely when I just am unable to find someone who understands me, when I feel isolated from others.

When we are betrayed: By love, friends, colleagues, the Church, parents, children, siblings – when my hopes and dreams are smashed into pieces through betrayal.

When we are humiliated: When our self image and dignity are attacked and crushed (for many people, especially the poor and women, this is a daily occurrence).

When we are misunderstood: When others have not really listened. Perhaps they have judged me based on their own perceptions and not my real intentions.

When we are victims: Victims of crime, victims of the cruelty of others, victims because we are seen as sexual objects and not persons, victims of verbal abuse and gossip. Victims because our good name is slandered, victims of our human condition because we struggle with illness (cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression etc.). When we are victims of discrimination because of our race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

It is, perhaps, in these moments that we are tempted to give up; to go against everything we believe in. Life, in these moments, seems so meaningless and void. We could be tempted to think there is no way out and that living the values of the Gospel or healing are not possible – a “nice ideal” only.

That’s the ultimate test we face in our lives.

Friday is “Good” Friday because Jesus too faced the ultimate test, the ultimate drama: the struggle of his heart. Jesus too faced the struggle to be faithful and in so doing live through loneliness, betrayal, humiliation, misunderstanding and victimisation. That’s where I think Mel misses the point.

God, in Jesus, knows the fiery inner chaos we so often experience. He has been there. A few months ago, when we celebrated Christmas, we said: “Emmanuel” – God is with us.

The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus show us how God is with us: in the struggles of our own lives and especially in the struggles of our vulnerable hearts. Our triumphs over the pain we so often experience in our own hearts as we struggle to be faithful are our resurrection.