What would Jesus say?

I finally watched the Passion of the Christ. It certainly was gritty, gory and unrelenting… at the same time I found it moving and honest. Religion aside, it is a gripping dramatic film. I saw the Jewish elders as bloodthirsty, afraid and unrelenting in their quest for crucifixion. Symbolic of corrupt authority and mob (human) mentality. The Romans unwillingness to intervene, leave Christ’s judgment to the mob, human apathy and indifference. I liked how the devil made appearances throughout the film, as if tempting all the actions of man. It was eerie. The abandonment of Christ by his followers (and nearly everyone) show more human flaws. The utter callousness of the Roman solders (just following orders) is a dramatic reminder of the savagery humans are capable of. This is reinforced by the constant glimpses of his family and friends agonizingly watching as Jesus is killed. The flashbacks give more substance to the characters and to the man, if anything making for a more sympathetic character. Jesus is depicted as a man, an exceptionally devoted and spiritually strong man. I can see how some might think it was ‘too violent’… but humans are violent, often brutally so, this is what we do to each other… Not always to this extreme of course, but this type of brutality does happen. ⭐⭐⭐¾

Anyway, talk about a bad day at the office. Phew, taking the sins of the world indeed. My favourite line is spoken by one of the criminals beside Jesus to the Head Elder who is mocking Jesus telling him to come down from the cross. ‘Listen, he prays for you…’ Ouch.