Disparity Between The Passion Of The Christ by Mel Gibson and The Bible

Pilate fear that the people would consider him a traitor to Caesar, instead of a friend. Moreover, Pilate could not ignore the charges brought against Jesus. The Jewish council did not only charge him with blasphemy, besides, the political charges brought against him (misleading the people saying that he was Christ, the king). Such charge that was consider treason, Pilate could not ignore. Which lead to Pilate reacting in such manner. However, after finding no fault against Jesus Pilate refused the verdict. Nonetheless, they sought more charges against Jesus. Leaving Pilate with no choice but to hand him over to them.

The Bible has been translated into 451 languages, sold over 6 billion times, and depicted in over 40 movies. The Bible and the crucifixion of the Messiah are prominent aspects in cultures all around the world today. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has been translated, dramatized, televised, adapted, and cartooned. In “The Dream of the Rood,” translated by R.M. Liuzza, the Biblical cross comes to life to tell its own version of Christ’s death and resurrection. The author recreated the Biblical account to appeal to the Anglo-Saxon warrior group to effectively convert them. However, the story from the cross’s perspective matches the crucial material of the Biblical account of the crucifixion without defaming Christ.

* Most of Antioch’s discussion regarding Pontius Pilate revolved around him being a “ruthless prefect” in his treatment of the Jews. Even so, Antioch seemed somewhat upset with the way the people forced Pilate into sentencing Jesus to death for the sake of his on position and reputation.

Pontius Pilate, as Roman Governor, had a position to fulfill to the Roman population along with the Jewish community. During a time of Jewish Passover, along with the chaos Jesus had created, Pilate was under great influence from many outside factors. “The stir created by Jesus' preaching and the size of his following perturbed both the Roman and the Jewish authorities, fearful of any wind that might fan the smoldering discontent in Palestine into a raging flame of revolt.” (Hexter 62) In the Roman trial, Pilate was chosen to judge Jesus on the act of sedition, however counter to Hexter's perspective, repeatedly stated that he saw no case against him. In the Gospel of John, it is apparent that Pilate not only doesn't want to be involved but is puzzled at the situation at hand. “Your own nation and the chief of priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?” (John 18:33) Pilate is attempting to keep order in his city and rather not involve

In the bible each other has specific things and people groups he cares about. They each have a message that they want to send to those audiences. Because of this, the bible and the Gospels specifically don't tell us everything that was happening during those times. For the most part their emphasis was on Jesus. Thus, each of their accounts follows Jesus and wherever he goes. So certain characters in the story get brief reference or mention, characters like Pontius Pilate. In the bible Pontius is mentioned for only a few brief moments when he interacts with Jesus. Where he is known as the man who sentences Jesus to death. Although the Bible mentions Pilate's distaste and small voiced protest against the death penalty, he eventually gives into the Jew's request and sentences him to death (John 18-19). This book makes an attempt to understand Pilate's motives and perspectives. According to the book Pontius was a decent man who tried repeatedly tried to do the right thing and avoid despicable acts. He is said to be a good husband (158). a man disgusted by dishonorable acts such as John's beheading (153). On the same page it states he is a practical man who frequently tempered absolutes to suit circumstances. This book offers many insights to his character, but it

In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ story of his crucifixion plays out. His case is brought before Pontius Pilate who rules in Judaea as a judge. Usually at these events “the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted” (Matthew 27:15). The crowd has two choices: Jesus, someone who had had a history of healing and teaching or Barabbas, a convicted murderer and rebel; they choose Barabbas. Pilate wonders why the crowd wants Jesus to be killed so badly. Although Pilate tries to challenge them, they start to riot. He then washes his hands and proclaims to the crowd that he is “innocent of this man's blood” (Matthew 27:24), sentencing Jesus to be crucified and Barabbas to be released.

Pontius Pilate did not want to sentence Jesus’s death and even tried saving him couple of times. For example, when Pilate was reminded that it was customary to free a prisoner during the festival, he tried to use this as an excuse to release Jesus. However, the people chose another person, Barabbas. Barabbas was a criminal who committed robbery and murder. People chose to save this criminal over someone who did not commit any sin. Pontius Pilate must have been really frustrated with this decision and how stubborn these people

The Last Temptation of Christ, was released in 1988, starring Willem Dafoe as Jesus of Nazareth. The film caused controversy amongst Christian’s for it’s contentious representation of Jesus Christ. In the opening scene, Willem Dafoe is seen in a foetal position, whilst hearing disturbing sounds, from a high angle looking down on him, exposing his vulnerability. Jesus in the Last Temptation of Christ, built crosses for the Roman Empire, in order for the crucifixion of the Jewish. Judas barges into Jesus' home, which they have a debate on the activities, Jesus partakes in. Through the debacle, Jesus is portrayed as a coward through the use of high angles, and low angles of Judas, blatantly calls Jesus a "disgrace" and a "Jew killing Jews". This representation of Jesus challenged the Christian subculture's values and beliefs. In the eyes of a Christian, Jesus is represented as a virgin with no sin, who has the mission to help the undesirables. The alternate reading of the film was decoded by Christians in a negative light as they classified the film as sacrilegious, viewing the film as a mockery of the life of Jesus as the two characters juxtapose one another. In traditional images and drawings, Jesus is characterised as having power and influence over others. A character, the illustration of the nativity scene has emphasised the humility of Jesus and promoted a more tender image of him, as a major turning point from the early "Lord and Master”. These attitudes towards Jesus and conservative values are challenged in LTOC. Through the film, it is evident that Jesus has internal conflict and a symbol of violence, when returning from the desert, Jesus, meets with his disciples and holds up an axe, inviting them to war, saying “I believed in love now I believe in this”. This representation disturbed Christians, as it has distorted their image of Jesus, as a merciful and gentle being. The Last Temptation of Christ represents the conservative values of Christians, as they caused controversy. Angry Christians took to the streets to make a change, calling for protests and boycotts. A harsher censorship was wanted, to prevent the movie to be seen from a larger audience. The film was banned in many countries, such as;

The teachings of Jesus focused primarily on the "the kingdom of God" and were usually relayed through parables drawing on familiar images from agricultural life. He rebuked the hypocrisy of some Jewish leaders and taught the importance of love and kindness, even to one's enemies. Jesus' popularity grew quickly, but so did opposition from local leaders. Roman rulers were uncomfortable with the common perception that he was the Messiah who would liberate the Jews from Roman rule, while Jewish leaders were disquieted by Jesus' shocking interpretations of Jewish law, his power with the people, and the rumor that he had been alluding to his own divinity. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly suggests to his disciples his end is near, but they do not fully understand or accept the idea. The clearest expression of this is at the "Last Supper," which took place on the night before his death. All four Gospels record that Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, asking them to "do this in remembrance of me." Christians celebrate this event in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Communion. On this evening Jesus also predicts that one of them will betray him, which is met with astonishment and denial. But that very night, Jesus' fate was sealed when Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples and possibly the group's treasurer, led Roman soldiers to Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. As they arrested Jesus, the ever-colorful Peter defended his master with a sword, slicing off

The film also depicted that crucifixion was typically a form of death that was harsh, violent, and humiliating, which is accurate in comparison to crucifixions in history. In the film, Jesus was spit on, and the Romans mocked him, saying that if were really the king, that he would save himself. This picture of the Jesus’ crucifixion, and the violence that forced upon him, that was displayed in the film, The Passion of the Christ was an accurate description of what actually happened during crucifixions during the ancient times (Religions).

Many people believe that there is only one account of the Passion of Jesus Christ or they believe that each story is the same; whereas there are four separate Gospel accounts of the Passion of Our Lord. Each of these Gospel accounts supplements the others, however each gospel account of the crucifixion of Jesus is unique, not only in how the story is told but also in the events and features themselves. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John clearly present different portrayals of the death of Jesus Christ. By examining each account the reader discovers the evangelist's understanding of the death accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The reader must examine and compare all of the Gospel accounts to have a full and

The Passion of the Christ is one of many films about the life of Jesus but this particular one is different to the others. Released in 2004, directed by Mel Gibson and filmed in the ancient Aramaic language, `The Passion' focuses mainly on the death of Christ and shows us the full extent as to what he suffered to save mankind.

Many Americans flocked to see Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” On over 2.000 screens across America the viewed the “harrowing depiction of Jesus' last 12 hours in wide-screen vivid color.” (Allen 2004) People viewed images of Jesus being flogged, crucified and left to die. This violence caused some Christians discomfort with theology, and some Jews’ fear that it will “incite violence against them because of its portrayal of Jews’ involvement in Jesus’ death.” (Allen 2004)

Despite the fact, there have been many movies, actors, accounts and descriptions of the life of Christ this was by far the best representation of the life of Jesus Christ according to the four gospels.

Another powerful scene that leads up to the cross is when Jesus carried the heavy wooden pole to a hilltop. In this scene, I was angry and shocked that the Roman soldiers made Jesus carry the heavy cross after his flogging. Jesus had no physical strength after his whipping. But this scene allowed us to see he was willing to take the cross and carry it up to the hill for our sake. We are constantly bombarded with this sacrificial and scandalous love where Jesus knows he is taking in the suffering for our sake. Many of the audience in the movie theatre are Christians, but can also be someone who wants to know Jesus more. When non-Christians see this scene, they may start questioning why is Jesus carrying the heavy cross up to the hill. The movie is portraying extremely why Jesus had to take the cross because he wanted to reveal his love for us. This is not the universal love that we relate to but is a sacrificial and scandalous love which Jesus wants to pour out to the audience. And the visualization of Jesus who is physically incapable of carrying the cross doing the impossible. This visualization allows me and others to sympathize with Jesus, but to understand why Jesus is taking the cross. Jesus is doing to show his love for us and humbling himself before the final act.