This Easter, however, many Reformed pastors will prepare a sermon emphasizing the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as foundational to our Christian beliefs. Paul said, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God...And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (I Corinthians 15:14-17).

This year will find many people in churches with a new found appreciation of Christ's suffering. Arguably, the movie "The Passion of the Christ" has caused a media frenzy over the past few months. Hollywood elites and pundits were certain that the public would have little desire to see another film about Christ; so it had to be produced and distributed independently. As we now know, the opposite response took place and the film continues to draw large crowds. Just about everywhere I go now there appears to be a greater willingness to talk about a subjects that have usually been shunned: Why did Jesus die for our sin? Why would Christ forgive his enemies? Why would he pray for those who were mocking and killing him? Why would God allow his only begotten Son to be so mistreated?

Jesus Christ remains the most controversial person in history. Therefore, any movie about him will draw strong criticism from many quarters (Christian and secular). God coming as the God/Man to suffer and die in our behalf baffles agnostics and atheists. I will now confess that I have seen Mel Gibson's film. In spite of my reluctance to see Christ portrayed by an actor and my concern with Second Commandment warnings, I went. The movie is starkly realistic, uncomfortable for believer and unbeliever alike.

Yes, there are extra-biblical parts to it. For example: Mary the mother of Jesus gets lots of screen time. In areas like Mary's continued grieving throughout the movie, believers are reminded of Simeon's words to her as the baby Jesus was presented at the temple on his eighth day: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2: 34-36). I did not see Mary portrayed as anything more than a grieving mother who realized the terrible unjust sufferings of her beloved son, made even more poignant by the fact that Mary knew Jesus was more than her son....but God's only Son.

The ongoing battle between good and evil, of Satan's battle to wipe out the godly seed is very present in the movie. This may bother many because it is not specifically mentioned in Gospel passages concerning Jesus' final hours before his crucifixion. As we see Satan appearing over and over again, reveling in Christ's sufferings and casting doubt, we are reminded of Satan's characteristics of liar, deceiver, murderer and tempter. We know that Satan was always prowling about and was acutely aware of Christ's struggle in Gethsemane and during the next 24 hours. We are given a foretaste in the Gethsemane scene of Christ's ultimate victory, in his smashing the head of the serpent with his heel even though such behavior is not specifically recorded in the Gospels but draws back to Genesis 3:15 ("he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel").

I would have liked to see a better depiction of the resurrection, of Christ overcoming death, instead of the very short scene at the end of the movie. But that was not the movie's primary theme, it was made to concentrate on Christ's sufferings and death – it fulfilled its goal.

So what are we to make of all of this? This might be a special Easter for many people because of their heightened awareness of Christ's passion (sufferings). Maybe for the first time unbelievers and even Christians will be struck silent by the cost of their sin and the payment extracted by Christ's completed work on the cross. I sense this film will be "classic" and referred to again and again. Our prayer should be that it humbles us to see our sin for what it is: A giant blot before a just God that had to be atoned for and covered by Christ's blood. May many be brought to the foot of the cross and cry out for mercy as Jesus, who had no sin, was made sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21).
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Brad Winsted is Director of Children's Ministry International. CMI has produced a series of lessons on the great themes of Easter entitled, "It Is Finished."

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