"The Passion" Exceeds Expectation

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Published: Aug 04, 2003

"The Passion" Exceeds Expectation

A few days ago I was invited to a private screening of Mel Gibson's new film, "The Passion." It is about the last twelve hours of the earthly life of Jesus. I have seen most of the Hollywood biblical epics, but "The Passion" exceeds them all.

It is faithful to Scripture and is a powerful film about what Jesus sacrificed for our sake.

The film is extremely bloody. The scourging scene seems to last forever. The crucifixion is unbelievably horrible. In other words, Mel pulled no punches.

Mel Gibson is a strong Catholic and wanted to do a film that presented Jesus Christ in a credible way. He has done so and then some. Grown men wept at the screening.

Some critics worry that the film is anti-Semitic. It is not. It is faithful to the biblical account. Something else: no one murdered Jesus. He said he had the power to lay his life down and the power to take it up again. He came into the world for this purpose.

"The Passion" is scheduled to be released next Easter. Go see it and take a pagan friend.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

"The Passion" Exceeds Expectation