Ele foi ferido pelas nossas transgressões - Isaías 53.5

The Passion of the Christ

Rev. Eronides DaSilva

I understand and respect the fact that  The Passion of the Christ represents an important theological foundation for all born again Christian. I know and realize that many faithful Christians will walk away from the experience affirming that Jesus died for all humankind's sins according to the Sacred Scriptures. However, for years we have compromised ourselves with our Savior's passion, showing an icon rather than the Lamb of God, as predicted by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1-11). Jews neither Gentiles could explain where all the Lamb of God’s blood went at the moment the soldier speared his side, getting only a handful of blood and water. Mister Mel Gibson is not a rabbi, a pastor or a priest, but had courage to give us a graphic idea what happened with the Son of God in the hands of sinful men, like the governor Pilate and the High Priests Caiaphas and Annas, both names unreasonably meaning rock and merciful. Essentially, nobody is able to portrait what actually happened with our Lord and Savior, only the Father. Congratulation Mel Gibson, you have preached a message forgotten in many of our pulpits today — the true history and presentation of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ! Significantly, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus is the chief element in the Gospel story that other religions cannot accept. In Islam, per instance, Jesus does not die on the cross because such a fate is considered unfitting for a prophet of Allah. By Hindus and Buddhists, Jesus is often regarded as a spiritual master, but the story of his suffering and death are considered unbecoming of an enlightened thinker. But Jesus submits to it — willingly, Christians believe — for the sins of all. If we were a community of Bible readers, not just Bible owners, I don't think a film like Gibson's would cause much fuss. Throughout history, Passion plays have stirred hatred and enmity, leading many to anti-Jewish sentiments and extremist behavior. While I do not think that The Passion of the Christ is anti-Semitic, I do think it presents Christians with a real teaching moment. But the lessons have more to do with forgotten Christian basics than with who killed Jesus, as it was the high plan of God to save us all, who believe in Him!