Mary, John and Mary Magdalene remain by the Lord’s side until the bitter end, an amazing display of loyalty. Much of that interaction is speculation, but the prevailing point is that those who carry his cross are forever changed.

The filmmakers spend a lot of time with the man commanded to carry Christ’s cross when the weight becomes too much for him. All examples of powerful symbolism made emotionally poignant by their cinematic treatment. Then there’s the flash from the removal of Christ’s robe at Golgotha to the unwrapping of the bread during the Last Supper (“This is my body, which is broken for you”). As nails penetrate Christ’s palms, the film cuts back to Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”Įven more stirring is the stark transition from Jesus’ scorned march down the Via Dolorosa to images from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. A glimpse of Pilate’s water bowl launches a memory of the Lord washing his disciples’ feet in the upper room. Peter denies him, and we jump to the moment when the bombastic apostle vows his allegiance unto death. For example, as an arrested Jesus watches a carpenter plying his trade, he recalls carefree days of crafting furniture in Nazareth (this includes a sweet, playful scene with Mary). Reverent highlights from his life provide added context to his fulfillment of the Isaiah 53 prophecy at Calvary. The love and single-minded passion of Jesus Christ shines through.

By its very nature, the “good news” of the gospel is the most positive message any filmmaker could ever articulate.

Watch passion of the christ english