Gibson really believes that God called him to make the movie. “This is God’s movie,” he said, “The Holy Ghost was running the show. I was just directing traffic.” Why is “The Passion of the Christ” so controversial?

First – the film’s graphic violence cause many to shy away. But consider that the real Passion of Christ, his crucifixion, was more graphic and horrible than could ever be portrayed on film. The scourging or “whipping” by the Roman soldiers was more terrible and bloody than the crucifixion itself. The prophet Isaiah tells us that Christ the Messiah would be almost unrecognizable after his brutal beating and scourging. The Roman whip referred to as the “cat of nine tails” was perfected to inflict much pain and punishment. The victims were literally whipped within an inch of their life.

Isaiah prophesies of Christ’s Passion, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).

Second – “The Passion of the Christ” is opposed and abhorred by many because Satan hates the cross of Christ. The world views the cross of Christ; his shed blood, and death, as foolish. The Apostle Paul said, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18 NKJV).

Some blasphemous and heretical books, such as “The daVinci Code”, mock the passion and the suffering of Christ. The devil hates the blood of Christ because the Word of God declares, “without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). (See also Hebrews 9:24-28). In the Old Testament, the Jews were told to kill the Passover lamb and paint the blood over the doors of their home. When the death angel passed over Egypt, the first born in the households of those who obeyed God in faith and had applied the blood, were protected from the death angel. (See Exodus 12.) In the New Testament, John the Baptist announced the coming of Christ, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 52 and 53) when he died in our place as the perfect sin sacrifice.

Third – “The Passion of the Christ” is contentious to some because they say it foments anti-Semitism, “It will cause Christians and Muslims to hold the Jews responsible for Christ’s death.” This is just not true. First – it was God the Father who gave His only begotten Son. “All we like sheep have gone astray. And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all “ (Isaiah 53:6). “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him . . . When you make His soul an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10, 11). Furthermore, neither the Jews not the Romans really crucified Jesus. It was your sins and my sins that nailed Jesus to the cross. (See Romans 5:8.) Jesus said, concerning his life, “No one takes it from me, but I lay down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father” (John 10:18).

This Lenten season, as we look toward Easter again, let the Passion of Christ for you change your life forever. Mel Gibson did – so can you.

A - Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)