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By Scott Ross
For CWNews
CWNews.org – The Passion of the Christ has been one of the most anticipated movies in recent memory.
The film's graphic portrayal of the crucifixion of Christ was well-known before its release. And some Jewish leaders created a controversy when they charged it might foster anti-Semitism.
Now, the anticipation is over. The Passion finally opened February 25th on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the traditional season of Lent, a time of reflection and repentance for Christians.
Scott Ross spoke to some Christians leaving the theaters after seeing the film. He discovered some profound reactions.
Woman viewer #1: I felt insignificant and all-important, all at the same time.
Scott Ross: That's an interesting statement, 'insignificant' and 'important' at the same time. How do you resolve that?
Lady one: That He would go through that for me. Yeah, He loved me. That I would whine and complain about anything-how insignificant. Compared to that, everything is just insignificant, it just doesn't matter. I came here with a co-worker and I told her if I ever complain again, just slap me-slap me hard. Yeah, it's changed me.
Scott Ross: Is it going to have an affect on your life?
Woman Viewer #2: Yeah. It's changed me. It's changed the way I want to live, the way I want to live my life, the way I want to be
Scott Ross: But you'd read the Scriptures before and it didn't have that kind of impact on you?
Woman Viewer #2: It did. But seeing it in a movie is just…. (begins to cry.)
Scott Ross: As a Jew, seeing this. You're take on this, is what?
Male Viewer: I believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The sufferings of Jesus were foretold by the Jewish Bible. It's very hard for me-as a man-to see that the Messiah had to suffer the way He did. As a Jew I have to understand this. We talk about, that the question was raised again and again 'who actually killed Jesus.' And I mean that we are raising the wrong question.
Scott Ross: Okay, what's the question?
Male Viewer: It's 'why did Jesus have to die?'
Scott Ross: Yeah.
Male Viewer: If you walk out of this movie, trying to put blame on somebody, you come out with the wrong idea. That is, you've got to look into your own heart. And when the prophet Isaiah said, "He died for our iniquities," He was talking about all of us. He died for our transgressions. He wasn't talking about the Jews or the Romans or the Greeks. He was talking about all of us.
Obviously, for people who've seen this film, as you've heard, this is more than just the viewing of a movie. It's an experience that'll impact them for the rest of their lives. And for perhaps the rest of the world, as well.
An interesting side note: Campus Crusade for Christ made an evangelistic movie called The Jesus Film in 1979. That film has been translated into more than 800 languages. Now its specialists are helping translate The Passion's subtitles into other languages.
Visit the Jesus Film Project Web site.
Scott Ross welcomes your feedback.
Check out more responses to Scott Ross on CBN.com.
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