Several years ago Mel Gibson’s movie; “The Passion of the Christ” opened in theaters. Did you see it? Of course it is certainly available now on DVD. Mel edited out about seven minutes of the original film “in order to reach a wider audience.” That’s code for “he took out the goriest parts.”

Let me recommend this movie to you whether you see the new version or the original. Orininally when it opened, I secretly dreaded going to it. I was afraid I just wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’m the kind of person who hits the mute button and looks away when there is an animal or child abuse story on TV.

One Sunday at church people stood up and told about the impact the movie had on them and I was impacted even second hand. I knew I had to go. I knew something else too: I had to keep my eyes open through every frame. If Jesus did all that for me, the least I could do was watch it all. What was my small discomfort compared to his agony and excruciating death?

Yes the movie was very graphic but its power and significance are not derived from that. What really comes through is the passion that Jesus had to accomplish his purpose on earth. The movie superbly conveyed his embrace of the cross over his dread to endure it. It was for love of you and me that his passion was so strong.

See the movie if you never have. Watching it will help to reignite your passion for him.