Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Locals anticipate opening of ‘Passion of the Christ’ movie



Curiosity is causing many area pastors to make plans for
buying movie tickets to “The Passion of the Christ,” a film directed
and produced by actor Mel Gibson.

The movie is a graphic depiction of the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ. By many accounts, is the movie is very accurate, both historically
and Biblically.

“Passion,” in this case, is derived from the
Greek word “pathos,” meaning suffering.

The film opens Wednesday, Feb. 25 ­ Ash Wednesday ­
nationwide, and is widely anticipated with many people planning to see it
as part of a group outing.

“We definitely plan to go,” commented Pastor
Derek Forseth of Blessed Hope Church of Howard Lake.

In fact, a group of about 40 to 50 people from the congregation
will be there opening night Wednesday even if they end up standing outside
with no room for admission, Forseth said.

The Buffalo Cinema theater reported large numbers of advanced
tickets being been sold there, and expects it to be a popular film.

Century 7 in Hutchinson has had nearly every denomination
of church group contact the theater about its showing there, commented manager
Erv Asmus.

There will probably be a lot of groups attending it, he
said.

The film features the native languages used at the time,
which means it uses English subtitles throughout, Asmus said. It also is
rated R for its graphic nature, he said.

“It’s supposed to be like you were there,” Asmus
said. “It’s pretty realistic.”

“It’s rated R for reality. It’s real,” Forseth
said. He was able to obtain a movie preview and was impressed with what
he saw.

During a preliminary showing at the church, “everyone
just stopped,” Forseth said. Those chatting in groups grew quiet, and
had to be asked to sit down so that others could see,” he said. More
than half were openly crying after a time, he said.

A member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montrose
was among those being able to see a preliminary copy of the movie.

“The review was very positive,” commented Pastor
Robert Hellmann of St. Paul’s, although he noted that he had not seen the
movie himself yet.

“There were a couple of minor things (the reviewer
noted), but most people wouldn’t notice,” he said. Hellmann noted the
film was not for children.

“It will be powerful and emotional,” predicted
Pastor Bill Baldwin of Prairie Community Church of Lester Prairie.

“Part of me wants to avoid seeing it,” Baldwin
said, adding this was probably human nature. “But I will submit myself
to my sadness.”

If the movie leads people to understand better and internalize
their faith, this would be a good thing, commented Father Paul Wolf of Holy
Trinity in Winsted.

“Part of me wants to avoid seeing it,” Baldwin
said, adding this was probably human nature. “But I will submit myself
to my sadness.”

Gibson’s effort to be accurate is also well noted.

Apparently, the scourging scene is particularly disturbing
because of its realistic filming.

Jesus was whipped 39 times with whips that had nine tails
on them, tipped with bits of metal, noted Father Robert Mraz of Holy Family
Catholic Church in Silver Lake.

The metal-tipped whip was designed to tear the flesh away
from the body, he noted.

In that time period, some people did not survive scourging
when they were condemned to this process, Mraz said.

The actor playing Jesus had a half-inch board strapped
to his back, and one of the other actors playing a Roman soldier missed
it, Forseth said.

The one miss was devastating to the actor, Forseth reported.
There’s a scar on the actor’s back now, he said.

The preview seen by Blessed Hope parishioners contains
a segment with former atheist Lee Strobel, who has written two books, “Case
for Christ,” and “Case for Faith.”

Interestingly enough, even filming of the movie has caused
non-Christians to look twice.

“More than a dozen people came to faith on the set,”
Forseth noted.

“I think it’s got people talking about Christ again,”
Forseth said.

Some things about the film are causing a media uproar,
although many pastors did not give credit to the hubbub.

“People are getting uptight for nothing,” commented
Pastor Leland Bendix of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, north of Howard Lake.

So many other films have more violence without purpose,
Bendix pointed out.

When most films come out ­ and there should be an outcry
­ people hold their tongues, Forseth observed. However, when there is
a film that is legitimate, based on true events, he is amazed at the criticism.

If the film had been a spoof on Christ, then Christians
would be expected to be silent even though it would be insulting God, Bendix
said. “They’d say ‘Oh, that’s artistic expression,'” Bendix said.

Others have wondered if there will be a Jewish backlash
to the film.

“I hope that isn’t the intent,” Father Wolf said.

“Who has supported Jews over the years?” Bendix
asked. “Christians have supported Jews.”

www.passionofthechrist.com (official movie site)

www.passionofchrist.com

www.passionmaterials.com

www.passionoutreach.com

See original Bible story

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