(Please note: my e-mail address is now kurtjwayne@yahoo.com...sorry to put this here but I can't find where to edit my e-mail. Please delete the copy in these brackets...thanks in advance.)
Two years ago, before most of the world had heard of this film, I read an interview of Jim Caviezel (the actor who played Jesus), wherein he said that the actual sufferings of Jesus were too horrific to be captured in a movie, and that this movie wouldn't be as graphic as events really were.
Well...
(SPOILERS AHEAD if one's not already aware of what Christ undergoes in this film...)
Regarding the scourging, it's my understanding that in that time 2,000 years ago scourging by the whips used on Jesus were an automatic death sentence, as the victim would die within days due to infection. I've read where lashings by this instruments would have been deep enough to cut arteries. Also, Psalm 22:17 (thought to be an Old Testament prediction of Christ's suffering) says: "I can tell (or see) all my bones". Perhaps there were some which were visible besides the rib we saw in "The passion of The Christ"?
I wonder what public opinion would be if they knew that the Romans and/or gentiles in the Roman military would indeed have been responsible for the death of Christ within a couple of days?
With the "pre-crucifixion" scene, a few verses earlier in Psalms it is written "all my bones are out of joint". I was not aware that limbs were often dislocated while setting up for a crucifixion, as we seemed to see happen to the right arm of Christ. However, scripture seems to indicate that more bones were also disjointed?
As to crucifixion itself, there seems to be disagreement on how a victim would die. A common belief seemed to be that a victim would die of asphyxiation. Modern research (apparently using volunteers whose limbs were neither dislocated nor nailed) by a Canadian doctor seemed to prove otherwise. However, I've read that if the arms were in a position above the victim's head asphyxiation would indeed take place. Whether or not that's the case, there are several unpleasant things which take place during this method of execution.
From all I've seen I get the feeling we're not seeing Christ's punishment as bad as it really was.
Two other things:
While Christ is in a courtyard (?) prior to his scourging he sees a dove in the air. The Holy Spirit is said to alight like a dove...only through the Holy Spirit's help could He have taken the punishment. In scripture I believe Christ alludes to that elsewhere.
Also as to the "blood and water" pouring out from Christ's side. I heard twenty years ago a sermon by Dr. Charles Swindoll, replete with medical detail, as to why this was significant.
Obviously, these executioners had seen their share of dying and dead men. Apparently there are fluids that build up in the body, post-mortem, over a period of time (I seem to recall him saying that it takes hours, generally). What was so amazing to the centurion who speared Christ's side was that it happened within moments after His death rather than hours.
This wasn't a documentary, but an artist's interpretation.
It was still quite powerful, IMO.
Two years ago, before most of the world had heard of this film, I read an interview of Jim Caviezel (the actor who played Jesus), wherein he said that the actual sufferings of Jesus were too horrific to be captured in a movie, and that this movie wouldn't be as graphic as events really were.
Well...
(SPOILERS AHEAD if one's not already aware of what Christ undergoes in this film...)
Regarding the scourging, it's my understanding that in that time 2,000 years ago scourging by the whips used on Jesus were an automatic death sentence, as the victim would die within days due to infection. I've read where lashings by this instruments would have been deep enough to cut arteries. Also, Psalm 22:17 (thought to be an Old Testament prediction of Christ's suffering) says: "I can tell (or see) all my bones". Perhaps there were some which were visible besides the rib we saw in "The passion of The Christ"?
I wonder what public opinion would be if they knew that the Romans and/or gentiles in the Roman military would indeed have been responsible for the death of Christ within a couple of days?
With the "pre-crucifixion" scene, a few verses earlier in Psalms it is written "all my bones are out of joint". I was not aware that limbs were often dislocated while setting up for a crucifixion, as we seemed to see happen to the right arm of Christ. However, scripture seems to indicate that more bones were also disjointed?
As to crucifixion itself, there seems to be disagreement on how a victim would die. A common belief seemed to be that a victim would die of asphyxiation. Modern research (apparently using volunteers whose limbs were neither dislocated nor nailed) by a Canadian doctor seemed to prove otherwise. However, I've read that if the arms were in a position above the victim's head asphyxiation would indeed take place. Whether or not that's the case, there are several unpleasant things which take place during this method of execution.
From all I've seen I get the feeling we're not seeing Christ's punishment as bad as it really was.
Two other things:
While Christ is in a courtyard (?) prior to his scourging he sees a dove in the air. The Holy Spirit is said to alight like a dove...only through the Holy Spirit's help could He have taken the punishment. In scripture I believe Christ alludes to that elsewhere.
Also as to the "blood and water" pouring out from Christ's side. I heard twenty years ago a sermon by Dr. Charles Swindoll, replete with medical detail, as to why this was significant.
Obviously, these executioners had seen their share of dying and dead men. Apparently there are fluids that build up in the body, post-mortem, over a period of time (I seem to recall him saying that it takes hours, generally). What was so amazing to the centurion who speared Christ's side was that it happened within moments after His death rather than hours.
This wasn't a documentary, but an artist's interpretation.
It was still quite powerful, IMO.
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