For some strange reason, I suddenly have the urge to watch The Passion of the Christ. It is a movie banned in our country and hence, we got it through ‘certain sources’. When it was first released, I have seen that but the quality was bad and I never can get much from it. Moreover, my Bible knowledge then was not as it is now as I was converted just a few years.
So, my 12 years old son helped me to locate the better version which we have NEVER watched before. I told him to let me watch alone in the privacy of my bedroom, with my iMac. But he insisted he wants to watch me.
I told him, I am going to cry so I want to watch alone. But he still insist and moreover, my hubby has monopolised the living room with his football. So, both of us watch, in the darkness. I know it is bad for the eyes but it is easier to concentrate on the movie.
I am glad the subtitles are in perfect English. So, the movie turned out to be my little Bible knowledge class with my son. The two of us talked about it, reasoned over the scenes. I explained to him over and over again about God’s will to send His only son, in our human form to suffer through all that, die and rose again so that all of us can rejoice in Heaven when we depart from this earth.
He does obediently go to his cathechism class since he was six years old, when he was baptised with me in Easter 2003. But there is nothing like Hollywood and special effects to drive the point to him, and me too.
We can now relate better with the station of the cross, we know what ‘wash our sins with Jesus’s blood’ and we can see the forgiveness shown by Jesus towards all those soldiers who tortured him. He is more aware what Satan is. The invisible bad guy who is always hovering our life to screw things up.
As the movie is not in English, hence, we do not need to pay attention with our ears, we had a long chat. We still have modern day Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, King Herod, the Pharisees.
I suppose it is Jesus’s promptings to get both of us to really sit down and understand the Gospel better. My son is not exactly the epitome of a ‘Christian’ kid. In fact, none of them are but through prayers and faith, I am beginning to see a transformation in one of the older one. I do not want to push too much knowledge into them without them having the faith first as I am afraid of getting rebellious teens later on.
So, thank you Lord for allowing us to be ministered through Hollywood. And I didn’t end up crying because I was trying to impress my son with ‘wait, Jesus is going to say…’.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:55 am
I wish I were a Christian when my first two children were growing up. Consider yourself blessed to be able to pass your faith to your young children. Incidentally, I should have spent more time bonding with them, too, especially my son.
The passion of Christ – I always cry when I watch it. Sure touches the soul. Haven’t seen the one up there yet. Nice wordings.