The Ultimate Scream
There are many who consider Janet Leigh’s murder in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho to be the most terrifying scene in the history of film. The setting, the mood, the music and the camera work combine to create a scene of absolute terror. Her screams were impressed upon the memories of many who watched her macabre death on the silver screen. Since 1960, when the film was produced there have been tens of thousands of horror films made, but in the minds of many who enjoy such films, few of them have begun to approach the brutal genius of Hitchcock’s film.
The horror genre delights in the scream. Bloodcurdling screams are common in horror films, and filmmakers are constantly looking for ways of making them seem more genuine, more heartfelt, more terrifying. I remember reading of a film in which the director had the actors sprayed with the remains of a slaughtered pig during a particular scene in order to be able to capture real disgust and surprise. He wanted to evoke in his actors a pure terror and hoped that would translate to horror in the hearts of those who later watched.
The makers of horror and suspense films are always looking for the ultimate scream.
So I wonder, what would the ultimate scream sound like? If we were to create the most horrifying setting, the most horrifying villain - if we were to make the situation just right, what would that scream sound like? Would it be a wordless scream, or a scream that would express the reason or meaning behind the horror?
I went looking this morning and I found the ultimate scream. It is a scream that I am sure represents the most agonizing, terrifying, painful scream in the history of humanity. And that is no small statement for people have suffered terribly and brutally through the long history of humanity. The ultimate scream, according to Scripture, sounds like this: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
It is probably not what you would say, is it? I don’t know of too many people who would die with the words of Psalm 22 upon their lips. It doesn’t sound too terrifying, does it? Yet it represents the low point of humanity. It was Jesus who uttered those words, and He did so in the midst of pain, torture and forsakenness such as no one else in the world can know or ever will know. R.C. Sproul says, “This cry represents the most agonizing protest ever uttered on this planet. It burst forth in a moment of unparalleled pain. It is the scream of the damned — for us.” The scream of the damned. Jesus Christ gave a cry from the midst of unspeakable agony. He gave the very cry of the damned.
God the Father looked down on His Son, hanging on the cross, and saw not His beloved Son, but “the most grotesque ugliness imaginable.” He saw the sins of all who would be saved resting on that one Man. He saw all the sins that I have committed. He saw all the sins that you committed. He saw all of the sins of all of the elect resting upon one man. Jesus Christ, bearing our sin was removed totally and completed from the presence of the Father at that moment, for God cannot allow sin to remain unpunished. He turned His back on His Son. He completely, utterly forsook Jesus Christ.
And so Jesus cried out in his forsakenness. He cried out in His pain and His agony, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” He was alone and rejected. He willingly took this upon Himself for you and for me. He cried out with the ultimate expression of pain - the scream of the damned - so that we could have life.
I hate horror films. I have seen only a handful of them in my life, and have not seen one since my teenage years. I despise them. And perhaps this is why. The filmmaker may attempt to capture terror in its purest form. He may attempt to create a death that is surely more horrible than has been captured on any film. He may attempt to capture a scream that will remain in people’s memories for many, many years. He may succeed. But he will never be able to capture, or even approach capturing, the horror of the cross - the greatest horror humanity will ever know.
Comments (22) »
1. Andrew
February 7, 2006
12:52 PM
A very thoughtful post Tim.
2. Smitty
February 7, 2006
1:02 PM
thank you for helping me to refocus my mind on the cross today. it’s been a day all about me…until now.
3. Susanna
February 7, 2006
4:05 PM
I must admit that I have found a great appreciation for Alfred Hitchcock films as of late…Rick has a bunch of them and they’re really not the horror flicks that most people think but more drama/suspense! (Ya, we’re the freaky couple!:) I haven’t watched psycho though but I’ve always heard how scary the shower scene is.
Anyways, I know the point of your post wasn’t Hitchcock so I’ll have to remember how powerful Christ’s cry was next time I read about his crucifiction! For some reason I’ve always imagined it as a cry of the most powerful emotion or tormented plea more than a scream but that’s just me!
4. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 7, 2006
4:18 PM
Great post, Tim. I hope you will allow me to disagree just a little bit. You said of the filmaker: “He may attempt to capture a scream that will remain in people’s memories for many, many years. He may succeed. But he will never be able to capture, or even approach capturing, the horror of the cross - the greatest horror humanity will ever know.”
Yes, Jesus’ torment on the cross was gruesome and resulted in a great horror…but I don’t know if I can agree that it resulted in the greatest horror humanity will ever know. I agree it was the greatest horror Christ would ever know…but even then, for the joy set before Him (redeeming His own), He endured the death of the cross.
I would have to say that Christ’s “scream” on the cross was the greatest joy and hope that humanity will ever know.
Perhaps the greatest horror humanity will ever know - thereby resulting in the ultimate scream - will come from those who will experience eternity in the black darkness of hell that has been reserved for them since the foundation of the world…that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is that place that I imagine the ultimate screams will take place.
Thanks for the article, Tim, and for bringing my attention to the cross of Christ. I think I’m going to go now and listen to my “Songs for the Cross-Centered Life” CD.
5. Chelsey Karns
February 7, 2006
6:58 PM
I too cannot stand to watch horror films… to me it seems like there is enough horror in real life; why would I want to watch made-up horror on a movie?
6. Tim Challies
February 7, 2006
8:29 PM
“It is that place that I imagine the ultimate screams will take place.”
I respectfully disagree. I would suggest that what Christ went through was far worse than what a person will go through in hell. Christ, after all, had the sins of billions of people heaped upon Him. I am not entirely sure how these things work - Christ, I am sure, did not have to suffer 1 billion times worse than the average person in order to secure 1 billion redemptions! But still, I would suggest that Christ’s suffering was worse than what any other person will experience.
Having said that, I am having a difficult time thinking of a Bible verse that would stand behind me.
7. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 7, 2006
9:19 PM
I understand completely what you are saying in regards to the suffering and anguish that Jesus endured. The only thing I can think of to support my view is that Christ’s suffering was but for a moment compared to the eternal wrath that a person in hell will experience.
Christ endured the wrath of the Father, once for all…but that once did have an end. The reprobate will suffer once for all time…never ending…forever.
Thanks be to my Savior for sparing me the experience of knowing first hand which is worse. He took my sin upon Himself, and for that I am eternally grateful.
8. Chelsey Karns
February 8, 2006
12:09 AM
I definitely agree with Tim. It would seem that the One who had intimate communion with the Father would experience greater pain in being completely separated from Him than those who are in hell…
9. Joe
February 8, 2006
6:49 AM
Got here through Jeremy Weaver’s blog.
Neither the horror of the cross nor the horror of the hell they face without it do the lost understand.
Would like to a link to your blog on mine. Without objection, it will be done.
In His Name, Joe
10. pgepps
February 8, 2006
8:54 AM
I think the attempt to weigh “which is bigger” may be misguided. Both are ultimate in their category, and both are beyond the reach of mortal imitators.
Christ’s “eli, eli, lama sabacthani” is truly the low moment of human history so far. I disagree with the commenter who suggests this moment is joyous. This moment is the sheer, unmitigated pain of a man who was God being bereft of all fellowship, all consciousness of unity, with His Father, His Lord, even what His human mind knew of His own divine being. There, at that moment, eternal God in Christ knew Himself only as the dying man Jesus. That pain was greatest—the alienation fully understood, and fully felt, on top of the knowledge that here He had been separated (by their weakness and betrayal, yes, but even by the transcendence of His purpose over their ability to believe and follow) from all He had known and loved on Earth, and was being physically torn apart—He had nothing left but God, and God turned from Him, left Him to suffer alone.
There could be no greater agony. The greatest cry of joy, though, must be the “It is finished!” with which Christ released Himself into the hands of the Father Who, He knew, was ready to receive Him beyond that veil/vale He passed through alone.
Though, for us, there is one more joyful thing we may say—the “He is risen indeed!” with which our hearts overflow when the message is proclaimed, and which we may join together to exclaim with one voice each Easter.
Cheers, PGE
11. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 8, 2006
9:00 AM
“It would seem that the One who had intimate communion with the Father would experience greater pain in being completely separated from Him than those who are in hell…”
I would probably have to agree with this. My comments above were based on duration, which doesn’t take into account the relationship between the Son and Father.
But I still stand by my comments that Christ’s death on the cross is NOT the greatest horror humanity will ever know…because humanity did not know it…Christ did, which is why Jesus endured it…so that we wouldn’t have to.
Having said that, I would still have to agree that the pain Christ experienced was far greater than what those in hell are enduring and will endure. For the real pain Christ endured was not physical, but relational. Separated, even though but for a time, from the One whom He said He was one with. That break of fellowship I cannot even imagine…and it will probably take an eternity to even begin to appreciate.
12. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 8, 2006
9:39 AM
pgepps said of the Father forsaking the Son: “I disagree with the commenter who suggests this moment is joyous.”
This is what I said: “for the joy set before Him (redeeming His own), He endured the death of the cross.”
This may be unintentional, but you have misconstrued my words. I NEVER said that Christ’s separation from the Father was joyous. I was simply quoting Scripture:
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” - Heb. 12:2-3
13. nhe
February 8, 2006
9:59 AM
Brian said: “But I still stand by my comments that Christ’s death on the cross is NOT the greatest horror humanity will ever know…because humanity did not know it…Christ did, which is why Jesus endured it…so that we wouldn’t have to.”
Brian, I think this has to be the greatest horror humanity ever experienced. It was Christ experiencing it completely because of his humanity. Were he not fully human and fully devine, He could not be a savior who could sympathize with our weaknesses.
When Rev 21 says “no more separation, tearful eyes, loneliness” it says it because of the ultimate horror that was Christ’s eternal separation. The ultimate tears, loneliness, and separation experienced by any human were at that moment…..which makes the corresponding joy of Rev 21 our greatest hope.
14. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 8, 2006
10:24 AM
nhe said: “It was Christ experiencing it completely because of his humanity. Were he not fully human and fully devine, He could not be a savior who could sympathize with our weaknesses.”
Absolutely…Christ was fully God and fully human. And if because He was fully human you want to say that His suffering and death on the cross was the greatest horror humanity ever experienced…I can see where you are coming from.
However, even though Christ was fully God and fully man…it was only He who endured the painful and shameful death of the cross. He took my place. He took the place of all those the Father gave to Him.
Having said that, I do see your point. I guess my point is that the rest of humanity (you and I and all the rest) did not share in that agony…praise be to God.
I hope you see what I am trying to say.
15. Paul Martin
February 8, 2006
1:49 PM
Brian wrote: “Christ’s suffering was but for a moment compared to the eternal wrath that a person in hell will experience.” I think I know what you are trying to say here, but wouldn’t it be more accurate to consider Christ’s sufferings as an eternity of hell that I deserved compacted into that three hours of darkness on the cross? Quantity of time has nothing to do with it. Christ suffered the entire extent of my wrath - an eternity of just wrath - in the space of three hours. The only reason He could do this was because He is God.
I know it is just blogging, but I think the way you worded that sentence above is a little misleading.
His suffering was sufficient to cover a universe of worlds (if there were such a thing) because of the value of His Person and life.
16. Tim Challies
February 8, 2006
1:55 PM
“I know it is just blogging”
Ouch!
The point of your post is well-taken despite that dig! :)
17. Paul Martin
February 8, 2006
3:36 PM
Oops. I didn’t intend to dig! Sorry!!
18. Allan
February 8, 2006
4:27 PM
At times we have known the over-flooding peace and joy that comes from God which surpasses description. But this is just a tiny taste of Heaven’s bliss. Why is Heaven bliss? Because HE is there. God’s own joy in Himself is the joy of perfection, perfect joy. If we imagine every true and good pleasure we have known, lifted to the ultimate degree of God’s own perfection, that is what knowing Him fully face to face will be. All that is experienced as Good, Pleasing, Satisfying, Rewarding, Fulfilling, etc etc., are known to the ultimate level, in being with Him.
To be sent away from This One in anger, to be banished from the presence and experience of the goodness of This One, to lose the loving smile of This One, is an unutterable agony. It is an indescribable pain, when the Father turns His face away from one! When the crushing disfavour of God on sin only, is seen. - How much more for the One whose spirit had been forever in perfect union with Him.
Of such is the unspeakable agony which The Son voluntarily suffered, for the elect, although surely we can never, here at least in this frame, really understand.
And for the rest, to be utterly without hope of ever gaining the ecstasy of the fellowship and the elation of the favour of the God-head, in whom ALL pleasures reside. To know the Hell of being utterly bereft ever after of any atom of satisfaction, peace, joy, or love, will be such an unutterable horror, that it will make all the sorrows ever known in this world, be counted as a Heaven.
19. Allan
February 8, 2006
4:36 PM
Brian wrote: “Christ’s suffering was but for a moment compared to the eternal wrath that a person in hell will experience.”
What relevance have the scriptures that say;
Re 13:8 ‘And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’
Re 5:6 ‘And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
ie., both these are concerning Him before and after His days in the grave.
20. pgepps
February 8, 2006
6:59 PM
Sigh … guys, logic-chopping like this is missing the point entirely. You can’t put pain on a scale and dole it out.
Brian, geez, chill out! I noticed in passing that someone said, “I would have to say that Christ’s ‘scream’ on the cross was the greatest joy and hope that humanity will ever know.”
Despite the love of paradox, it would be entirely defeating the purpose to locate our joy in Christ’s suffering. We are to join Him in His suffering, for our time spent in this world is what our (compromised by sin) frame can bear of being like Him. If we can take joy in His suffering, we have only the most silly and selfish notion of our salvation—how horrible if Christianity were the religion of “I’m so happy you suffered!”
Now, Christ suffered on the cross for the joy that was set before Him. And we, in the fellowship of His sufferings, “endure hardship” in our “striving against sin” which, for most of us, does not rise to the level of having “resisted against blood” … yet, at least. It is God’s long-suffering to sinners to prolong this mortal age, and we willingly join Him in that long-suffering.
For Christ, as for us, the joy is in the Resurrection—His and ours—and what comes after. We rejoice that the firstfruits has already been raised, and in that knowledge and the hope it brings we have joy in Christ.
But if there were only the cross, “if in this life only we have hope in Christ Jesus, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
So, no, the abandonment of Christ on the cross was by no means joyful, nor should it be a source of joy. It was the most unmitigated horror, the very mirror of everything wrong with humanity and the universe, and in it we see nothing but the blackness of our God-hating hearts. Thanks be to God that there was history yet to be made past that moment!
Best, PGE
21. Brian...formerly voiceofthesheep
February 8, 2006
8:02 PM
pge, I’ll take it under advisement whether or not to “chill out”.
You said: “So, no, the abandonment of Christ on the cross was by no means joyful, nor should it be a source of joy.”
Then why do we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes back? The death of Christ is the ONLY one I know of that is celebrated…the only one I know of that is remembered the way it is. His death may not be a source of joy for you…but it is THE source of joy for me.
“Alas, and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sov’reign die? Would he devote that sacred head For sinners such as I?
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!” - Isaac Watts, 1707
22. Flawedcricket
February 9, 2006
8:17 AM
Christ took on our sin. He not only took on our sin He became sin on our behalf. As a result, the Father did to the second Person of the Godhead what the Word says He will never do to one of His elect, forsake Him. I think that would call for the ultimate scream!
Soli Dei Gloria
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