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The Passion of the Christ According to Emmerich
- 02/28/04
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The Passion of the Christ has been described by Protestant leaders as being factually accurate, very accurate [in the details], realistic, biblical, an accurate account,. a true representation of Jesus and close to the Scriptures. All of these quotes were taken from The Passion Outreach Web site, a resource dedicated to helping churches of all denominations capitalize on this movie. This movie is continually described as an exceedingly accurate portrayal of the gospel account of the passion of Jesus an account that transcends denominations.
Mel Gibson has repeatedly acknowledged that He drew inspiration for The Passion of the Christ both from the gospels and from the writings of Anne Catherine Emmerich. He respects her to such an extent that he carries an Emmerich relic in his pocket at all times. Most Protestants pastors and leaders admit that Gibson has taken artistic license at times, but by reading Emmerichs book The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ we will see that much of what is perceived as artistic license is actually following the words of Emmerich. It seems that it is impossible to reconcile Emmerich and the Bible. The movie must either follow the Word of God or the words of a human. Though the two seem to complement each other at times, far more often they contradict. A staunch Roman Catholic and devotee of Mary, Emmerich adds situations and theology which stand in direct contrast to the beliefs Protestants should hold dear.
Why?
Before we begin this examination I would like to answer the question of why I have decided to present this information. Certainly this could be construed as an attempt to just be critical for the sake of being critical. It could be seen as an attempt to lower other peoples perception of a man who claims to be a Christian. It could be seen as an attempt to discredit this movie.
I present this information for the sake of sharing what is true and what is false in this movie. This movie is being presented as truth, yet much of it is error. I seek to expose what is truth and what is error so people who see the movie can understand what parts of the story truly happened and are therefore important and part of the story of the Saviors death. At the same time I wish to show which parts are inspired by false revelation supposedly revealed by God almost two thousand years after the writing of the Bible. The error adds elements to the story that detract from Gods glory and Christs purpose in suffering and dying.
Brief Biographical Sketch of Anne Catherine Emmerich
The following information is drawn primarily from the Catholic Encyclopedia. It is evident that her abilities are fiction, yet the Encyclopedia teaches they are fact.
Anne Catherine Emmerich was an Augustinian nun, stigmatic and ecstatic who was born in 1774 and died in 1824. She was forced to work from an early age and after a difficult twenty eight years of life entered the Augustinian convent at Agnetenberg, Dulmen. She soon began to display strange powers and ecstasies. Her convent was closed in 1812 and she was forced to find refuge in a poor widows house. In 1813 she became bedridden. It was during her long illness that her supernatural abilities became popular knowledge. Some of these abilities included conversing with the child Jesus, predicting future events, having knowledge of other peoples diseases and prescribing remedies that never failed. She soon experienced the stigmata with which she suffered for many years. In 1819 the poet Klemens Brentano visited her and she asked him to write down the many visions God had given her. In 1833 the “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Meditations of Anne Catherine Emmerich” was released followed in 1852 by “The Life of The Blessed Virgin Mary.”
Six weeks after her death a rumor surfaced that her body had been removed from its grave. She was disinterred and it was discovered that her body had suffered no decay.
Emmerichs visions are considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be private revelations and not public revelations. Therefore, not all Catholics are required to believe them and the Church has no official position on their accuracy or truth. They are widely accepted amongst Traditionalist Catholics and relatively unknown to other Catholics.
Emmerichs Influence in The Passion of the Christ
The following table details many of the scenes in the movie that are not described in the Bible and shows, where I have been able to find out, where the inspiration came from. This is not an exhaustive list of all the extra-Biblical material presented in the movie.
The Passion of the Christ | The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
Satan torments Jesus in the garden ofGethsemane | Chapter 1, pages100-102 “But Satan, who was enthroned amid allthese horrors, and even filled with diabolical joy at the sight ofthem, let loose his fury against Jesus, and displayed before theeyes of his soul increasingly awful visions, at the same timeaddressing his adorable humanity in words such as these: ‘Takestthou even this sin upon thyself? Art thou willing to bear itspenalty? Art thou prepared to satisfy for all these sins?’” |
Mary wakes up, sensing Jesus’s arrest | Chapter 1, page 116 “During thisagony of Jesus, I saw the Blessed Virgin also overwhelmed withsorrow and anguish of soul, in the house of Mary, the mother ofMark. She was with Magdalen and Mary in the garden belonging tothe house, and almost prostrate from grief, with her whole bodybowed down as she knelt. She fainted several times, for she beheldin spirit different portions of the agony of Jesus.” Chapter 11 “THE Blessed Virgin was ever united toher Divine Son by interior spiritual communications; she was,therefore, fully aware of all that happened to him—shesuffered with him, and joined in his continual prayer for hismurderers. But her maternal feelings prompted her to supplicateAlmighty God most ardently not to suffer the crime to becompleted, and to save her Son from such dreadful torments.” |
Soldiers throw Jesus off a bridge | Chapter 3, page 131 “I saw our Lord fall twice before hereached the bridge, and these falls were caused entirely by thebarbarous manner in which the soldiers dragged him; but when theywere half over the bridge they gave full vent to their brutalinclinations, and struck Jesus with such violence that they threwhim off the bridge into the water” |
Jesus’ abuse when before the priests. | “At this answer of Jesus the countenanceof Annas flushed with fury and indignation. A base menial who wasstanding near perceived this, and he immediately struck our Lordon the face with his iron gauntlet, exclaiming at the same moment,‘Answerest thou the High Priest so?’ Jesus wasso nearly prostrated by the violence of the blow, that when theguards likewise reviled and struck him, he fell quite down, andblood trickled from his face on to the floor. Laughter, insults,and bitter words resounded through the hall. The archers draggedhim roughly up again, and he mildly answered, ‘If 1 havespoken evil. give testimony of the evil; but if well, whystrikest thou me?’” |
Flashback: Jesus, as a young carpenter, is athome with Mary | |
During court scene, Mary prays, “It hasbegun Lord. So be it.” | |
After thrice denying Jesus, Peter runs to Mary,weeping and calling her, “Mother.” | Chapter 11, page 165 “Mary approached him instantly, and said,‘Simon, tell me, I entreat you, what is become of Jesus, mySon !’ These words pierced his very heart; he could not evenlook at her, but turned away, and again wrung his hands. Mary drewclose to him, and said in a voice trembling with emotion: ‘Simon,son of John, why dost thou not answer me?’—‘Mother!’exclaimed Peter, in a dejected tone, ‘0, Mother, speak notto me—thy Son is suffering more than words can express:speak not to me!’” |
Mary walks about the now-emptied courtyard andthen falls with her face pressed to the floor, directly above thecell in which Jesus is imprisoned | Chapter 11, page 166 “John, therefore, led her and the holywomen to the front of the prison where Jesus was confined. Marywas with Jesus in spirit, and Jesus was with her; but this lovingMother wished to hear with her own cars the voice of her DivineSon.” |
Satan and his minions torment Judas | Chapter 5, page 144 “I beheld the traitor, JudasIscariot, wandering about, alone, and a prey to the tortures ofhis guilty con-science; he feared even his own shadow, and wasfollowed by many devils, who endeavored to turn his feelings ofremorse into black despair.” |
An effeminate Herod is depicted amidst cushions | Chapter 20, page 194 “Herod wasexpecting them. He was seated on a pile of cushions, heapedtogether so as to form a species of throne, in a spacious hall,and surrounded by courtiers and warriors.” Chapter 20, page 195 “the luxurious and effeminate princeturned away in disgust, uttered the name of God, and said to thepriests in a tone of mingled pity and contempt, ‘Take himhence, and bring him not back into my presence in such adeplorable state.’” |
Herod calls Jesus a fool and commands thatJesus be given a fool’s homage | Chapter 20, page 197 “But he spoke in the most contemptuousmanner to Jesus, and turning to the guards and servants whosurrounded him, and who were about two hundred in number, said:‘Take away this fool, and pay him that homage which is hisdue; he is mad, rather than guilty of any crime.’” |
The scourging scene is very similar to thatwritten by Emmerich. Jesus is scourged against a pillar in thecenter of a courtyard. The scourging culminates with the use ofchains with barbs that tear chunks off his back. Jesus is thenrotated so the soldiers can scourge the other side. Mary isprominent throughout the scene as if exhorting Jesus. | Chapter 22, page 206 “This pillar,placed in the centre of the court, stood alone, and did not serveto sustain any part of the building” Chapter 22, page 206 “Jesustrembled and shuddered as he stood before the pillar, and took offhis garments as quickly as he could, but his hands were bloody andswollen. The only return he made when his brutal executionersstruck and abused him was to pray for them in the most touchingmanner: he turned his face once towards his Mother, who wasstanding overcome with grief; this look quite unnerved her: shefainted, and would have fallen, had not the holy women who werethere supported her.” Chapter 22, page 208 “Twofresh executioners took the places of the last mentioned, who werebeginning to flag; their scourges were composed of small chains,or straps covered with iron hooks, which penetrated to the bone,and tore off large pieces of flesh at every blow. What word, alas!could describe this terrible—this heartrending scene! Thecruelty of these barbarians was nevertheless not yet satiated;they untied Jesus, and again fastened him up with his back turnedtowards the pillar. As he was totally unable to support himself inan upright position, they passed cords round his waist, under hisarms, and above his knees, and having bound his hands tightly intothe rings which were placed at the upper part of the pillar, theyrecommenced scourging him” Chapter23, page 211 “I SAW the Blessed Virgin in a continualecstasy during the time of the scourging of her Divine Son; shesaw and suffered with inexpressible love and grief all thetorments he was enduring.” |
During the scourging scene, Mary says, “Myson, when, where, how will you choose to be delivered from this?” | |
Pilate’s wife hands white linens to Mary,who uses these to wipe Jesus’s blood from the floor | Chapter 23, page 211 “I saw ClaudiaProcles, the wife of Pilate, send some large pieces of linen tothe Mother of God.” Chapter 25, page 218 “Then it was that the Mother of Jesus,accompanied by the holy women, approached the pillar and wiped upthe blood with which it and the ground around were saturated.” |
Flashback: Mary Magdalene recalls Jesuspreventing her from being stoned and writing on the ground (thisis a misusage of John 8:1-11; the woman in this passage was nevernamed) | |
Jesus prays, “I am your servant and theson of your handmaid.” | |
Jesus falls multiple times while carrying thecross (These correspond to the 3rd, 7th, and9th Stations of the Cross. “The Stations of theCross are a popular Catholic devotion. Each of the fourteenstations stands for an event which occurred during Jesus’ Passionand death at Calvary on Good Friday. A person making the StationsOf The Cross is to meditate about each event depicted at eachstation, and pray.” | Chapters 31-33 |
Mary meets Jesus while on the way to Golgotha(4th Station of the Cross) | Chapter 32 “Then came her beloved Son. He was almostsinking under the heavy weight of his cross, and his head, stillcrowned with thorns, was drooping in agony on his shoulder. Hecast a look of compassion and sorrow upon his Mother, staggered,and fell for the second time upon his hands and knees. Mary wasperfectly agonised at this sight; she forgot all else; she sawneither soldiers nor executioners; she saw nothing but herdearly-loved Son; and, springing from the doorway into the midstof the group who were insulting and abusing him, she threw herselfon her knees by his side and embraced him. The only words I heardwere, ‘Beloved Son!’ and ‘Mother!’” |
Flashback: Mary remembers a time when Jesus (asa child) fell and she came running with outstretched arms | |
The scene in which Simon of Cyrene is pressedinto service is very similar to that written by Emmerich. One ofSimon’s children is present. He is initially reluctant,exhibiting great disdain towards Jesus. Simon soon afterexperiences a change of heart. | Chapter 33 “At this moment Simon of Cyrene, a pagan,happened to pass by, accompanied by his three children. He was agardener, just returning home after working in a garden near theeastern wall of the city, and carrying a bundle of loppedbranches. The soldiers perceiving by his dress that he was apagan, seized him, and ordered him to assist Jesus in carrying hiscross. He refused at first, but was soon compelled to obey,although his children, being frightened, cried and made a greatnoise, upon which some women quieted and took charge of them.Simon was much annoyed, and expressed the greatest vexation atbeing obliged to walk with a man in so deplorable a condition ofdirt and misery; but Jesus wept, and cast such a mild and heavenlylook upon him that he was touched, and instead of continuing toshow reluctance, helped him to rise, while the executionersfastened one arm of the cross on his shoulders, and he walkedbehind our Lord, thus relieving him in a great measure from itsweight” |
Veronica wipes Jesus’s face (6thStation of the Cross; the cloth with the bloody face imprinted init is now a relic) | Chapter34 “Seraphiawas the name of the brave woman who thus dared to confront theenraged multitude; she was the wife of Sirach, one of thecouncillors belonging to the Temple, and was afterwards known bythe name of Veronica, which name was given from the words veraicon (true portrait), to commemorate her brave conduct on thisday. Seraphia had prepared someexcellent aromatic wine, which she piously intended to present toour Lord to refresh him on his dolorous way to Calvary. She hadbeen standing in the street for some time, and at last went backinto the house to wait. She was, when I first saw her, envelopedin a long veil, and holding a little girl of nine years of agewhom she had adopted, by the hand; a large veil was likewisehanging on her arm, and the little girl endeavoured to hide thejar of wine when the procession approached. Those who weremarching at the head of the procession tried to push her back; butshe made her way through the mob, the soldiers, and the archers,reached Jesus, fell on her knees before him, and presented theveil, saying at the same time, ‘Permit me to wipe the faceof my Lord.’ Jesus took the veil in his left hand, wiped hisbleeding face, and returned it with thanks. Seraphia kissed it,and put it under her cloak. The girl then timidly offered thewine, but the brutal soldiers would not allow Jesus to drink it.” |
The scene of Jesus and Simon of Cyrene is verysimilar to that written by Emmerich. Simon threatens to stophelping if the soldiers continue in their cruelty, saying that hewill do so even if the soldiers kill him. Simon then placesJesus’s arm across his shoulders, supporting him. | Chapter 35, page 243 “Their crueltyto Jesus so exasperated Simon of Cyrene that he at last exclaimed,‘If you continue this brutal conduct, I will throw down thecross and carry it no farther. I will do so if you kill me forit.’” Chapter 35, page 244 “Jesus was on the point of again falling,but Simon, who was behind, perceiving that he could not stand,hastened to support him; he leant upon Simon, and was thus savedfrom falling to the ground.” |
The scene in which Jesus is nailed to the crossis very similar to that written by Emmerich. After the first handis nailed, Jesus’ other arm is stretched out with asickening crunch to reach the hole provided for the nail. Thesoldiers also subject Jesus to more agony as they stretch his bodyout to the wooden footrest that they placed too low. | Chapter 38, page 250 “The BlessedVirgin stood motionless; from time to time you might distinguishher plaintive moans; she appeared as if almost fainting fromgrief, and Magdalen was quite beside herself. When theexecutioners had nailed the right hand of our Lord, they perceivedthat his left hand did not reach the hole they had bored toreceive the nail, therefore they tied ropes to his left arm, andhaving steadied their feet against the cross, pulled the left handviolently until it reached the place prepared for it. Thisdreadful process caused our Lord indescribable agony, his breastheaved, and his legs were quite contracted.” Chapter 38, page 251 “The executioners had fastened a piece ofwood at the lower part of the cross under where the feet of Jesuswould be nailed, that thus the weight of his body might not restupon the wounds of his hands, as also to prevent the bones of hisfeet from being broken when nailed to the cross. A hole had beenpierced in this wood to receive the nail when driven through hisfeet, and there was likewise a little hollow place for his heelsThese precautions were taken lest his wounds should be torn openby the weight of his body, and death ensue before he had sufferedall the tortures which they hoped to see him endure. The wholebody of our Lord had been dragged upward, and contracted by theviolent manner with which the executioners had stretched out hisarms, and his knees were bent up; they therefore flattened andtied them down tightly with cords; but soon perceiving that hisfeet did not reach the bit of wood which was placed for them torest upon, they became infuriated. Some of their number proposedmaking fresh holes for the nails which pierced his hands, as therewould be considerable difficulty in removing the bit of wood,but the others would do nothing of the sort, and continued tovociferate, ‘He will not stretch himself out, but we willhelp him;’ they accompanied these words with the mostfearful oaths and imprecations, and having fastened a rope to hisright leg, dragged it violently until it reached the wood, andthen tied it down as tightly as possible. The agony which Jesussuffered from this violent tension was indescribable; the words‘My God, my God,’ escaped his lips, and theexecutioners increased his pain by tying his chest and arms to thecross, lest the hands should be torn from the nails. They thenfastened his left foot on to his right foot, having first bored ahole through them with a species of piercer, because they couldnot be placed in such a position as to be nailed together at once.Next they took a very long nail and drove it completely throughboth feet into the cross below, which operation was more thanusually painful, on account of his body being so unnaturallystretched out” |
As the cross is lifted up, Mary opens fists,releasing pebbles she had been holding (perhaps in a gesture ofsurrender) | |
Jesus is depicted as having long hair and beinggenerally pleasing to the eye | Chapter 41, page 257 “The complexion of our Lord was fair,like that of Mary, and slightly tinted with red; but his exposureto the weather during the last three years had tanned himconsiderably. His chest was wide, but not hairy like that of St.John Baptist; his shoulders broad, and his arms and thighs sinewy;his knees were strong and hardened, as is usually the case withthose who have either walked or knelt much, and his legs long,with very strong muscles; his feet were well formed, and his handsbeautiful, the fingers being long and tapering, and although notdelicate like those of a woman, still not resembling those of aman who had laboured hard. His neck was rather long, with awell-set and finely proportioned head; his forehead large andhigh; his face oval; his hair, which was far from thick, was of agolden brown colour, parted in the middle and falling over hisshoulders; his beard was not any great length, but pointed anddivided under the chin.” |
Mary begs, “Flesh of my flesh, heart ofmy heart, my son, let me die with you.” | Chapter 43, page 259 “the Blessed Virgin, filled with intensefeelings of motherly love, entreated her Son to permit her to diewith him” |
A soldier is showered by Jesus’ bloodafter piercing His side | Chapter 48, page 276 “He seized his lance and rode quickly upto the mound on which the Cross was planted, stopped just betweenthe cross of the good thief and that of our Lord, and taking hislance in both hands, thrust it so completely into the right sideof Jesus that the point went through the heart, and appeared onthe left side. When Cassius drew his lance out of the wound aquantity of blood and water rushed from it, and flowed over hisface and body. This species of washing produced effects somewhatsimilar to the vivifying waters of Baptism: grace and salvation atonce entered his soul. He leaped from his horse, threw himselfupon his knees, struck his breast, and confessed loudly before allhis firm belief in the divinity of Jesus.” |
Jesus’ body is lowered by the soliders and other men | Chapter 48, page 285 “Then Joseph and Nicodemus, having placedladders against the front of the Cross, in a very uprightposition, and close to the body, untied the upper strap, andfastened it to one of the hooks on the ladder; they did the samewith the two other straps, and passing them all on fromhook to hook, caused the sacred body to descend…” |
Jesus’ body is lowered into Mary’sarms and the camera focuses on Mary in the “Pieta pose”before panning and fading out (this suggests Mary as aco-redeemer) | Chapter50, page 285 “Whenthe body was taken down it was wrapped in linen from the knees tothe waist, and then placed in the arms of the Blessed Virgin, who,overwhelmed with sorrow and love, stretched them forth to receivetheir precious burden.” Chapter 51, page 286 “THE Blessed Virgin seated herself upon alarge cloth spread on the ground, with her right knee,which was slightly raised, and her back resting against somemantles, rolled together so as to form a species of cushion. Noprecaution had been neglected which could in any way facilitate toher—the Mother of Sorrows—in her deep affliction ofsoul, the mournful but most sacred duty which she was about tofulfil in regard to the body of her beloved Son. The adorable headof Jesus rested upon Mary’s knee, and his body was stretchedupon a sheet. The Blessed Virgin was overwhelmed with sorrow andlove. Once more, and for the last time, did she hold in her armsthe body of her most beloved Son, to whom she had been unableto give any testimony of love during the long hours of hismartyrdom. And she gazed upon his wounds and fondly embraced hisblood-stained cheeks, whilst Magdalen pressed her face upon hisfeet.” |
Sources:
Emmerich, Anne Catherine. The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Read It Online
I am indebted to a brother in Christ for doing much of the comparison between the movie and Emmerich’s book.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.Revelation 22:18
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (26)
Tim,
After awaking very early this morning, still much pressed in my spirit over all that is heavy upon my heart, I came to read of any additional thoughts expressed by brethren. This is the only site I have visited of all on the worldwide web.This is where the Lord led me and where He has edified me. Thank you Father!
What a privilege it is to be a member of the body of Christ and to be able to partake of one another’s labor. I thank God with all my heart for laboring through you and the unnamed brother to give equip the saints with this tool.
I feel as if the “narrow way” is equivalent to walking a tightrope over Niagara Falls. Just as the one who walks that rope must ever keep his eyes upon the mark on the other side, he also must walk slowly, steadily, surely. His balance is sustained by holding fast the rod in his hand.Our balance is the Word of God, quickened by the Spirit of God.
Thanking God that He is upholding us by the Word of His grace. May we continue to hold forth the Word of life both the the wandering lost and to erring brethren. We do not share all that we’ve shared out of any motive of competition and desire to be seen as “the only ones who have the truth.” God’s truths were once delivered to the saints to preserve us and to equip us to preserve others. Jesus is with us unto the end of the world, helping us rightly divide His Word and be bold to speak it with all confidence. How else can we disciple one another and teach all men to obey all His commandments?
To this end may He strengthen each of us to persevere and endure until the end, so that we indeed may receive the end of our faith, even the very salvation of our souls.
God’s peace and blessing to you and your house.
In Jesus’ Precious Name.
This is a very “light” comment in comparison to the weightier ones shared on this site. But, when viewing the trailer on-line, the first wording that came upon the screen gave the name of the production company that produced this film: “ICON FILMS”. That word “icon” smacked me in the face.
What is an icon? We know the term today is most widely used for the little images on our desktop that take you to the entire file.
Originally in the Greek, eikona, held the meaning of image, picture, figure, icon.
Webster’s 1913 definition:
“A sacred picture representing the Virgin Mary, Christ, a saint, or a martyr, and having the same function as an image of such a person in the Latin Church”
This week-end my husband and I were with 30 other brethren, and (naturally) this film became the central topic. We agreed that we needed to be equipped for the wonderful opportunities that could come our way to share Jesus with those who we are in contact with. But, one pastor present continued to emphasize that he was most troubled by “depicting the face of Christ.” He said that he has found it very interesting that nowhere in Scripture are we told anything about Jesus’ physical appearance (his height, hair color, eye color, build, etc.). The only picture we are given is of our glorified Lord and Risen Saviour in Revelation.
I have been pressed to consider some commandments that I have previously not thought that important.I’m being pressed to consider my responsibility not just to keep my own soul, but to speak the truth with my neighbor.
Other posts here on this topic have been used to prick my heart and ask for wisdom to be able to obey all that God would have me as His disciple obey. I keep thinking about a verse: “Cry out for the old paths.” When I went and read the context, again — I tremble. Again, it is Jeremiah 6:10-21
“0 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. 11Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD. 13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. 16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.”
Another passage that dovetails in my heart has to do with a time when neighbor will deceive neighbor, when no one will speak the truth and by failing to do such is guilty of deceiving his neighbor. I’m still searching for this one, but in the meantime, Eph. 4:23-25 is strengthening:
23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Ahah! Found it….and again, in Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 9:1-6
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. 3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. 4Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. 5And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Well, I think I’ve gone from the light end to the heavy end again. I think I understand why Jeremiah indeed wept, why Jesus wept and cried out to Jerusalem. May God bless His Word to our souls, store it up in our hearts, quicken it within us and bring it forth through us as He sees fit. And great shall be the number who publish it! May we be valiant in Christ.
Excellent! Thank you for your article comparing the Passion Movie with the visions Sister Catherine Emmerich saw which were explained to her by her spirit-guide who she called her guardian angel. I had wanted to see how much of Mel’s movie had to do with Emmerich’s visions and you did an excellent job of presenting that information.
I have a question. Perhaps you can tell me about this. I was reading some posts on another web site where people were commenting on the movie and a couple of people asked the significance of the baby that Satan carried in his arms. Do you have any idea what that was all about?
Would it be ok if I linked this article to my own web page where I have a list of references and resources?
Thanks again for the work done and for getting this on the web.
Nannette
Nannette,
Yes, you are free to link anything on this site.
I am not sure of the significance of the “baby” in Satan’s arms. I have heard a few differing views but nothing that was definitive.
The scene of the “baby” in Satan’s arms was a hellish parody of classic Renaissance artistic impressions of the ‘Madonna and Child’ (it’s that Catholic imagery stuff again, sometimes referred to as “idolatry” by people who don’t believe beautiful, artistic expressions of our faith can inspire us to greater holiness). Satan and the “baby” were choreographed in such a way that anyone familiar with Renaissance art would immediately think of the classic paintings of the baby Jesus stroking his mother’s cheek. However, once the viewer has a chance to focus on this ghoulish spectacle the terrifying reality of Satan becomes obvious. There are several parts in the film where Satan is portrayed as something potentially attractive until we are given a look beyond the facade to encounter the true horror of sin. It sort of mirrors our own everyday struggles with the devil and sin (if you believe in that sort of thing …). I found that to be an especially powerful and creepy part of the film, and probably a good reason to think twice before bringing young children to see it.
Dear Brethren,
I will be taking a break from this topic to pursue obedience to my husband’s exhortation against becoming obsessed with this because of our own passions for truth and hatred of evil.
It is much easier for me to become emotionally consumed and obsessed where I am passionate. Then I find it hard to think about anything else, and my mind is not at peace. Thank each of you who have stood for what you believe that is founded in the Scriptures. Thank each of you who have encouraged me and I give God all the glory for whatever use He has made of His infinite wisdom imparted to this poor womanly vessel.
Should any of you continue to e-mail me, I will be happy to continue to pass along the scriptures, but I will not be posting here until I have been given liberty….which I don’t forsee that being any time in the near future.
God’s peace and protection are to each of us who heed His Fatherly counsel. Come Holy Spirit and do what only you can do….convince us each of sin and judgment and rightly divide the words you authored to keep us from all deception in this hour…even unto the end of this age.
In Jesus’ Name above ALL Names…
Karen
It is interesting to read that so many of the additional bits in the film that I thought were little ‘artistic’ touches added by Gibson were actually bits taken from Emmerich’s book… thanks for the insite as I would not have had the time or patience to research this myself {:)
By the way - have you heard about the new Matin Luther movie: http://www.lutherthemovie.com/
Malessa,
I have heard of the movie. I don’t believe it is playing anywhere near this area or I would definitely go and see it. It claims to be historically accurate, I know, and have heard of no basis to doubt that. I look forward to it releasing on DVD since I presume it is unlikely to come to a theatre near me.
This is not true. The passion of the christ is very accurate. It was ten times worst but I thought it was hard enough to watch as it is. The Emmerich is a bunch of bull crap. There Is only one true book called the bible and is that is what you call your bible than that is wrong leave the name a lone! I can not stand it when people take the word of God and change it! I was writen for a reson. Mel Gibson made this movie so we could see what Jesus went throug for us and you sould be happy for that.
I think you have to be careful in applying the verse in Revelations 22:18 in reference to Mel’s movie. The Word of God is complete; however if we are not allowed to try to “make known the mystery of the Gospel”, we would never be able to use the Bridge or Flannel boards to help explain the Gospel to Children. It is also clear from Scripture that the Apostle Paul became all things to all men to win some. He explained the gospel in a way that each of the different cultures would understand. To the Greeks he said “I noticed you had a statue to an unknown god, will let me make Him known to you.” You would also have to throw out John Bunyons Pilgrims Progress and C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, along with a host of other Christian writings that helped make known the mystery of the Gospel.
As far as Anne’s vision I also think you have to be careful in discounting it completley. I think it is good to examine it closely compared to scripture. Is there anything in it that changes the Good News that “Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised on the third day. Seen by Peter then the 12 and many faithful witnesses.” That no man can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ. I think you could only say it deviates from the Gospel near the end of her writtings which some would argue were added by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic chuch actually persecuted Anne, along with the Author of St. John Of the Cross. Like St Patrick they were later accepted as Roman Catholic even though all three wrote things that helped explain the Gospel, something the Church of Rome often makes hard to understand.
If you ever read all of their writings, especially the Confessions of St Patrick, it is obvious that they were not Orthodox Roman Catholic’s. I believe in particular that the endings to St. John of the Cross and Anne’s vision of the Passion were later added at the insistance of the Popes.
In reference to the Movie benig an Idol/Icon; again you have to review it in light of scripture. If people are bowing down and worshiping the movie instead of God then that is wrong. From what I have seen of the movie, no one was bowing down to it at the theater. What I saw was an re-newed interest in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May the Lord Bless you all.
John Tobin
Just a question to those of you who think it’s sinful or sacrilegious to embody Christ in image (be it painting, films, etc.).
Do you think the Jesus film (Jesusfilm.org) is sacrilegious? How about my six-year-old nephew’s children’s books with Jesus’ image in them?
Like the post above says, shouldn’t we pay more attention to how people react to these images rather than see demons in mere physical matter per se?
The Catholic flavor of the movie was troubling, but hasn’t a good fruit of the whole affair been the re-introduction of Jesus into public discussion?
it has been an introduction to a FALSE CHRIST
Uh, how is he FALSE?
Read the table above. Except for Jesus saying, “I am your servant and the son of your handmaid” I don’t see anything else extra-Biblical in his actions (even though there is among the cicumstances that surround him). Gibson still had him saying “No one comes to the Father but through me” which saved a lot of the movie.
Golly gee, some heathen might open a Bible for further study on that one and we can’t have that, as the heathen was motivated by an image!!
Again, what is sacriligious about mere image? Everyone visualizes something while reading the gospels. It’s impossible not to. Non-American Africans consistently conceptualize Christ as black, Asians as Asian, and on and on and. Cognitive transubstantiation occurs in EVERY culture.
What precludes someone from entering a church and worshiping a cross hanging above the altar as a relic per se as opposed to what it symbolizes?
We can pull down every symbol in our churches and break every stained glass window and Surprise! we end up with people in our pews who worship money (those coloured bills tucked away out of sight in the wallet) or even something as mundane as the baskeball court outside (the jocks).
This whole discussion irritates me because as an Evangelical I know people whose churches are bereft of symbols and they haven’t read a Bible in years. Oh, but they’ve got the whole Left Behind library, every copy highlighted, dogeared, and memorized as Scripture.
There are very austere Pentecostal churches I’ve been to where they haven’t talked about two thirds of the Trinity in years. It’s all Holy Ghost this, Holy Ghost that.
I know a Baptist church that had a real handsome and articulate minister. He went to another state and half the congregation quit attending. They were worshipping HIM (talk about constructing a false idol from something of mere man).
Gee, I thought it was only those uncouth Catlickers who were heretic.
Oh yeah, lets burn up all the visual images and symbols in a bonfire. That’ll insure WE don’t get smug and prideful!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Zechariah 11:17 tells me that the christ in the movie is a portrayal of the antichrist as the movie christ has his right eye darkened as described in the KJBible. Folks are just being set up for the antichrist in Revelation 6, NOT the real return of the real Christ in Rev 19.
I wonder if any Evangelical Christians who paid to see the “Passion” movie have ever considered that the dollars are going into the treasury of a Roman Catholic cult? ( Mel is building his own church, no phone, no address and those associated with it instructed not to talk about it.) 250 mil and counting. Follow the money. Why were denominational leaders and pastors so quick to endorse such a movie? Where is discernment? Is this a dress rehearsal for what is to come? “they shall deceive the very elect”
I wonder if any Evangelical Christians who paid to see the “Passion” movie have ever considered that the dollars are going into the treasury of a Roman Catholic cult? ( Mel is building his own church, no phone, no address and those associated with it instructed not to talk about it.)
Mel’s private chapel was already built on his estate outside LA long before he began filming “The Passion.” Stories about it and references to it have been all over the media —complete with photos of the place!
Nevertheless, so what if Gibson had a such a structure built on his own property? Thousands of wealthy people over the centuries, especially European royalty and merchant families, both Catholic and Protestant, have had private chapels built on their estates. As far as I know, none of them started any of their own cults.
Btw, if “those associated with it [were] instructed not to talk about it” —like, to the media, maybe?— how did you manage to find out about it?
…250 mil and counting. Follow the money. Why were denominational leaders and pastors so quick to endorse such a movie? Where is discernment? Is this a dress rehearsal for what is to come? “they shall deceive the very elect”
AHA!!!! That means Mel Gibson MUST be part of the Anti-Christ’s Giant Global Vatican-Freemason-UFO-Elvis-Illuminati Secret Conspiracy, run of course by the Jesuits!!!
Ken, don’t forget the wear your tin-foil hat when you leave the house. That way the invisible rays beaming at you from the Vatican’s network of Covert Brainwashing Satellites (TM) won’t turn you into a mindless, John Paul II-groveling Romanist. :-)
Sometimes, the truth is [waaaaay] out there.
Zechariah 11:17 tells me that the christ in the movie is a portrayal of the antichrist as the movie christ has his right eye darkened as described in the KJBible. Folks are just being set up for the antichrist in Revelation 6, NOT the real return of the real Christ in Rev 19.
ROTFLMBO!!!
First of all, no one, not even Mel Gibson, claims that the purpose of his movie is to “set up” “folks” for the return of “the real Christ of Rev. 19.” It’s just a movie, not the First Wave of an alien take-over headed by Beelzebub.
Secondly, the KJV Bible renders Zechariah 11:17 as follows:
“Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.”
What in the world does this verse have to do with any prophecies of the Anti-Christ??? This is merely part of a larger passage (cf., vv.15-16) denouncing clergy who look after their own selfish interests while neglecting the needs of their flocks, or misleading them thru bad example.
Matthew Henry says this about that passage:
God, having showed the misery of this people in their being justly left by the Good Shepherd, shows their further misery in being abused by foolish shepherds. The description suits the character Christ gives of the scribes and Pharisees. They never do any thing to support the weak, or comfort the feeble-minded; but seek their own ease, while they are barbarous to the flock. The idol shepherd has the garb and appearance of a shepherd, receives submission, and is supported at much expense; but he leaves the flock to perish through neglect, or leads them to ruin by his example. This suits many in different churches and nations, but the warning had an awful fulfilment in the Jewish teachers. And while such deceive others to their ruin, they will themselves have the deepest condemnation. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)
Likewise, John Wesley interpreted the key words in this passage as follows:
“The idol shepherd” — To them that are but the images of shepherds.
“That leaveth” — Casts off the care of the flock.
“The sword” — Of the enemy, shall break his strength and be-fool his counsels.
“Dried up” — They that have gifts which qualify them to do good, if they do it not, they will be taken away. They that should have been workmen, but were slothful, and would do nothing, will justly have their arm dried up. And they that should have been watchmen, but were drowsy, will justly have their eye blinded. (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)
Nope, no Anti-Christ prophecies there that either Henry or Wesley could see.
Emmerich In Perspective
Following is an excerpt from a review of Gibson’s film in First Things, a conservative Christian public policy and social commentary monthly published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life (an ecumenical think tank run by Evangelical Protestants and orthodox Catholics).
The entire review can be read here: http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0403/opinion/hittingerlev.html
Last year, theological criticisms and concerns were expressed on the basis of an unofficial script apparently stolen from Gibson’s production company. Whatever the provenance of the script, this criticism was bound to miss its target because the film depends almost entirely on what the camera shows rather than on dialogue. Though the film occasionally draws on extra-biblical sources, the theological outlook it presupposes is standard Christian fare. Gibson read the visions of the Venerable Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich, an eighteenth-century German stigmatist and mystic. The Romantic poet Klemens Brentano (author of Des Knaben Wunderhorn), put the visions into writing, beginning with the Dolorous Passion (1833).
The book is a series of simple but graphically detailed compositions of time and place. One of Gibson’s scenes is taken directly from Emmerich. After the scourging, Pilate’s wife Claudia gives linen cloths to Mary and the Magdalene, which they use to mop up the sacred blood. Emmerich also “sees” Jesus on the Mount of Olives looking at the very grotto where Adam and Eve took refuge after being expelled from Paradise; Satan tempting Jesus, saying that the restoration of Adam is too great a burden for one man; and, at the cross, Jesus as the second Adam asleep, from whose side is brought forth the new Eve. Indeed, Gibson’s movie begins with Jesus crushing the head of the serpent in the garden, and Adam-Christ/Eve-Mary typology is apparent throughout it. Still, the question of how much of this imagery was inspired by Emmerich’s visions is inessential, for such imagery and ideas abound in traditional Christian liturgy, hymnody, and iconography.
Everyone was concerned about the anti-Semitism of this film. After seeing it, reading Emmerich’s words and Gibson’s declaration that the Roman Catholic Church is the only way to salvation, I think we ought to be more concerned about it being anti-Protestant. This is a very Roman Catholic view of the passion. Delve into Emmerich’s words and you will read about someone who worshipped Mary, which is what “The Passion” wants its viewers to do, as well. This film is all about Mary and imprinting Catholic doctrine on the evangelical Protestant community. Perhaps Mr. Gibson’s next film project could be an adaptation of “Foxes Book of Martyrs.” That would provide him with lots of blood, gore and pain, the kind of stuff he likes to bring to the screen. Ooops … the Roman Church, however, would be the bad guy, not the good guy like in the Passion, where Pilate was so compassionate.
Carl,
While the movie included extra-Biblical content, and parts of it were taken from Emmerich, there is no Caltholic-evangelistic message here. No worries - we won’t see flocks of people becoming Catholics. We are, however, seeing millions of people flock to see the movie and every one of them is being exposed to Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. That - just simply - isn’t a bad thing.
As for the Mary stuff in the movie - it was benign. She came across simply as His “Mom” - which of course is all Mary ever was according to the Bible. She didn’t come across as “Our Lady” of anything.
The Passion movie is a powerful tool. No need to fear it or overreact about the Emmerich nonsense. It is what it is. Better that we concentrate on using the opportunity the movie is affording us to further the Kingdom.
God Bless,Doug
r u kidding? Catholics r sickos!!!
I hope the “Joe” character is not my son!
“r u kidding? Catholics r sickos”?
Listen, Joe… always make sure to check with your parents first before you get onto the Internet.
My humble thought is that the ultimate theme is to bring us back, after the 12 hours agony of Christ, to Jesus on the Cross. To us it happened 2000 years plus ago. That travelling back and forth in history helps to connect ourselves to the Cross. And apart from that we brothers and sisters, parents and children, through the centuries, of different races, genders, Christians, Catholics, Protestants are under the Cross and connected by the same Cross.
Another point, the flashbacks of the childhood of Christ may be an insertion by Mel himself, however, I have heard of the reflection that it vividly served as a stark contrast (or reminder) to what Jesus has given up for our sake. Which I do believe.
Let he who is without sin cast the 1st stone~I am a Roman Catholic~ Catholicicsm is a beautiful part of my journey with Christ and the Holy Spirit in this world. No where in Catholic Doctorine is it even remotely acceptable to call people of other faiths “sickos” . And I don’t recall Jesus doing any name-calling either. What is the great fear of Catholics about? The beauty in the faith of our Lord revealed through my Catholisicm, is present in every protestant faith around today. The Catholic Church held fast to the teaching of Jesus, preserved and passed down the Scriptures through the generations, in order that each of us can know and study the Word of God today. Please, as Christ did, treat each and every person, every soul alive, living and dead, as Christ would have, as if He were sitting next to you right now. Treat His Mother as you would percive He treated her. With love….
I believe we should be careful in the end times because the Bible warns us that the elect will be deceived and we should know that the Word of God tells us to discern the Spirit, I can testify of this because I have been a Christian for some 11 years but it still happened that a a point of time I turned to vampirism but thanks to Jesus he bought me from wrath by forgiving my sins and now I serve him with all my heart. Indeed the Passion of Christ has some vampirism. People I warn you that Jesus in the Bible tells us that he is the good sphepherd read John 10and (Joh 10:1) ‘Verily, verily, say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber’…and do not be deceived by others. with the love of Christ