The impact, across the board, of 'The Passion'.

As I was in Clearwater with Roger doing several packing events in the S.E. U.S. over the past week, a friend in the church got us tickets online. We saw it Thursday night. As we sat down, and people came in and found seats, I made a point to look at each person coming in, usually being able to tell if they were maybe non-believers. Just small things...like coming in with popcorn and drinks...kidding around as if it was 'just another movie'. Not to their discredit though! Why should they act any different..they don't know Him!
As the film played, silence was no problem. No one had to 'shoooosh' anyone...NO ONE was talking! The scourging was so hard to watch. I do not have a weak stomach. But I found myself praying"Lord, help me keep watching." I wanted to turn away, but couldn't. It was ME lashing Him, it was ME spitting, it was ME mocking.... And as the theatre emptied after the film, we looked around at all the drink cups, popcorn boxes, candy packs........all still FULL! The people who brought them in could not even eat them! They knew...somehow they knew...that this was REAL! To watch other violent, bloddy films, was no problem...it was just Hollywood. But they knew, in their hearts, this was a true story. What this film is doing for Believers and un-believers alike is going to be revolutionary. It REMINDS us of, and INTRODUCES them to......the real Jesus.
It couldn't have been just nail Him there and be done with it! It HAD to be the worst ever DONE to show the greatest love ever GIVEN! God even took all the controversy and used it to draw people to the film. satan looses again! And the crucifixtion is, after ages, again de-sanitized. The lashes, the hooks, the rods, the flesh hanging, the blood pouring, the thorns IN the skull, and we still can't show it as real as it was! Like many situations.....'you had to be there' ! mapk