Monday 17 March 2008
The Passion (BBC)
I was interested to see this new BBC version of the Passion. We often complain as Christians that the BBC doesn't seem to mark Christian Festivals like Holy Week as well as it used to. It is encouraging therefore to see them producing something like the Passion. It is too early yet to see make a full assessment, but it is clear that it is a production that will need to be 'read' carefully. See my post above on spiritual reading on the dangers of relying too heavily on non Christian accounts of the faith! Clearly that is what this production is. It is a production designed to avoid offending Christians, Jews, atheists, and Muslims. That sounds a bit tricky when it is also supposed to be a reasonably 'straight' reading of the Gospels. On the basis of the first episode this seems to be accomplished by avoiding Jesus' miracles, neither denying them or asserting them. In other words dear viewer fill in the blanks. It seems that we are being thus presented with a design your own Jesus model. For instance, at what appears to be the Pool of Bethesda we see Jesus being very compassionate and caring for the sick, but no healing. Again you may have found the way in which Jesus obtains the donkey and colt somewhat odd. At first you think that Jesus is going to rob the poor owner of the animals but in the end buys them. This is quite at odds with the Gospel accounts in which it appears that Jesus has made a prior arrangement with the owner of these animals. I shall be very interested to see how they deal with the resurrection! Still, despite these criticisms, I think that it will be worth watching - just as long as you do so carefully. It may also provide good opportunities for discussion with friends and family! I think I shall still watch my copy of The Passion of the Christ as a superior piece of devotional viewing later in the week. It isn't an easy film, but I believe it has greater spiritual depth, and helps us to understand how much Jesus really did suffer for us.
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2 comments:
Whilst agreeing with your comments regarding the poetic licence taken over the donkey and healing I did find that there were several aspects of interest. First, the different characters of the disciples; the sons of thunder, James and John being an example. Secondly, the crowded atmosphere of the city leading to an explosive situation. Thirdly, the development of the characters of the Chief Priests and Pilate in their sense of leadership mixed with ambition and consideration of their responsibilities. As you say, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the story is told. However, the fact that it is being told in some manner at all will focus some attention onto this world shaking event at this present time which must be a good thing in the current climate.
The disciples don't really behave like people who know Jesus was born of a virgin, or have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God, or have seen Moses return to Earth, or have been given the power to raise the dead, as in Matthew 10.
It is not very realistic.
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