Passion of the Christ

I will admit that I'm not a really "strong" Christian. What do I mean by that? Well...I don't make it to church on Sundays, I can't quote scripture. Heck...I couldn't really tell you any of the "characters" from the Bible other than Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Adam and Eve (and the 4 apostles, of course). I try to say my prayers every night but usually end up falling asleep mid-thought. I take the Lord's name in vain (too often!), curse, scream at my husband (and mom...and sister), gossip...pretty much cover all the sins on a daily basis (well...except the BIG ones). My faith is something I always mean to work on and strengthen...I just never get around to it.

Until last night! Last night Sean and I were flipping channels and we happened to come across the last hour of "The Passion of the Christ". Neither one of us had ever seen the movie, and as luck would have it, we happened to tune in just as Pontius Pilate is "sentencing" Jesus to downright torture. Now...I'm vaguely familiar with what happened to Jesus when he was sentenced as a false prophet. Sean and I sat in church a few months back and listened to our pastor, Dr. Jim Jackson, tells us about the happenings of Good Friday (which weren't very good, ironically!). So I was familiar with all of this, but seeing it played out on the small screen was almost more than I could stomach.

For those who haven't seen the movie or who aren't familiar with what happened on Good Friday (or what happened leading up to the crucifixtion of Jesus) -- it was very, very violent and sad! As I sat on the couch (couldn't move!), I started sobbing! Watching Jesus get lashed over and over again, watching pieces of his flesh get torn from his body...watching his followers try to give him water and pray at his feet. It was just too much! I suddenly felt like a very, very small human being. The film pretty much brought me to my Christian knees! I started to think about God and how he sacrificed his son for the sins of man. Jesus knew what was going to happen to him, too, yet he didn't run. I love my daughter more than anything and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sacrifice her for the sins of my friends, family...anyone! So as I watched this film, I couldn't stop thinking about the selfless act that God and Jesus did on that fateful day. Even as Jesus was dying on the cross...as the nails were being rammed into his palms and into his feet...he prayed for his torturers! It was just so deep and so heavy...and exactly what I needed to witness.

I went to bed last night praying that I could/would become a better/stronger Christian. Watching that last night made me want to become a better person. It made me want to forgive a whole lot of people who have hurt me/wronged me in my 32 years of life. It made me want to try harder not to sin...and to try harder not to judge. After all...Jesus did not judge. And he, of all people, had every right to judge...but he didn't.

Anyway...if you haven't seen the movie "The Passion of the Christ", I stronly suggest you watch it (or at least the last hour of it). It has the possibility to change your life for the better. As for me? Tomorrow I start my 365 days of the Bible. By this time next year I will have read the entire Bible, chronologically, of course! I figure it's a small step in the right direction of becoming someone Jesus would be proud of.