Carradine’s reaction gives credence to MacArthur’s summations: “I didn’t know the extent of what He did,” she says. “The whole film is painful to watch — how horrifically He was treated — but the fact that He was asking God to forgive these people who were doing this to Him really stuck out to me.”

Anti-Semitic?

Because “The Passion of the Christ” has been immersed in controversy months prior to its premiere, other questions will likely revolve around the anti-Semitism issue. The issue has placed both Gibson and the film in the line of fire from critics concerned that it portrays the Jews as Christ-killers, especially at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise around the world. Last August, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement saying that the film portrays Jews as “bloodthirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of God” and will encourage violence against the Jews.

However, observant Jews who have seen the film say that the ADL’s and other critics’ arguments are unfounded.

“It is not anti-Semitic,” says David Horowitz, president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture and a conservative Jew. “There is never any distancing of Jesus or His disciples from their Jewishness. And the film clearly states that it is a Jew that carries Jesus’ cross and shares His miseries. The film is faithful to the Gospels and therefore the Pharisees are Jesus’ enemies, and they and their flock do call for His death.”

For Horowitz, the message of the film — as he perceived it — was clear: Love your persecutors. “I was in tears a lot watching the picture,” he recalls. “In my view, the violence committed against Jesus in the film renders accurately what the 20th century has done to the children of God. Each time you see the worst that can happen, there’s something worse than that. That to me is very much the 20th century experience — all focused in one figure, Jesus. That in itself, I found very moving.”

Gibson is hopeful everyone will be “uncomfortable” and see their
own culpability.

“I want to be as truthful as possible,” he told Zenit. “But, when you look at the reasons behind why Christ came, why He was crucified, He died and suffered for all mankind, so that, really, anybody who transgresses has to look at their own part in His death.”

Passion for Your Community - 15 Ideas to Maximize Your Outreach

1. PRE “PASSION”- Plan and prepare for this unique opportunity: Pray for people who may see it.
   Carefully choose a neighborhood you believe God wants you to reach. With multiple prayer teams, walk every street and pray for every house, asking God to reach each person with the message of the cross.