Journey to the Cross: Day 5

On February 25, 2004, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ (Rated R for sequences of graphic violence) was released in theaters worldwide. The movie focused on the death of Jesus Christ. The movie starts with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and continues through the dwindling last hours until Christ breathes his last on the cross.

The director, Mel Gibson, found this to be a capstone work of his career, not just because of the granduer of the project, but also because of what it meant to him. He allegedly was the man in the film who put the nail to Jesus' hand and held the hammer that at last drove it through. While his face and body were off-screen, his hands were shown doing this. His decision to do this signals his personal involvement and participation in the sin that Jesus had to die for.

It's a reminder that we are invovled in the death of Christ as well. Our sin forced the nails through his flesh, too.

Below is the clip from the movie when Mel Gibson puts the nail to Christ's hand. Before Easter, rent the film and watch it for yourself (if you are under 17 years old, be sure to ask your parents). You might want to spend time before hand being silent and preparing yourself for what you'll see. As a disclaimer, the clip below also contains some graphic violence.