One thing Mel Gibson's movie has given us all is an opportunity to talk about our faith in Christ.

There was no scene like this in all history. He was only thirty-three, and no one wants to die at thirty-three. He knew what a roman crucifixion was like; he had seen it. The brutality of Christ's death was horrific, and graphic. Crucifixion was the worst kind of death imaginable in the Roman Empire, reserved for the worst criminals. He could have turned back even yet. He could have refused the cross, yet he knew that on that fateful night, the salvation of the world hung in the balance.

In the opening scene, Gibson takes us all the way back to the promise of Genesis 3:15, for a first glimmer of the Gospel: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gibson also takes us into hell itself, showing the devil screaming, knowing that victory over sin has been accomplished.

The movie opens with a quote which is the point of the entire movie, the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah, the Prophet, foretells of God's servant as a suffering Savior. More than 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Isaiah saw the sufferings of Christ and the purposes for his sufferings.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Just became a sacrifice for us, the unjust. Bear in mind that the worst part of Christ's suffering was being the Sin-Bearer, and being separated from the Father.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

He cries out, Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalms 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

At SOME ticket counters there were signs warning people ... yet I do not ever recall such a sign for other, more violent films. I do not recall any public outcry over movie violence from films that glorify violence as entertainment.

The real issues of The Passion that rile people are first, Gibson's "absolutist, literal and simple" message, which is, "you're either for us or against us."

I admit, this is, in fact, the message, the very words of Jesus. There can be no neutrality.

The other offense comes from the fact that Jesus died as a sacrifice for sin; He died to pardon us.

This means we need forgiveness. It means we are sinners, something people may not care to hear, nor accept. "How dare you imply that I have such a need!"

Like it or not: The bad news is that we're sinners in need of forgiveness; the good news is that Jesus died to purchase our pardon.

Some critics are offended that the movie implies they even need saving.

That is the true offense of the movie, that we are all sinners, polluted, and in need of forgiveness, in need of a Savior.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

A recurring theme of the movie is the Message of Jesus to love one another.

That is what we need to take from the film, and especially the love He had to become our Sin-bearer.

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.