St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Why did Jesus die so quickly?

Further reflections on "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson.

I went to see the dreaded film with a group from St Luke's. "Church on the Way" had booked the whole auditorium in the Odeon (about 380 seats), and only about 20 seats were unfilled. The lady at the top of the escalators said she'd never seen anything like it: people queued everywhere before the doors opened to let us in.

After what I'd read about the violence of the film I was pretty nervous of it. I didn't find it as awful as I feared, but it's true they used a lot of tomato ketchup during the flogging scene! When it comes out on video, that's the bit to fast-forward or go and make a cup of tea.

But that was also the bit that set me thinking. Film producers always vary the story slightly because they think they can improve it. Why did Mel Gibson want to make such a lot of the flogging?

The gospels of Matthew and Mark both say Pilate argued with the chief priests about whether to crucify Jesus. He lost the argument and agreed to crucify Jesus. Then he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:20-26, Mark 15:8-15). Luke's gospel says Pilate offered to flog Jesus instead of crucifying him (Luke 23:16), but his offer was rejected, and it doesn't actually say Jesus was flogged.

John's gospel says the flogging came first. Then after another argument Pilate gave in and decided to crucify Jesus (John 19:1 & 16).

But Mel Gibson has turned the flogging into a ploy by Pilate to avoid having to crucify Jesus. Why did Mel feel the need to do this?

It was only later I found the answer. I'd always thought, and the bible seems to imply, that flogging was a routine part of crucifixion. But in the film the other two criminals don't get flogged before they are crucified. So they can still carry their crosses, and they live longer than Jesus does. As the bible records, they are still alive in the evening, but Jesus is already dead.

I think Mel Gibson asked himself why Jesus died so much quicker than the two criminals who were crucified with him? I think he decided it must be the flogging which explains this. The Romans were experts in crucifixion, and ordinarily they would never have allowed a flogging to weaken a man as much as Jesus was weakened. So Mel has used the flogging as Pilate's failed attempt to avoid a crucifixion.

I'm not saying Mel's explanation is necessarily the right one, but I think his film has asked a very good question about what led up to that famous death. Well done, Mel.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. June 2004, Page 2.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (June 2004) Vote! The Passion (2), Song: Come to me, Islamic racists? Kosovo Kids	Why did Jesus die so quickly? Further reflections on "The Passion of the Christ"* by Mel Gibson.* I went to see the dreaded film with a group from St Luke's. "Church on the Way" had booked the whole auditorium in the Odeon (about 380 seats), and only about 20 seats were unfilled. The lady at the top of the escalators said she'd never seen anything like it: people queued everywhere before the doors opened to let us in. After what I'd read about the violence of the film I was pretty nervous of it. I didn't find it as awful as I feared, but it's true they used a lot of tomato ketchup during the flogging scene! When it comes out on video, that's the bit to fast-forward or go and make a cup of tea. But that was also the bit that set me thinking. Film producers always vary the story slightly because they think they can improve it. Why did Mel Gibson want to make such a lot of the flogging? The gospels of Matthew and Mark both say Pilate argued with the chief priests about whether to crucify Jesus. He lost the argument and agreed to crucify Jesus. Then he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:20-26, Mark 15:8-15). Luke's gospel says Pilate offered to flog Jesus instead of crucifying him (Luke 23:16), but his offer was rejected, and it doesn't actually say Jesus was flogged. John's gospel says the flogging came first. Then after another argument Pilate gave in and decided to crucify Jesus (John 19:1 & 16). But Mel Gibson has turned the flogging into a ploy by Pilate to avoid having to crucify Jesus. Why did Mel feel the need to do this? It was only later I found the answer. I'd always thought, and the bible seems to imply, that flogging was a routine part of crucifixion. But in the film the other two criminals don't get flogged before they are crucified. So they can still carry their crosses, and they live longer than Jesus does. As the bible records, they are still alive in the evening, but Jesus is already dead. I think Mel Gibson asked himself why Jesus died so much quicker than the two criminals who were crucified with him? I think he decided it must be the flogging which explains this. The Romans were experts in crucifixion, and ordinarily they would never have allowed a flogging to weaken a man as much as Jesus was weakened. So Mel has used the flogging as Pilate's failed attempt to avoid a crucifixion. I'm not saying Mel's explanation is necessarily the right one, but I think his film has asked a very good question about what led up to that famous death. Well done, Mel. John Hartley
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