Passion of the Christ Essay

Becoming A Better Person For most of us, there has been a particular piece of art that has taken great effect on our lives in a positive way. Whether it being a painting, song, or even a movie, these positive influences change us as people, and we don’t even realize it until we actually think about it. The most influential piece of art that has affected me was the movie, The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson. This movie is based on the New Testament in the bible; the film primarily covers the final twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life. The Passion of the Christ has had a profound influence on my life by reminding me of the importance of being a better person. This movie has helped me to become more forgiving of others who betray me, to always be accepting towards the people who surround me, to grow stronger in my faith, and to trust in God’s plan for me. Throughout our lives we all come across a betrayal by someone we care about, and this movie has taught me to be more forgiving towards people who have deceived me. In the beginning of the film Jesus tells his disciples, â€Å"An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let them slap your left cheek too. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.† In this scene Jesus teaches his disciples that the urge of revenge is sinful; he tells them to pray for the people who mistreat them. This scene taught me how important it is to never fight fire, with fire. Holding a grudge against someone who has wronged you takes a toll on your life not his or hers. One of the most influential scenes in the movie is when Jesus is nailed on the cross to die and instead of cursing the people who wounded him, he tells his father, â€Å"Forgive them, father. They know not what they do.† This line really taught me to be a more forgiving person because if Jesus was able to forgive murderers, adulterers, and the people who nailed him to a cross, then what makes me think I cannot forgive people as well. I learned that hating others only brings poison to my own heart; it doesn’t hurt the people that have betrayed me in any way. Forgiveness is the act of overcoming the feeling of resentment towards someone who has treated you in a wrong way, and this scene reminds me that although others will hurt me, loathing them will only bring darkness upon myself. Not only have I become more forgiving of others, but I have learned to love the people who surround me. It is natural for humans to judge others on the way they look, or what they believe, and The Passion of the Christ taught me to love and accept everyone for their differences. We live in a diverse population with different styles, beliefs, and cultures, and this film has taught me that we are children of God, and we should love each other the way Jesus loves us. There is a scene where Jesus says, â€Å"You are my friends, and there is no greater love than a man to lay down his life for his friends,† My interpretation of this quote was Jesus telling his disciples that he will stand up for them even when no one else will, and this helps to show me how important it is to stand up for what is right. Countless people are mistreated because they are different and this scene reminds me that we are all created equally and should be treated with respect regardless of our disparity. A nother line in this film that has taught me to always love the people who surround me is when Jesus says, â€Å"My commandment to you after I am gone is this: Love one another as I have loved you.† When Jesus knew that he was going to be killed he told his believers that they should continue to love each other just as he has loved them. This scene has taught me the significance of valuing everyone you come to meet, not only because Jesus said it was right, but also because the small act of kindness you share to a stranger may be the only kindness they receive. The catholic religion has always been a great aspect in my life, but ever since watching this movie my faith has developed in multiple ways. The Passion of the Christ took all of my beliefs and expanded them, making them much stronger. The bible stories I have read multiple times were no longer pictures of my imagination, but were all shown to me so authentically. When the cynics told Jesus to prove that he is the Son of God he replied, â€Å"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.† This excerpt has greatly affected my life because the Catholic and Christian religion is based on having faith in God. Watching the resurrection scene in the film helped solidify everything that I stand for and believe in. When the  non-believers doubted Jesus’ true identity, it reminded me of myself when so mething I had prayed for didn’t turn out as I had wished. This scene showed me that we don’t need physical proof that Jesus is the Son of God because the whole catholic faith is based off of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Mel Gibson did a great job making everything so realistic and this guided me towards becoming a stronger Catholic. Having faith in God gives me purpose in life; it creates an understanding, comfort and love with an idea that I have someone to look up to. Amongst my growing faith after watching this film, I also learned to trust that God has a plan for each and every one of us. I grasped onto the thought that wherever I am in the world, and whatever I am going through, it is exactly where I need to be at that moment. When the doubtful man pleaded to Jesus that none of his prayers were being answered Jesus answered, â€Å"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.† This line from the movie reminds me how important it is to believe that if something is meant to be, it will be. After I truly comprehended the meaning of this quote, it helped me see all the choices I have ahead of me that can alter the direction of my future. I realized that because of this plan I wouldn’t be given any obstacle that I couldn’t handle, and this has made me significantly more patient towards problems that come my way. During the film Jesus also states, â€Å"The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps,† this reminds me that the choices I choose to make with my own freewill will not affect my final destination in life. This line in The Passion of the Christ has taught me that God will provide all of the resources necessary to help me reach my endpoint; he supplies me with the grace to accept the trials and tribulations to endure any circumstances. Throughout my life I have been given many things to be thankful for, but I have also been given multiple difficulties along the way. The Passion of the Christ helps to remind of the different ways that I can be a better person towards the world. Although this movie is based on Catholic and Christian beliefs, it has the potential to change anyone’s viewpoint on life. If people watched The Passion of the Christ they can learn to become more  patient, forgiving, and accepting towards others. This movie has the ability to change everyone’s outlook on life in a positive way, even if your beliefs differ from the Christian or Catholic faith. The Passion of the Christ Synopsis The Passion of the Christ is an American drama film made in 2004. It was directed by Mel Gibson, and is starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ. This film portrays Jesus Christ’s life according to the New Testament in the Bible; also known as the gospel’s by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. The movie primarily covers the final 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life, flashbacks of Jesus as a child with his mother Virgin Mary, and also briefly displays his resurrection. Works Cited The Passion of the Christ. Dir. Mel Gibson. Perf. Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci. Icon Productions, 2004. Film.