In January I was privileged to preview Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of The Christ at the Global Pastor’s Network conference in Orlando, Fla. If what I saw is the final edition of the film I am of the opinion that its potential spiritual impact is inestimable.

With the filmmaking expertise that only Hollywood can employ, the opening scene has the camera filtering its way through the fog and the gnarled olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane to capture the silhouette of the Savior in the posture of prayer. Those who are familiar with the steps of the Suffering Servant during the final hours of his life on earth will be entranced by every scene and syllable in Gibson’s film.

The fact that the Jewish characters speak in Aramaic while Roman characters speak in Latin (with English subtitles) actually lends authenticity to the film. The timeless story of the cross has never been told with more realism and pathos.

The film is “R” rated for its graphic violence and rightly so, but let the “R” also stand for “redemption” for our salvation ‘was not redeemed ... with silver and gold … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1: 18-19).

Those who resist the thought of blood redemption will not appreciate the movie. Indeed, “... the cross is to them that perish foolishness …” (I Corinthians 1: 18). Yet, the scourging of Christ is depicted in vivid detail and would appear to correspond to historical accounts of such merciless punishment.

Some have decried The Passion as anti-Semitic, but it is as true to Scripture as any movie I have seen about the life of Christ. As I left the viewing of the movie all I could think about were the words of Isaac Watts: “Was it for crimes that I have done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!”

The Bible says, “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 53: 5).

When the film ended all I could hear were the sobs of the hundreds of people around me. I believe lives were being changed as people watched the film. The people left the church in an uncanny kind of silence as if they had been on holy ground.

God turned a whale’s belly into a habitation of prayer, used a lad’s adroitness with a slingshot to slay a giant, and used a donkey to set a prophet on the right path. I know it sounds ludicrous, but God could use Hollywood to bring revival to the church.