Passion of the Christ

¶ … Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ contains universal and timeless motifs, symbols, and themes. Among the themes that most viewers will easily relate to are the love between mother and child, the nature of human suffering, and the nature of devotion. However, one of the most poignant topics addressed in the film that also pertains to the modern era deals with the nature of government, the ways politicians function in their public and private lives, and the interface between religion and politics.

In the film's depicted time period as well as in the modern era, politics cannot be separated from many business or judicial decisions. Jesus of Nazareth was deemed to be a threat to the existing state and religious hierarchies. His teachings undermined the authority of the Jewish priests, who were in informal collusion with the Roman government. Although no exact parallel can be drawn between the situation depicted in the film and the modern era, any political dissident who amasses a large following would be likewise persecuted by the government or by whatever organization felt threatened. Viewed as a political and religious insurgent, Jesus' presence especially irritated the upper echelon of Jewish priests, who pressured the Roman consul to officially prosecute and execute. Nowadays, individuals are still being persecuted for their beliefs; although people are not being crucified literally, many have been figuratively hung for espousing beliefs that threaten the establishment. Jesus was basically a political prisoner. Likewise, in the wake of September 11, the United States government has kept many individuals in custody for interrogation regarding their political allegiances and their supposed links to terrorist groups.

Moreover, The Passion of the Christ illustrates how politicians differ in their public from their private lives. The Roman consul did not act according to the dictates of his conscience, did not have any evidence against Jesus, and did not sentence him using principles of due process. Pontius Pilate was depicted in the film as a torn and emotionally distraught man, whose personal conscience conflicted with his political duties. Politicians today and throughout time have had to make decisions against their personal interests. Pilate's wife was a devotee of Jesus and he seemed to believe in the man's innocence. However, the governor succumbed to political pressure and to the fear that to release Jesus would cause rioting and instability in the region. The mob rule seen in The Passion of the Christ also occurs today; although it might not influence politicians in as overt a way as it did in the film, mob opinions do factor into political decisions. Politicians often act not according to what they feel is morally just but to what they feel is necessary to sustain their careers.