What was the baby?

[JVAC]

Ok, I just saw "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, and I am interested in some of his portrayals of the devil.

Does anyone know who/what that baby was that she was carying?

Secondly what are your thoughts of Judas (according to the movie, or not)?

Any other subjects within the bounds of symbolism can be discussed, too.

 

[JMRE5150]

Ok, I just saw "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, and I am interested in some of his portrayals of the devil.

Does anyone know who/what that baby was that she was carying?

Secondly what are your thoughts of Judas (according to the movie, or not)?

Any other subjects within the bounds of symbolism can be discussed, too.

JVAC,
The baby was a mockery. Lucifer was taunting Mary and Jesus as if to show 'mother and child'. Mel Gibson added this saying "I wanted to show Lucifer and one of his minions mocking Jesus in a parental way".

Hope this helps. Its just artistic interpretation. I did personally find it somewhat goofy and chilling at the same time.

Better yet, James...what did you think of the movie???

 

[Bastoune]

I agree. Perhaps also a precursor to the anti-Christ?

 

[JVAC]

It was most interesting, I never thought of the devil being around then. The most interesting thing for me actually was when the story talked about Judas. I never really thought that he went crazy, or was tormented. I think that was an interesting theory.

Personally I always thought Judas was deeply remourseful after the fact. Mel didn't play that card though that much. He showed it a little bit but he really played up the torment. I think maybe he was trying to show how it would be like for those who go against Jesus.

The various demon/satan references where quite thought out, and to me that was the most powerful thing in the movie. For some reason the other parts of the movie didn't strike me in the least. I hear all these emotional reactions to it, but I had a real time associating that actor with Jesus. Also the actress that played Mary didn't seem as distressed as I always thought Mary was.

-James

 

[JVAC]

I agree. Perhaps also a precursor to the anti-Christ?

That is an interesting thought, could you elaborate?

 

[dsdumpling]

Another piece of symbolism was when Judas was being tomented by those kids/devil he went past a dead lamb.

 

[clinzey]

The baby was a mockery. Lucifer was taunting Mary and Jesus as if to show 'mother and child'. Mel Gibson added this saying "I wanted to show Lucifer and one of his minions mocking Jesus in a parental way".

I agree, I think it was mockery, but I believe it was based on some famous Catholic art of "Madonna and Child" Gibson had his people studying before filming.

And to comment on dsdumpling's post, I thought the dead animal was a donkey, with some possible connections to the triumphal entry.

And I didn't care for the portrayal of Judas going nuts. I thought the Biblical text has him kill himself out of guilt, but there was no madness involved.

 

[JVAC]

The donkey is kinda confusing. It kinda looked like it was smiling too. Well, its teeth were bared to make it look like it. That made it look semi-evil, almost like it was mocking him.

 

[Phoebe]

I posted my reaction over in the poll about the movie.

 

[ps139]

And I didn't care for the portrayal of Judas going nuts. I thought the Biblical text has him kill himself out of guilt, but there was no madness involved.

I think the madness of Judas, and the demons chasing him is based on the fact that Satan entered Judas in Luke 22. However, Satan entered Judas before the betrayal, not after - so, who knows?

I thought the Judas part was well done though.

 

[dsdumpling]

And to comment on dsdumpling's post, I thought the dead animal was a donkey, with some possible connections to the triumphal entry.

You know, the whole time I'm trying to figure out what that animal is and I read it was a lamb but the donkey makes more sense.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

...And to comment on dsdumpling's post, I thought the dead animal was a donkey, with some possible connections to the triumphal entry...

That's what I thought too...

 

[dsdumpling]

Mea culpa (is that how you spell it?)

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

Ok, I just saw "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, and I am interested in some of his portrayals of the devil.

Does anyone know who/what that baby was that she was carying?

Secondly what are your thoughts of Judas (according to the movie, or not)?

Any other subjects within the bounds of symbolism can be discussed, too.

Check this out:

http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=99257