“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 NIV
Jesus’ love and sacrifice are themes we are so familiar with as His followers. We are saved by His grace, through faith, when He willingly went to the Cross in obedience to the Father. Even as His human flesh struggled, His Spirit was all in. “Not my will, but Yours be done,” He said. Jesus looks at us and sees how badly we need a Savior, and He knew it had to be done. He looks at us with love and compassion, and even as He walked to His death, He still did not take His eyes off the prize—our reconciliation with the Father. This is the look I felt through the screen as I watched The Passion of the Christ.
The film The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004. It is highly acclaimed both inside and outside the Christian community and is often regarded as one of the most accurate depictions of the crucifixion. I had heard of it and seen brief clips in music videos, which already cut deeply into my heart. However, I had never watched it—until this week.
In the past, I lacked the courage to watch it because I knew what would happen. I have seen other films about Jesus’ crucifixion, but most are watered-down versions. This one, I heard, aimed to portray what truly took place, though many scenes were flagged for their intensity. Imagining it is one thing; seeing it portrayed so realistically is another. While both are heartbreaking, the film’s intensely graphic nature made me hesitant to watch it.
However, since it is the Holy Week and we had a reflection on which day we would want to personally witness, and I avoided the Good Friday, I decided to watch this film to see if I could. Final verdict: I still couldn’t face that Friday.
Even with the non-stop tears that at times turned into ugly sobs, I still can’t help but notice the way Jesus looked at people even as He was going to His death. He was not focused on Himself. He looked at people with so much love and compassion that even as He was suffering, His concern towards others remains His utmost priority. Allow me to share five looks of compassion that stood out to me in this movie.
Malchus
Malchus was one of the servants of the high priest who went to arrest Jesus. In the chaos, his ear was cut off by Peter. Jesus was there, looking at the commotion, yet He did not miss what happened to this man who was trying to arrest Him. Performing His last miracle, He attended to Malchus and healed his ear. There, in the midst of chaos, Jesus looked at him and even made sure his name was written in the Book.
Our Savior could have easily ignored the situation—He could have simply let them arrest Him and left Malchus to be cared for by his fellow servants. Yet even as Malchus stood against Him, Jesus, with compassion, reached out and restored his ear. While he was actively going against God, Jesus still chose to restore him. An act of healing and mercy towards His enemy.
Barabbas
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner, a convicted criminal. He was in jail for charges such as murder and rebellion. He was condemned to crucifixion. He was clearly guilty and showed no remorse. He probably did not expect to be released that day, yet to his surprise, he was chosen over Jesus by the people.
When he least expected it, while comfortable in his sins, he received a pardon he did not deserve. Jesus looked at him, and he looked at Jesus. In the Lord’s eyes, He did not see this man as someone who took something from Him. His look seemed to say, no matter what you have done, even if you do not know it yet, I am releasing you. You are condemned to die, but I will die in your place.
As he fled the place, the Lord gazed after him. He may not even realize it but Barabbas was, in a sense, the first man Jesus died for. He took this rebellious criminal’s place on the cross. He was set free because of Jesus.
Simon of Cyrene
Simon was an innocent bystander, a traveler merely passing by the place where Jesus was. He was probably just curiously observing the scene, but he was forced to carry the Cross for Jesus. It wasn’t voluntary. He didn’t want to, yet he had no choice. Jesus was so weak and had already fallen many times by that point. Perhaps out of pity, aside from being compelled to do so, Simon helped carry the Cross.
Jesus, with His face covered in blood and His body swollen, with blood and sweat trickling all over, looked at him with loving gratitude. He is God, yes, but He was fully human at that time, and His body had limits. He was so weak, and here was someone who, though acting against his will, was helping Him finish the task.
Simon may not have known it, but he played a part in God’s plan for our salvation—a participation many of us would consider a blessed privilege with the benefit of hindsight. He may have hesitated at first, yet in this movie, he persevered to the end. He gave his best to help Jesus reach the place where He would then be the one to carry Simon’s sin.
The penitent thief
The penitent thief is not even named in the Bible. Unlike Malchus, there is no record of his name in the Scriptures. Initially, he also spoke harshly to Jesus, but then he realized the truth and acknowledged that he was nothing compared to the Lord. He was there because of the crimes he knew he had committed. Unlike him, Jesus was innocent. He eventually repented of his mockery and said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). With love and compassion, Jesus looked at him and answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Yes, his name may not be written for all of us to know, but it was written somewhere that matters most—it was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, assuring him that from that time on, he would be with the Lord Jesus.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter, being one of the disciples, had probably experienced many ways Jesus looked at people, but that day was perhaps the one he would never forget. Earlier that day, before Jesus was arrested, with all pride and bravado, he had claimed that he would never deny Jesus. With compassion, Jesus said that he would, but had already prayed in advance for his restoration. True enough, a few hours later, he did. Though he was hurting for what was happening to the Lord, witnessing how He was being abused, he was broken as well—but he was overcome by fear. He reverted to the human instinct of self-preservation, and before the rooster crowed, he denied Jesus three times. At the third denial, their eyes met. They locked. Jesus looked at him with love, understanding, and forgiveness. Peter broke down in guilt and shame.
Including Peter on this list is actually something that came to me later. I was thinking that he is not a “new character” in this story and that he had experienced the “look” before, but I realized that this one was different. It was a look he never expected to receive—a look that could have made him feel guilt beyond redemption, yet the Lord had assured him even before it happened. It may have broken him to be proven wrong, but the way Jesus gazed at him, though it may have intensified what he felt at the time, would later bring him comfort. He may have fallen, but the Lord did not hold it against him. He remained loved and accepted.
When His eyes met mine
As I watched the film I saw these different times Jesus looked at people, and every time I myself looked into those eyes—portrayed by Jim Caviezel with clear anointing from the Lord—I broke down. At one point, I was that Malchus, who knew no better and was condemning the Lord. I was going against Him, yet when I was broken, He still reached out and healed me. He was not focused on how I opposed Him; He was reaching out to heal me.
Like Barabbas, I used to not care about what He did to set me free. I was offered freedom without doing anything. Someone took my place, and I did not even appreciate it. I went into the world celebrating a false sense of liberty. I knew someone had done something, but I just didn’t care. I was focused on myself and did not care what happened to Him.
I can also say that at some point, I was a Simon of Cyrene. I was an onlooker, just curious about what was happening. Then I was pulled in. I was exposed to the Lord and His sacrifice. Before, I thought I needed to carry the Cross alongside Jesus—that my salvation depended on my work and His, that we were a team. Yet it isn’t. My part is to accept my Cross as a believer, but it is Jesus who truly carries it. Carrying the Cross alongside Him is a privilege, not a requirement for salvation.
That thief? Yes, I was him too. Though maybe not blatantly mocking Jesus, I doubted Him at first. Yet He never abandoned me and led me to repentance. I, too, have asked Him to remember me. Through a declaration of faith in Christ, by His grace and mercy, I received that same assurance that I will be with Him in paradise.
Now, Simon Peter. As a follower of Jesus, still being sanctified until the time He gives me my glorified body, I still fall repeatedly. God knew this. He warned us that temptations would come, but He will always provide a way out. He does not condemn us when we fail or fall. Like Simon, I have received that look. I have also been given the assurance that though I fall, I only need to confess, and He will forgive and cleanse me.
Lavish grace in His eyes
As I said earlier, I doubt I will ever be able to watch The Passion of the Christ again. Not that it wasn’t a good film, but I simply cannot stop crying from beginning to end—overwhelmed by a mix of joy, gratitude, regret, hurt, guilt, shame, love, dread, and so many other emotions. By the end, my eyes were swollen, my nose was runny, and I had a headache—and it was just a portrayal!
So, to answer the question of whether I could go back and witness what happened on that Friday, I don’t think I could handle it. I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude for what Jesus did. I cannot put into words how much it means to me to be seen that way and to be loved so deeply. The grace in His eyes is utterly overwhelming. I will never deserve it, yet I am profoundly thankful to God for it.
Should you feel compelled to watch the movie after reading this, I urge you to. Your life will never be the same again.
The Fit Stewards 