The Omnibus

Issue date: 4/22/04 Section: The Gallery

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"He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief." Isaiah 53:3

This passage from Isaiah is the scripture verse on the front cover of the book "The Passion."  The coffee table book contains still photos from the movie "The Passion of the Christ," as well as Scripture references.

"Holy Scripture and accepted visions of the Passion were the only possible texts I could draw from to fashion a dramatic film," Mel Gibson states in the forward of the book. "But what about the film itself? I wanted the effort to be a testament to the infinite love of Jesus the Christ, which has saved, and continues to save, many the world over [...]. That is the truth I aspired to, as did my friends Philippe Antonello and Ken Duncan, both of whom were often on hand during the filming. Their keen-eyed way of looking and seeing fills this book."

Gibson's book is divided into sections, each portraying a step in the journey that led to Jesus' resurrection. The Scripture verses, all quoted from the New Living Translation, are at the beginning of each section and also underneath some of the pictures. The book also includes pictures of Gibson and the cast and crew as they filmed the movie.

The book begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and ends with His resurrection. All of the photos are in color, except for a few of Jesus' last moments on the cross. These are black and white, just as the film portrays the scene.

The photographers, Antonello and Duncan, were able to capture this life-changing movie from many different angles. They took shots from both afar and close up.

The photos of the actual filming display how much work Gibson and his crew put into making this movie. There are several pictures of Gibson and Jim Cavaziel, who played Jesus, discussing details. Plus photos of Gibson and others sitting and thinking are also included.

Having the Scripture verses scattered throughout the book adds to its quality. The verses under the photos are short and concise, not taking away from the power of the photo. The other scriptures set the stage for the photos on the next couple of pages.

Gibson is right when he said the book reveals biblical truths. The pictures really do tell the story better than any words could.  

"The images that move rapidly in the film move more slowly in these photographs, but pull you into the moments they depict," Gibson said. "They are, in their own right, pieces of a larger revelation. My new hope is that 'The Passion of the Christ' will help many more people recognize the power of His love and let Him help them to save their own lives."

"The Passion" is now available in the Southwest Baptist University Bookstore.  Like the movie, the book is a powerful drama for experiencing God's love and Christ's sacrifice.

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