"The Passion of the Christ," the most recent attempt to depict the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is a 90-minute, visually driven portrayal of the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus.

"The Passion" is, in my opinion, the clearest depiction I've seen of who Jesus was (and is). The Aramaic and Latin languages do not interfere with the message of the film. The placement of English subtitles in places aids in following the story, and they are generally "real-time" scriptural quotations. Despite the language barrier, the action is followed easily.

This movie is rated R because of director Mel Gibson's attempt to capture the authenticity behind the violence and bloodshed that Jesus needed to experience in dying for the sins of humanity. In many of the messages I have given, I have attempted to portray the graphic nature of Jesus' sufferings. I have never succeeded as well as Gibson does in this movie.

People often use terms like "enjoy" when they talk about a movie they have seen. I cannot employ those words about this film, because they do not accurately convey its impact on me. "The Passion" is an experience unlike any I have ever had in a movie theater. It was as if I were an actual eyewitness to the final 12 hours of Jesus' life. You are not left with any doubts as to why Jesus went to the cross or that he was a voluntary sacrifice on your behalf!

The most difficult part of the film for me to endure was the beating Jesus took at the hands of the Roman soldiers. In my preaching, I have often tried to verbalize how brutal such a beating could have been. Let me just say that when the film finally moves on to the crucifixion, I was physically and emotionally relieved. At the hands of these Roman soldiers, death for any victim would have been welcomed.

I found all of the characters believable. In fact, the casting must have been an act of God. You recoil at the sight of Satan, you pity Pilate, you despise Herod, you groan for Mary. And Jesus' magnificent and holy moments will be experienced by everyone who sees him!

I have never seen a film that has affected me so deeply. Occasionally one might revisit scenes from previous movies, but this film invades your mind and heart. It is spiritually and emotionally haunting. Scenes keep coming back, demanding my thoughts and my reverence.

About 2,000 other people attended the preview I saw. At the movie's conclusion, everyone just sat in silence for about two minutes. We were all so moved by what we had seen.

(Todd Young is the pastor of Highlands Baptist Church in Reedsport.)