The Last Temptation Of Christ

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Martin Scorsese
Universal Pictures

What if Jesus Christ is like any human being who is a sinner, confused, fearful, and doubtful to God's will? Will we ever be saved? These are the fundamental questions that Nikos Kazantakis (1951) portrayed in his book called The Last Temptation of Christ and adapted for the screen by Martin Scorsese (1988).

(Spoilers ahead)

Without a knowledge of the controversy that surrounded the film, one would easily to realize that this isn't the typical Passion of Christ movies from the beginning of the film. It started with Jesus Christ being tormented with voices in His head. He could not determine whether they are messages from God or from the devil. Then, it showed us that He does His living by making crufixes for the condemmed criminals. He is quite resistant with what He does but it is the only was He knows how to make a living. While in doubt, He continues to struggle with the voices and does what it says. Every now and then, He sees the light and feels sure of what He needs to do. Yet, every so often, as well, He fears that He might not be doing the right thing. On His last day at the cross, He received his last temptation. The devil tricked Him into believing that God wants Him to be saved and live the life He wanted as a man. The devil, disguised as an angel, brought Him down in the cross and marries Him and Mary Magdalene. Magdalene died so he married Mary, the sister of Lazarus, because the angel told Him so. With His new found wife, He had sons and daughters. On His death bed, he was visited by four of His disciples including Judas Iscariot. Judas told Him that He failed to save the world because he gave in to the devil's wishes. When He finally realized that he was wrong, Jesus asked for forgiveness from God. He has given Him his will to die so that He could save the world from all its sins. God took Him back and it was done.

When watching the film, one should be able to separate the fiction from the non-fiction because it a combination of both. Of course, one should have a clear knowledge of Bible history to be able to do so. If one is clueless about it, there lies the danger.

Among other things, what's best about the film is the portrayal of Jesus Christ. For one thing, he was portrayed by Willem Dafoe who wouldn't pass as Christ by any one's standards. He doesn't have the charisma or the kind feature that most Christ players have. In fact, he said that he is usually "perceived as an eccentric actor in dark little films, kind of the boy-next-door type - if you lived next door to a mausoleum." But because of that, he made Christ more human. A man like any other being on earth. When he speaks, he talks with arrogance so other people had a difficulty believing in him. When Lazarus's tomb was opened, he covered his nose the way other did because of the stench of death. These details may be true or not but they certainly made one feel that back then, Christ was one of us. That is why it is hard to blame some of the Jews for not believing in Him.

The sex scene between Christ and Magdalene was the most controversial part of the film. It was thought to be blasphemous by some chruch leaders and followers. But one has to realize that the scene were in a dream-like state. It should not to be taken as something that might have truly happened. It was the devil's last temptation so that Christ would abandon God's will.

Equally controversial was Judas's role. It portrayed Judas as Christ's most-loved and most loyal follower and that he was asked by Christ Himself to betray Him. Because that is the way it was written, according to Him. So unwilling as he is, Judas obeyed.

The book and the film isn't meant to be the truth. It can serve as a food of thought for open-minded people or should be taken for its entertainment value and nothing else.