Passion Plays depict the trial and death of Jesus Christ, with the oldest dating back to the 1700s. They are performed globally during Easter and criticized for anti-Semitic depictions. The crucifixion is a historical event, and the longest-running Passion Play is in Oberammergau, Germany.
A Passion Play is a dramatic depiction of the trial and death of Jesus Christ which occurred in the 1st century AD. From the Last Supper to the Crucifixion, a Passion Play attempts to dramatize the passion Christ experienced during this difficult time. Passion plays have been around for centuries, with the oldest written passion play dating back to the 1700s. They are also performed around the world, often to great fanfare and part of a long tradition.
This depiction of Jesus immediately before his death is a traditional part of many Christian denominations. It is also usually during Easter that passion plays are performed. Good Friday represents the day he was crucified, and Easter Sunday represents the day Christians believe that Jesus Christ rose from the grave.
According to the New Testament, Jesus’ arrest took place in the Garden of Gethsemane after a betrayal by the disciple Judas. He was arrested by the Temple guards after the Last Supper, during which he gave his final sermon. Christ was later condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, flogged and then hung and crucified between two thieves.
The crucifixion of Christ is generally believed to be an actual historical event. It is described in all four Gospels and verified by contemporary sources. Whether he was the Son of God and/or the Messiah remains a topic of discussion in modern theology.
Passion plays are sometimes criticized if the depiction of Jews is deemed hostile. This was the case when Mel Gibson released the film “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004. Gibson directed the drama and has been accused of anti-Semitic bias.
The longest-running passion play dates back to 1634 in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau. This show survives to this day, and over half of the city’s residents participate in the production. The inhabitants of the city are believed to have promised God that if He saved them from the bubonic plague, every ten years they would put on a play depicting the life and death of Jesus. Once the death rate began to decline, the residents kept their vote and since then there has been a passion play once every ten years.
The word passion is used to describe very strong emotions towards something. Jesus Christ is believed to have shown great passion during his trial and crucifixion, hence the title of the plays. His strong beliefs in forgiveness are evident in his words of forgiveness brought back from the cross “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
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