The Hush
Hollywood has robbed our generation of the wonder and awe that should be found in the final moments of the savior's life. From the older images of a sad, blue-eyed Jesus to the more recent, more violently graphic portrayals of his suffering, we have been trained to see the author of creation as another victim. To be sure, Jesus Christ endured terrible physical abuse and a barbaric death, but this wasn't what caused his dread the night before as he prayed, alone in the garden. The prospect of a much darker agony, something much harder for us to grasp, not only made the Son of God sweat drops of blood inanticipation, but according to Luke's Gospel also caused the sun's light to fail.The Hush presents a unique blend of images, combining glimpses of supernatural forces behind the familiar scenes with historically and biblically sound drama. Beginning with an introduction that sweeps from the manger to Christ's final trip into Jerusalem, a tone of tension and warfare is set: aftera long absence, the Master has returned to set his feet once more on his dear, own creation, territory long held by his enemy. Under the watching eyes of angels and demons alike, the infant becomes a boy, the boy a young man, and suddenly, this God in flesh and his adversary find themselves face to face, eyeto eye, one of them with a plan, the other with a different plan.There is passion and humor and friendship exchanged between Jesus and his disciples, while all around them danger and conflict and unseen posturing mounts. The week wears away, the two plans converge, and the Master is separated from his disciples. The hours tick down, the trials commence, andthe abuse escalates. Evil is unleashed like never before.And then comes the moment when the sun refuses to shine; as the Lord of the universe is nailed to a tree and lifted from the earth, the Hush descends.