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The release of Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ, turned the world's eye to a real event that occurred over 2,000 years ago. Some today are now asking how such violence could be an expression of love on the part of a compassionate God. Even though the brutality of the cross was indeed real, one must ask if Hollywood is better at depicting violence than it is at explaining Divine compassion.

In John 19:14 (KJV), the reference is made to "about the sixth hour". This was probably Roman time, or about six in the morning. John's gospel was written near the close of the century, and chiefly for Gentile believers. (see John 1:38) Here he gives the time in terms familiar to them. In other places, he seems to reckon the hours of the day from sunrise rather than from midnight. (see John 4:6, 52; 11:9)