For the past five years, it has been my tradition to watch The Passion of The Christ on Good Friday. The film is exceptionally well done and moves me to tears every time I watch it.

It serves to remind me, in a way that almost nothing else can, how much my Lord suffered for me. For my sins. For my redemption. Oh how He suffered, for me.

My two oldest children are 11 and going on 10 years old. I am seriously considering asking them to try and watch it with me. I want them to understand the last supper, the agony in the garden, and the crucifixion in a way that they never have before.

This film did this for me. It moved me to pity and remorse in a way that I never felt before. It is my hope that letting them watch it, even if they must close their eyes during much of it, that they may garner a much greater understanding of what Jesus suffered for them and just a little of the remorse that comes with it.

Needless to say, my wife is opposed to this plan.

Truth be told, The Passion of the Christ is sometimes brutal and almost impossible to watch. The scourging at the pillar makes me avert my eyes every time—every time.

But the truth is that Jesus suffered like that (or something quite close to it) and I want my children to know it. To really know it. And nothing does that like watching it.

That said, I do have a fear that it will be too much for them and not have the results that I intend, or possibly even effect the opposite.

So I am truly interested to know if anyone out there has any experience with children around these ages watching this film. How did they react? Did they understand it? Did it move them or did it scare them? More good than harm or more harm than good?

You have 24 hours to help me make up my mind before my wife makes it up for me.

What say you?