Actor Jim Caviezel bore so much suffering to portray Jesus Christ in the 2004 movie, “The Passion of the Christ”.
Actor Jim Caviezel bore so much suffering to portray Jesus Christ in the 2004 movie, “The Passion of the Christ”. But through it all Jesus was glorified, the Gospel preached and Jim Caviezel came closer to God. Read the following to learn of Jim’s suffering during filming and how God worked through it.
I’d like to share the story of Jim Caviezel, who acted as Jesus in the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” (2004). The movie broke box-office records around the world, becoming one of the highest grossing films of all time. Recently, I learned why Jim’s performance moved many. When he was offered the role of Jesus by Director Mel Gibson, he realized that the initials of his name were the same as that of Jesus Christ (J.C.) and that he was 33, the same age of Jesus when he was crucified. He received the offer as divine calling and prayed that people might see Jesus through himself in the movie. During the filming, he experienced several kinds of suffering. For instance, his shoulder was dislocated while carrying the cross. He protested, “Lord, we’re trying to make a movie here, and I’m just an actor. Why don’t you protect me?” But his suffering continued: While filming the flogging scene, one of the whips missed the steel board on his back and cut a 13-inch gash into his back. While filming the crucifixion scene, he contracted pneumonia and suffered hypothermia that almost threatened his life. He went through the filming and endured all the pain, thinking, “If I die to make this movie, many will be saved.” When he took part in Jesus’ suffering, people indeed could see Jesus through him. He testified during an interview that he was transformed through the experience. The Lord answered his heart’s prayer by drawing him into close communion with Himself. (from Pastor Abraham T. Kim’s 2015 UBF New Year’s Message.)
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