Mel Gibson's Movie "The Passion of the Christ"

[VanceWxMan]

Below is an email that I received. I am not big on SPAM...matter of fact I HATE IT but this spoke to my spirit and I hope that it speaks to yours.
Just read and you will see for yourself
The avatar to the left is one that I made to help promote this movie.
BTW on the set of Mel Gibsons movie a crewmember was hit by lightning 2 times! That person is still alive and only had smoking fingertips for a few mins after the event! MIRICALES DO HAPPEN!

Lets spread the word about this LIFE CHANGING MOVIE!!!


Below is written by Lisa Bevill who was at the screening , where Mel Gibson appeared to do a Q&A. This movie is going to be AMAZING!!!

Hey friends and family,
Last night I attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's movie ....12/8/2003, at Ricky Skaggs' church in Hendersonville. I attended with Bonnie and Brent King. There were about 200 people in attendance.
Well,....let me just say that I am speechless, moved beyond words and sobered by what I saw last night. I'm sure many of you will be receiving emails from some of your friends who were there as well...and you'll probably be bombarded with their own personal stories.. There were many country artists as well as Christian artists there, along side some radio and press folks. The movie was in a rough cut version...but still I thought a very finished state,...special effects had not been added yet, nor was the music complete....still it brought uncontrollable weeping from everyone.. I couldn't stop crying through the whole movie. And when the movie was over, there was complete silence in the church.. I wanted the story to go on and on...for another two hours.... I think the movie was about 2 hours long. It got started late, like around 7:30, and the next time I looked at my watch it was 10:30... so I actually don't even remember. There was a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself, so who cared what time it was. Every moment of the movie was captivating,..breathtaking....still there are no words.
The beating and suffering of Christ was almost unbearable to watch. The scenes with flashbacks of Jesus when he was a little boy and a scene of his mother running to comfort him and then cradling him in her arms after he had fallen down about the age of 4 or 5.....was interlaced with scenes of him falling to the ground carrying his own cross, so bloody and unrecognizable...and then her holding him in her arms after he had been taken down from the cross. Her face then stared into the camera while she was holding him...and you could just imagine the things she was thinking. Every parent who was seated near me ... fell apart.
The nails being hammered into his hands was the most real thing I had ever seen. One scene of Jesus and the interaction with his mother...just reminded me of every 20-year old man/child and mom relationship. Where she's trying to get him to come to eat...and has to remind him to wash his hands before eating...she brings water to wash his hands..and after washing, he gently splashes water on his mother..but then wraps his arms around her and kisses her on the cheek....and takes off running to the food.. I don't know..it just reminded me of something my 15 year old Cody would do to me..... And the thought of one of my boys going through that, just made me want to die inside...
Anyway... I could go on and on....but I truly have no words....as you can tell by the book i'm writing here....ha ha ha
There was a question and answer period last night with Mel himself. We had heard rumors that he's been showing up to these screenings. I got brave enough to put my hand up and ask a question about the miracles that we had heard about, on the set. And he began to talk about so many I couldn't really keep track. I remember hearing about one of the actors being hit by lightning twice yet walking away from it..with only smoking fingertips, healings , conversions on the set,..but I especially remember him talking about a Two-year old child's, hearing and sight being restored...and he said...you know you can't fake that when you're two. So we know it was real.
He was asked about Spiritual warfare on the set...and he just laughingly said..."Oh yeah..just being in Italy alone was enough warfare,..but he said it was intense.
He said that the bad press surrounding the movie..is just a few small pressure groups that are causing all the noise. But seem to have the loudest mouths. And that became the reason for having these small private screenings..is to get the word out and to start a grass roots campaign into a swell. WOW....that sounds familiar. We all get the chance to be Christ's disciples all over again, in a fresh new way...
Ricky Skaggs asked the final question of the night to Mel.....about how we can pray for him, help him, spread the word etc. He said that "prayer was the most powerful thing. And not to pray for all our enemies to have warts grow on their faces, (laughter), but to pray for our warring angels to fight against satan's angels, because the people don't know any better, they are clueless...and they are just being used by satan."
It was mentioned to everyone in the crowd who were artists, press folks, radio..and such..anyone who had a website...to get on a mailing list and sign up. That they would be sending links, so that everyone could put it on their websites,...there would be movie trailers that artists could take on tour with them, show at concerts....any type of promo material on product tables etc.
They passed out a poster flyer last night as we left...and the official website address is http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com
This is the address they have on all promo materials for the movie.
It was a little easier to see the trailer on this site....as it was equipped for all computers video capabilities. You can go to this website and register to find out more info on how to help. This other site that is listed will just give you more info on press stuff and more press on the miracles that happened.
http://www.passion-movie.com (fan site)
The movie comes out February 25, 2004.. Ash Wednesday...in theaters nationwide. And the movie's official title is The Passion of the Christ. Mel said that he spent 35 million of his own money to make this movie.
Mel,.. I have to say is a man of the word! He knows the Bible..and is a sold-out believer. He said that this movie has been his passion for the past 12 years....just 3 years ago did the Lord begin to give him landmark signs that now was the time to start filming the movie. He mentioned some of them...but one that stuck in my mind, was him saying that some random little old lady in France I think...came up to him and said something to him that nobody could've known, I don't know what she said to him..but he said the signs to get started on it, were unmistakable.
Ok....well...I know that I am changed...and I pray that what I saw will be etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to never forget the price you paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, or complain....shut my mouth Lord. And help us all to remember,...we are not home yet...that heaven awaits all of us who believe in Him....and that we all have a part to play, a heart to share, a burden to carry...and a story of love and hope to spread....
Thank you for the cross LORD! Make it a point to take your entire family to this movie!!!!
I love you all....and have a blessed Christmas holiday if I don't see or talk to any of you before then...
Lisa B

Aaron

[weatherlover427]

They also did a screening of this movie at my church (Saddleback Church) in Lake Forest, CA. Sounds like a very dramatic movie.

[Lindaloo]

FINALLY!! Someone brings to reality of what it was like for Him to suffer and die on the Cross.

[streetsoldier]

JMO, but it is NOT His suffering and death that we should dwell upon...it is His Resurrection, conquering Death itself, and the sure and certain hope of eternal Life with Him that matters.

I have heard that the movie went out of its way to present historical accuracy, and it's about time someone took the effort; but I feel that the POINT of His sacrifice is being missed. Badly.

[j]

I agree with you Bill about the point of his sacrifice, but I think the movie has done exactly what the producers intended to do, and that was to portray a historically correct account of "The Passion" , re: his suffering.

I've seen enough clips on O'reilly to send shivers up and down my spine, and hit my gut hard.....they have accomplished exactly what they had intended.

[GalvestonDuck]

Considering the fact that Mel is Catholic, of course it's going to focus on Christ's suffering on the cross. Remember, we're the ones with crucifixes showing Him nailed and bloody, not crosses post-resurrection. (For the record, I'm protestant Catholic...raised Catholic by my mom, but prefer to attend Baptist church like my dad).

Good point, J. It is what the producers wanted to show -- to show the pain and suffering during the Crucifixion.

[blizzard]

HEck, if the Pope viewed it and said that it is an accurate portrayal and that he (for the lack of a better word) endorsed it, well then it must be pretty accurate. I would definately like to see this film.

[VanceWxMan]

It will deffinantly be an EYE OPENER. yes it protrays the death of Jesus and my dwell on that but, folks without Jesus Death we would not be able to have forgivness and eternal life.
I love how the mmoivestarts with the scripture Isaiah 53:5
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our ininiquitiesthe chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with his stripes we are healed."
I like how the amplified bible puts the lstlastrt "and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole"
This was written by the prophet Isaiah in the OLD Testament BEFORE Christ was ever born!
So you see if he did not die there would of been no point in His resurresurrectiongree that Catholics protrprotrayon the cross. IMHO its sad that they fully don't understand the full meaning of Jesus death and resurection.

Thank you Lord for sending us your only son to die for our sins, take the stripes on His back, as well as all diseases and sickness; just so that we may be made whole and have a relationship with you again!

Aaron

[streetsoldier]

It should also be of some interest to note that the cross, let alone the crucifix, was NOT used as a symbol of Christianity until the late 6th-early 7th Century.

The believers in the Apostolic (to 150 AD) and Patriarchal Church (150-325 AD) eras didn't want their Lord depicted as an executed, common criminal (bad public relations in converting people under the Roman Empire).

Even the famous "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (In this sign, you will conquer) given to Constantine to have his men display on their shields was the superimposed Greek leters Chi (X) and Rho (P), the first two letters in the Greek word christos, or "anointed one" (this is clearly shown in conteporary illustrations still in evidence at Ravenna, Italy and modern Istanbul, Turkey).

A fish, a trident, and the Greek letters mentioned were the commonly employed symbols. Use of the cross was a relatively LATE phenomenon.

[GalvestonDuck]

HEck, if the Pope viewed it and said that it is an accurate portrayal and that he (for the lack of a better word) endorsed it, well then it must be pretty accurate. I would definately like to see this film.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108948,00.html

[JCT777]

I also would very much like to see this film.