This man was destined to play the role of Jesus in this hugely successful Mel Gibson production. However, neither Mel nor Jim knew what kind of vicious demonic attacks would come against them as they accepted their part in producing the movie that would change millions of lives and their eternal salvation.
After leaving the service I contacted a close friend of mine to make sure she wouldn't miss this interview. Her reaction was surprising. She said she figured, "Oh it's just a dumb actor who happened to play Jesus, no biggie." Although she was in too much pain to sit in a pew at the time and was trying to rationalize why it would be okay to miss it - I still wondered how many other people possibly take this assumption about this particular actor.God chose him to go through the things he went through and play this part knowing he wouldn't give up. Jim was struck by lightening during the production of the film, went through double pneumonia and suffered a dislocated shoulder. Then after the film was finished he had to endure a heart surgery as well to repair the damage incurred from the lightening strike.
It must be noted that this particular movie was and is - by far the closest any movie has ever come to accurately showing the sufferings of Christ just before during and after the resurrection. Isaiah 52:14 talks about Jesus prophetically saying that he was so marred he was unrecognizable as a man. Even in Pilate's writings he records that he had never seen any one's face more marred than Jesus'.
Just the other day I watch a documentary on the History channel about the shroud of Turin. No doubt, there's a lot of convincing evidence in the Shroud of Turin that it is indeed the grave clothes of Jesus - they have technology today that shows huge evidence of the beatings Jesus endured throughout his entire body. In addition, they even have proof of the explosion of light that happened when the resurrection occurred. This is news that is both exciting and hugely intriguing!
Back to the impact that Jim Caviezel made on us. He blessed us with interesting stories and he both corrected and encouraged us greatly. Some of his profound statements were:
- "Freedom exists not to do what you like but to have the right to do what you ought."
- We are not called to a mediocre Christianity - just good enough to get into heaven, this is "fence riding," but be the best Christian you can be.
- The prosperity of gaining souls is everything to Jesus. Launch out into the deep and get ready for a catch.
- Love is important - indeed the most important of all things. Learn about true genuine love.
- Marital love is a constant merging of one will to another, that calls for sacrifice and compromise. You must continue to give, give and give to experience the sacrament of marriage. You communicate with Jesus through your spouse.
- Jesus wants you to pray from your heart not your head.
- He says that God let him know that the more popular words for today are "liberty, freedom & choice" but people need to decide who is it that they want freedom from - is it God?
- "You were not made to fit in, you were born to stand out."
