Last night I attended a private screening of Mel Gibsons movie at Ricky Skagg’s 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. There were many country artists as well as Christian artists there, along side some radio and press folks. 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..
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. I think the movie was about 2 hours long. 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. 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 craddling 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.
Read what Mel Gibson says about violence in The Passion of the Christ
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…
Read what Rebecca St. James has to say about The Passion of The Christ
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 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 — 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 Christs 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 satans 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 thepassionofchrist.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.
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!!!!
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