Jim Caviezel Exhorts People to Seek God’s Presence Above Man’s Praise
By Movieguide® Contributor
SOUND OF FREEDOM star Jim Caviezel shared his experience making THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and how God was with him as he played Jesus.
“[W]hen we were on the cross together, He was completely playing the scene. That was my prayer. ‘I don’t want people to see Jim Caviezel. I want them to see Jesus,’” Caviezel told TBN. “‘I want them to see You.’ But the pain I felt was all of those people in the world that do not love Him. All these children that do not love Him.”
“[The movie] was truly birthed in pain, and it immediately threw me on my face,” Caviezel said.
The actor suffered a dislocated shoulder, pneumonia and was even struck by lightning during the filming of THE PASSION, which won the 2005 Movieguide® Epiphany Prize for Inspiring Movie. But from the start, Caviezel knew God called him to the role.
“Everybody wants resurrection. Nobody wants suffering,” the actor said. “But can you have the gold medal without suffering? Does a man, when he’s sitting there, and his country’s flag is going up, and he’s got a gold medal around his neck, and he’s weeping, is he going, ‘I’m crying because Nike just called and is giving me a $30 million contract?’ That must be it, or is it that I see the sacrifice?”
When Mel Gibson approached him about playing Jesus, Caviezel recalled the initial hesitancy both parties felt about taking on such a monumental role.
“‘If you do this movie, you may never work in this town again. I don’t want to be responsible for that,’ and I felt the fear because I thought of all the nice things that I have,” the 55-year-old confessed.
“And I realized that God had gotten me into this business, that my talent came from God, not from men,” he continued. “And so I said, ‘Look, man, we’re all called to carry our own cross. If you don’t pick up and carry your cross, you will be crushed by the weight of it.’”
Caviezel shared his desire to be an example of what it looks like to put his faith first.
“Your name may not appear down here in this world’s Hall of Fame. In fact, you may be so unknown that no one knows your name. The Oscars and the praise of men may never come your way,” Caviezel said. “This crowd on earth they will soon forget when you’re not at the top. They will cheer like mad until you fall, then their praise will stop—not God; He never does forget.”
He continued, “I tell you, friend, I wouldn’t trade my name, however small. It’s written there and beyond the stars in that celestial hall. For all the famous names on Earth or the glory that they share, I’d rather be an unknown here and have my name up there.”
Mel Gibson confirmed the long-time rumor last year there would be a sequel to THE PASSION.
“You can’t do it lightly and quickly. You have to really consider what it is that you need to show in order to be poignant,” Gibson, who is collaborating with Randall Wallace on the screenplay, said. “It can’t be linear. You have to have many things to juxtapose against one another, even from different time periods, in order to illustrate what something means in a more full way. And I think it’s going to be a real jigsaw puzzle to do.”
Movieguide® previously reported the details of the upcoming movie:
Over the past few years, it was reported that Mel Gibson was working on a sequel to THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST along with Writer/Director Randall Wallace (WE WERE SOLDIERS SECRETARIAT, and HEAVEN IS FOR REAL). THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST grossed over $600 million worldwide. The new movie would be titled THE RESURRECTION, taking place in hell and covering what happened in the three-day period before Jesus rose from the dead. Gibson has stated that the movie is a massive undertaking and would take years to develop.
In a USA TODAY interview with Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in THE PASSION, says the sequel is taking shape. “There are things that I cannot say that will shock the audience” Caviezel said, “it’s great. Stay tuned.”
While Caviezel isn’t spilling details as to the plans with the highly anticipated sequel from Mel Gibson, he did say, “the film he’s going to do is going to be the biggest film in history. It’s that good.”
Back in 2016, Gibson told USA TODAY that he is “trying to craft this in a way that’s cinematically compelling and enlightening so that it shines new light, if possible, without creating some weird thing.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
