Mel Gibson’s depiction of the historical account of Christianity’s most significant figure, Jesus Christ, is one that is sure to leave a mark forever in the world. The film, released in 2004, not only received three Academy Award nominations but remains the highest-grossing R-rated film in the United States and Canada.
However, there were happenings during its filming in 2003 that not many people know about.
While the odds of being struck by lightning are low, it happened three times on the set of The Passion of the Christ. The lead actor Jim Caviezel claimed he was “lit up like a Christmas tree” while filming the Sermon on the Mount. According to him, he knew the lightning was going to hit him about four seconds before it happened. After the strike, a fire was coming out of his head, and his body. Five minutes after Caviezel got hit, Jon Mikalini also got hit when he approached the actor to see if he was okay. T
Filming The Passion of the Christ had a profound effect on the cast and crew members involved in the production. The film’s set became the site of some conversions. Actor Luca Lionello, the actor who played Judas Iscariot got converted by an “angry atheist” accepting Jesus Christ as his lord and savior. He baptized his children, sanctified his marriage, and came back to the Church. Another cast who played one of the soldiers that flogged Jesus, converted from being a Muslim to a Christian.
Who is Jesus Christ and What is His Passion?
The person of Jesus Christ is described in the Christain’s Scripture, John where He is introduced as the Word which was present at the beginning, was with God and who is God himself. A verse further into John also explained His purpose and significance to the world.
Christ’s passion tells of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
- He was betrayed by one of his disciples.
- Falsely accused of blasphemy by the Jewish religious leaders.
- Flogged before he was crucified and was nailed to the cross with nails through his hands and feet. He was then left to hang on the cross for six hours.
- Died on the cross at about 3:00 pm. He said “It is finished” shortly before he died.
- He was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.
- and on the third day, rose from the dead, appearing to his disciples several times before ascending into heaven.
