Remember This:
Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. For almost 2000 years, people have
come to God by faith through Jesus Christ. The Bible was written so that we would
know and believe on Jesus. He was and is the Savior of the World. The Lamb of
God...the Jewish Messiah. He walked the earth as a man but He was no ordinary
man. He was God in flesh! Sinless and Holy. He was not like you or I. He was so
different than you and I. The Apostle John writes, "And we beheld His glory..."
Jesus did not speak as others spoke. He did not teach as others taught but there is
more. He was not just a man. He was God in flesh. Sent by God the Father on a
mission to redeem mankind from hell. That is what the Gospel is all about. God's
unfailing love for sinful and hopeless humanity.
The world wants to portray Jesus as a "provocateur," “as one who challenges
those in his way as forcibly and aggressively" but those who really KNOW JESUS
AS THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD do not need movies to help them with their faith.
They KNOW in Whom they believe in. They read the loving words of God found
in the Holy Bible and within its pages lies all truth and food for the soul. Within
the Written Word lies all the spiritual food that one needs. We find comfort and
hope because we believe what the Bible says. Moreover, we believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ not because of a great actor portraying Him on film but because of
what the Bible says of Him. We know Jesus because we have received Him as our
Savior.
We believe the Bible...not man's interpretation of the Bible.
The Bible is the only accurate record and true portrayal of Jesus and ...
The Bible should be enough.
2Tim 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Copyright © 2004 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. For almost 2000 years, people have
come to God by faith through Jesus Christ. The Bible was written so that we would
know and believe on Jesus. He was and is the Savior of the World. The Lamb of
God...the Jewish Messiah. He walked the earth as a man but He was no ordinary
man. He was God in flesh! Sinless and Holy. He was not like you or I. He was so
different than you and I. The Apostle John writes, "And we beheld His glory..."
Jesus did not speak as others spoke. He did not teach as others taught but there is
more. He was not just a man. He was God in flesh. Sent by God the Father on a
mission to redeem mankind from hell. That is what the Gospel is all about. God's
unfailing love for sinful and hopeless humanity.
The world wants to portray Jesus as a "provocateur," “as one who challenges
those in his way as forcibly and aggressively" but those who really KNOW JESUS
AS THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD do not need movies to help them with their faith.
They KNOW in Whom they believe in. They read the loving words of God found
in the Holy Bible and within its pages lies all truth and food for the soul. Within
the Written Word lies all the spiritual food that one needs. We find comfort and
hope because we believe what the Bible says. Moreover, we believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ not because of a great actor portraying Him on film but because of
what the Bible says of Him. We know Jesus because we have received Him as our
Savior.
We believe the Bible...not man's interpretation of the Bible.
The Bible is the only accurate record and true portrayal of Jesus and ...
The Bible should be enough.
2Tim 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Copyright © 2004 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
***UPDATE: To read why we will not view nor endorse the new "passion"
film, click here.
Posted: November 2003
There's a lot of talk about the new "jesus" film that will premier very soon.
Now I have not seen the films but I have read many articles and reviews, as
well as seen clips of the "passion" movie on TV. Upon seeing the clips and
reading the information, I feel I must write this important article.
From what I have read about this passion film on various news websites:
1) Satan is depicted as an evil woman in the film.
This is blatantly unscriptural and has no scriptural basis whatsoever. That
alone would make a christian wonder how any Bible believing christian would
endorse such error.
2) The story is told from Mary's point of view and the viewer sees it through her
eyes. Clearly we know from reading Scripture that the Gospels scarcely even
mention Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the crucifixion except to say that she was
there at the cross during the time of Jesus' crucifixion. The Gospels were not
written from Mary's point of view,not even one passage. The Lord shows us
through Scripture...His Written Word... the poignant moments of Jesus's birth,
earthly ministry and his death and triumphant Resurrection.
3) The movie is filmed with actors speaking in Aramiac. Which of course, the
majority of the people who view the film will not even understand the language.
REMEMBER FAITH COMETH BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD....NOT
SEEING.
Something that truly puzzles me is why, in these last days, are movies coming
out about supposedly the "true depiction of Jesus"??? So many Bible teachers,
who are endorsing these films, are hailing them as "increasing our faith" but
truly the Bible says:
(Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Luk 18:8b) Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the
earth?
(Heb 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.
So we already know from the above passages that faith comes by hearing the
Word of God. That in the Last Days, before Jesus comes back, there will not be
much faith found. And that without faith, it is impossible to please God. God is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM.
UPON READING THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES, LET'S ASK OURSELVES
THESE QUESTIONS:
- Do these Jesus movies do more harm than good?
- Can one watch them and leave with greater faith than before entering the theatre?
- Is is possible that maybe these films will actually cause unbelief?
HERE MAY BE THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE FILMS:
In reality, we were not there 2000 years ago. We do not know what Jesus looked
like. To have an actor- any actor portray Jesus is lowering our Savior and doing
much disservice to the passages found within the Bible. The Bible tells us that we
must come to God by faith.
First of all, Jesus had power in His teaching and in His voice.
Luke 4:36 "And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying,
What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean
spirits, and they come out."
John 7:45-46 "Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they
said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man
spake like this man. "
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that
had authority, and not as the scribes.
Every man is beneath the Lord. No one can possibly have His character or His eyes
because Jesus is God ...the Second Person of the Trinity and when He walked the
earth, He was the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. (John, chapter 1)
He is the ONLY one who is both God and man. Jesus never sinned. Pure in every
way. What does a person look like who has never sinned??? None of us know. We
have all sinned and only Jesus was sinless.
So, in my opinion, to have any actor portray Jesus is truly insulting Him.
He is God. He is Holy. He walked the earth 2000 years ago and when He ascended
into Heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit who teaches us all truth and we have the
Word of God which is a living book that gives us the true visual portrayal of who
God is.
God did not need films to get His message across for the past 1900 years. All who
received Jesus, received Him by hearing the Word of God and believing. We are to
preach the Word. We are to preach the Gospel...the good news that Jesus saves.
Let us read Jesus's words to His disciples and to us:
Mark 16:15-19 And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto
them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
PREACH YE THE WORD!!
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been preached for close to 2000 years.
Folks over the centuries have read the Word of God and received much comfort
and increased their faith by reading the Scriptures. Are we trying to walk by faith
or by sight? Is it possible to increase one's faith by watching a movie that does not
follow Scripture completely and has to depict scenes from Jesus' life without
actually having witnessed it first hand? This would seem like a travesty to the
words of the Gospel. The Gospels were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the
passages give us the visual portrayal within the words of Scripture that we need to
understand.
In my opinion, to make a film to accurately portray Jesus is insulting the very
author of the Bible, God Himself, who gives all the visual portrayal that we need
found right within in the pages.
From my viewpoint, to show the actor's face and eyes is truly offensive because
Jesus never sinned. Peter, from his heart, said to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord,
for I am a sinful man." Something within the eyes of Jesus made Matthew follow
him. Something within the eyes of Jesus prompted Pilate to want to release Him.
A purity and a holiness within Jesus that cannot be matched or replicated and
therefore actors may do Jesus a great dis-service for especially that reason.
**Man cannot lower Jesus to their standards. Jesus stands alone in history as the
most important person to ever walk the planet for He was God in flesh and He
rose from the dead, victorious over death, hell and the grave. No one can portray
Him accurately and no one will ever surpass Him...He is worthy of the highest
praise!!!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
WHAT KIND OF FRUIT WILL THESE "JESUS" MOVIES PRODUCE?
WHAT DO THE ACTORS THINK OF JESUS?
You decide...CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
________________________________________________________________________
The Movie: "JESUS: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE":
Actor Brian Deacon, who played in the Jesus film (Gospel According to Luke)
said the following:
"Every day when I go to the set (of the movie Jesus), I realize how mortal I really
am. How can mortal man portray immortality? "
When speaking of the film, Deacon said in a recent interview found on the
following link: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/story.jsp?story=425274
... excerpts from the article:
..."There were rows about interpretation. The producer wanted his hand on the
helm, and he was a very impatient man. He would lose his temper and get very
angry. Sometimes, if you were doing a crucifixion scene, you'd be strapped up on the
cross and somebody would be screaming at the crew. It's not exactly conducive to
creating a good atmosphere," says Deacon, 54, who now lives in Wimbledon, south
London. "The Disciples went on strike one day. I think they felt, 'We've done a
month on this film, we can't be replaced, and we're going to ask for more money'.
..."I remember once complaining after I'd been up on the cross for a while, saying,
'Look, please just put a stepladder under my feet', and someone said to me, 'What are
you complaining about? You're going to come down. He never did'. I thought, what's
this? Emotional blackmail? I'm an actor!"
..."I found it quite difficult, because people would come to me on set and tell me their
problems. I used to say, 'Look, I'm just an actor, I don't have any fine words for
you'." When a fire broke out at Deacon's hotel, his stand-in told him it was the work
of Satan who was trying to kill him for spreading the word of Jesus.
Deacon also said in the article:
"There was a lot of pressure on me. People said, 'When were you reborn?', and I
said I wasn't, and they didn't understand that. I said I had a faith, but I don't go to
church and I can't proselytise, I'm afraid."
________________________________________________________________________
THE MOVIE: "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"
From the Article Titled: "At last, a Jesus for all faiths"
(Filed: 13/11/2003)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/11/13/bfjesu13.xml&sSheet=/arts/2003/11/13/ixtop.html
film, click here.
Posted: November 2003
There's a lot of talk about the new "jesus" film that will premier very soon.
Now I have not seen the films but I have read many articles and reviews, as
well as seen clips of the "passion" movie on TV. Upon seeing the clips and
reading the information, I feel I must write this important article.
From what I have read about this passion film on various news websites:
1) Satan is depicted as an evil woman in the film.
This is blatantly unscriptural and has no scriptural basis whatsoever. That
alone would make a christian wonder how any Bible believing christian would
endorse such error.
2) The story is told from Mary's point of view and the viewer sees it through her
eyes. Clearly we know from reading Scripture that the Gospels scarcely even
mention Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the crucifixion except to say that she was
there at the cross during the time of Jesus' crucifixion. The Gospels were not
written from Mary's point of view,not even one passage. The Lord shows us
through Scripture...His Written Word... the poignant moments of Jesus's birth,
earthly ministry and his death and triumphant Resurrection.
3) The movie is filmed with actors speaking in Aramiac. Which of course, the
majority of the people who view the film will not even understand the language.
REMEMBER FAITH COMETH BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD....NOT
SEEING.
Something that truly puzzles me is why, in these last days, are movies coming
out about supposedly the "true depiction of Jesus"??? So many Bible teachers,
who are endorsing these films, are hailing them as "increasing our faith" but
truly the Bible says:
(Rom 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Luk 18:8b) Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the
earth?
(Heb 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.
So we already know from the above passages that faith comes by hearing the
Word of God. That in the Last Days, before Jesus comes back, there will not be
much faith found. And that without faith, it is impossible to please God. God is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM.
UPON READING THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES, LET'S ASK OURSELVES
THESE QUESTIONS:
- Do these Jesus movies do more harm than good?
- Can one watch them and leave with greater faith than before entering the theatre?
- Is is possible that maybe these films will actually cause unbelief?
HERE MAY BE THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THESE FILMS:
In reality, we were not there 2000 years ago. We do not know what Jesus looked
like. To have an actor- any actor portray Jesus is lowering our Savior and doing
much disservice to the passages found within the Bible. The Bible tells us that we
must come to God by faith.
First of all, Jesus had power in His teaching and in His voice.
Luke 4:36 "And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying,
What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean
spirits, and they come out."
John 7:45-46 "Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they
said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man
spake like this man. "
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that
had authority, and not as the scribes.
Every man is beneath the Lord. No one can possibly have His character or His eyes
because Jesus is God ...the Second Person of the Trinity and when He walked the
earth, He was the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. (John, chapter 1)
He is the ONLY one who is both God and man. Jesus never sinned. Pure in every
way. What does a person look like who has never sinned??? None of us know. We
have all sinned and only Jesus was sinless.
So, in my opinion, to have any actor portray Jesus is truly insulting Him.
He is God. He is Holy. He walked the earth 2000 years ago and when He ascended
into Heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit who teaches us all truth and we have the
Word of God which is a living book that gives us the true visual portrayal of who
God is.
God did not need films to get His message across for the past 1900 years. All who
received Jesus, received Him by hearing the Word of God and believing. We are to
preach the Word. We are to preach the Gospel...the good news that Jesus saves.
Let us read Jesus's words to His disciples and to us:
Mark 16:15-19 And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto
them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
PREACH YE THE WORD!!
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been preached for close to 2000 years.
Folks over the centuries have read the Word of God and received much comfort
and increased their faith by reading the Scriptures. Are we trying to walk by faith
or by sight? Is it possible to increase one's faith by watching a movie that does not
follow Scripture completely and has to depict scenes from Jesus' life without
actually having witnessed it first hand? This would seem like a travesty to the
words of the Gospel. The Gospels were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the
passages give us the visual portrayal within the words of Scripture that we need to
understand.
In my opinion, to make a film to accurately portray Jesus is insulting the very
author of the Bible, God Himself, who gives all the visual portrayal that we need
found right within in the pages.
From my viewpoint, to show the actor's face and eyes is truly offensive because
Jesus never sinned. Peter, from his heart, said to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord,
for I am a sinful man." Something within the eyes of Jesus made Matthew follow
him. Something within the eyes of Jesus prompted Pilate to want to release Him.
A purity and a holiness within Jesus that cannot be matched or replicated and
therefore actors may do Jesus a great dis-service for especially that reason.
**Man cannot lower Jesus to their standards. Jesus stands alone in history as the
most important person to ever walk the planet for He was God in flesh and He
rose from the dead, victorious over death, hell and the grave. No one can portray
Him accurately and no one will ever surpass Him...He is worthy of the highest
praise!!!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
WHAT KIND OF FRUIT WILL THESE "JESUS" MOVIES PRODUCE?
WHAT DO THE ACTORS THINK OF JESUS?
You decide...CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
________________________________________________________________________
The Movie: "JESUS: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE":
Actor Brian Deacon, who played in the Jesus film (Gospel According to Luke)
said the following:
"Every day when I go to the set (of the movie Jesus), I realize how mortal I really
am. How can mortal man portray immortality? "
When speaking of the film, Deacon said in a recent interview found on the
following link: http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/story.jsp?story=425274
... excerpts from the article:
..."There were rows about interpretation. The producer wanted his hand on the
helm, and he was a very impatient man. He would lose his temper and get very
angry. Sometimes, if you were doing a crucifixion scene, you'd be strapped up on the
cross and somebody would be screaming at the crew. It's not exactly conducive to
creating a good atmosphere," says Deacon, 54, who now lives in Wimbledon, south
London. "The Disciples went on strike one day. I think they felt, 'We've done a
month on this film, we can't be replaced, and we're going to ask for more money'.
..."I remember once complaining after I'd been up on the cross for a while, saying,
'Look, please just put a stepladder under my feet', and someone said to me, 'What are
you complaining about? You're going to come down. He never did'. I thought, what's
this? Emotional blackmail? I'm an actor!"
..."I found it quite difficult, because people would come to me on set and tell me their
problems. I used to say, 'Look, I'm just an actor, I don't have any fine words for
you'." When a fire broke out at Deacon's hotel, his stand-in told him it was the work
of Satan who was trying to kill him for spreading the word of Jesus.
Deacon also said in the article:
"There was a lot of pressure on me. People said, 'When were you reborn?', and I
said I wasn't, and they didn't understand that. I said I had a faith, but I don't go to
church and I can't proselytise, I'm afraid."
________________________________________________________________________
THE MOVIE: "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"
From the Article Titled: "At last, a Jesus for all faiths"
(Filed: 13/11/2003)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/11/13/bfjesu13.xml&sSheet=/arts/2003/11/13/ixtop.html
A couple of excerpts from the article, which interviews the man, Henry Ian Cusick,
who portrays Jesus in the new film:
Cusick said in the interview regarding preparing for the role;
..."It kept me in my trailer while the disciples were out having fun," he says. "When
I emerged, they would go, 'Hey, JC, how are you doing today?' I would have loved
o hang out with them more, but there just wasn't time."
The article goes on:
...The extras were Spanish gypsies. "They would bow slightly when I walked past,
as if I really was Christ," recalls Cusick. "And on the day of the crucifixion, when I
came out of the trailer wearing a crown of thorns, the whole set went quiet. It was
eerie. The gypsies were saying, `Ay mi Jesu, beating their breasts, and then they broke
into song."
..."I had to revise my own ideas about Jesus when I read the text," says Cusick. "I
couldn't play it like Robert Powell, all gentle and soothing. This Jesus can work up a
crowd. He tells people: `If you don't follow me you won't go to heaven.' I didn't want
to say that, but I had no choice."
...The outdoor scenes were shot in the scrubland of southern Spain. "Oh, man,
walking those distances in sandals," says Cusick. "The disciples and I kept leaning
on each other, saying: 'Bloody hell, this is uncomfortable.' The stones got in right
here." He lifts a crocodile-skin boot to show me.
________________________________________________________________________
Excerts from:
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/1226972.html
...Take producer Garth Drabinsky, who is Jewish. “Everyone who worked on the
project found it emotionally very, very uplifting " even if you weren't reared in
Christianity" ...
"It's one thing to know Christ as a compassionate man and maybe even as teacher,"
says Drabinsky, "but to know him as a provocateur" as one who
\challenges those in his way as forcibly and aggressively as he did - was very
enlightening to me. ..."
...For British stage actor Henry Ian Cusick, taking on the role of Jesus meant
accepting an unparalleled acting opportunity. "The chance to play Jesus was
incredible, though I don't think I realized the enormity of it until someone said to
me, "That's quite a responsibility." Up until then, I approached it like any other
project.
________________________________________________________________________
Another Article found on the web:
Excerpts from http://www.canoe.ca/JamMoviesArtistsC/cusick_henry_ian.html
...(Christopher) Plummer says Cusick impressed him because, instead of pretending
to have a halo around his head as the son of God, he put subtle humour, toughness
and a sense of reality into the role: "And that's a relief!"
...Indeed, Cusick plays Christ as thoroughly human, a Jewish prophet who
challenged the Pharisees in what turned into a power struggle over ideas. "I'm very
pleased and flattered," Cusick said when told of Plummer's compliments.
..."I don't think you can act like a God," he said of the most significant and
challenging role of his career. "It's the other actors in the story who will give you
that reverence. That's the art of filmmaking, I guess."
________________________________________________________________________
According to "The Gospel of John" movie reviewer, Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher of
Movie Guide and CEO of the Christian Film and Television Commission:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/presskit/tedbaehrreview.htm
..."Christians need to go into all the world to bring their friends to watch the Good
News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in The Gospel of John."
... "Also, as with any portrayal of Christ, one's image from reading the book will be
different from what one sees on the screen. For one, I was enthralled by the
cleansing of the temple. It was totally different than I had expected. "
________________________________________________________________________
The Toronto Sun says the following:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/releases/pondrls092403.htm
"Superior to almost all religious films ever made. Henry Ian Cusick is the finest and
most refined Christ in film history!"
"Henry Ian Cusick is a marvelously human Jesus Christ."
Toronto Sun
________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts of CBN "Gospel of John" Review
http://www.cbn.com/living/entertainment/screen/movie_gospelofjohn.asp
...Christians should be thrilled beyond words that there are a couple of movies
portraying Jesus and His ministry coming soon to a theater near you. Just as there
are four different gospels with four different interpretations of Christ and His
ministry, so can (and should) there be a multitude of distinctly different movies
telling the truth about Jesus and who He was and is.
...I have seen Mel Gibson's movie The Passion and it is a completely different story,
focus and interpretation from The Gospel of John, so why would anyone think one
would hurt the other or that one would be better than another? Isn't that the beauty
of telling a story, that there are many different ways to do so?
...Because this is a literal translation of the Gospel of John there are a few scenarios
and characters missing that are familiar to many people who have read the other
gospels. For instance; there's no explanation of what happens to John the Baptist
after he recognizes Christ as the true savior. After Judas betrays Christ we don't see
him hang himself. Jesus isn't shown praying in the garden and asking that the cup
be passed from Him. There's no explanation of who Mary Magdalene is and why
she's constantly hanging around the disciples and Christ. During His trial Jesus is
never taken to Herod, no man steps from the crowd to help Jesus carry His cross and
the thief on the cross who's repentant, isn't told he would be in paradise that day with
Jesus. And (perhaps most important for a person who might not know the story of
Jesus nor be familiar with the scriptures) there's no explanation of His appearance
before many in that area or His ascension into heaven, so literally we don't see or
know what happens to Jesus after He appears to His disciple and lets them see the
holes in His hands....
The movie made me appreciate the scriptures that have (through the years) become
so familiar and seeing Jesus' uniquely human character in dialogue form gave me a
renewed intimacy and appreciation for the sacrifice He made on the cross. His
radical personality, His passion for the truth to be told so that many would be saved,
His compassion, His heart, I fell in love with Jesus all over again and I bet it has the
same effect on you!
________________________________________________________________________
Garth Drabinsky, the producer, said in a recent interview:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/presskit/ajc092003.htm
''You can draw from the movie whatever you want: spirituality, education or pure
entertainment. It's not religious outreach.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
who portrays Jesus in the new film:
Cusick said in the interview regarding preparing for the role;
..."It kept me in my trailer while the disciples were out having fun," he says. "When
I emerged, they would go, 'Hey, JC, how are you doing today?' I would have loved
o hang out with them more, but there just wasn't time."
The article goes on:
...The extras were Spanish gypsies. "They would bow slightly when I walked past,
as if I really was Christ," recalls Cusick. "And on the day of the crucifixion, when I
came out of the trailer wearing a crown of thorns, the whole set went quiet. It was
eerie. The gypsies were saying, `Ay mi Jesu, beating their breasts, and then they broke
into song."
..."I had to revise my own ideas about Jesus when I read the text," says Cusick. "I
couldn't play it like Robert Powell, all gentle and soothing. This Jesus can work up a
crowd. He tells people: `If you don't follow me you won't go to heaven.' I didn't want
to say that, but I had no choice."
...The outdoor scenes were shot in the scrubland of southern Spain. "Oh, man,
walking those distances in sandals," says Cusick. "The disciples and I kept leaning
on each other, saying: 'Bloody hell, this is uncomfortable.' The stones got in right
here." He lifts a crocodile-skin boot to show me.
________________________________________________________________________
Excerts from:
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/1226972.html
...Take producer Garth Drabinsky, who is Jewish. “Everyone who worked on the
project found it emotionally very, very uplifting " even if you weren't reared in
Christianity" ...
"It's one thing to know Christ as a compassionate man and maybe even as teacher,"
says Drabinsky, "but to know him as a provocateur" as one who
\challenges those in his way as forcibly and aggressively as he did - was very
enlightening to me. ..."
...For British stage actor Henry Ian Cusick, taking on the role of Jesus meant
accepting an unparalleled acting opportunity. "The chance to play Jesus was
incredible, though I don't think I realized the enormity of it until someone said to
me, "That's quite a responsibility." Up until then, I approached it like any other
project.
________________________________________________________________________
Another Article found on the web:
Excerpts from http://www.canoe.ca/JamMoviesArtistsC/cusick_henry_ian.html
...(Christopher) Plummer says Cusick impressed him because, instead of pretending
to have a halo around his head as the son of God, he put subtle humour, toughness
and a sense of reality into the role: "And that's a relief!"
...Indeed, Cusick plays Christ as thoroughly human, a Jewish prophet who
challenged the Pharisees in what turned into a power struggle over ideas. "I'm very
pleased and flattered," Cusick said when told of Plummer's compliments.
..."I don't think you can act like a God," he said of the most significant and
challenging role of his career. "It's the other actors in the story who will give you
that reverence. That's the art of filmmaking, I guess."
________________________________________________________________________
According to "The Gospel of John" movie reviewer, Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher of
Movie Guide and CEO of the Christian Film and Television Commission:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/presskit/tedbaehrreview.htm
..."Christians need to go into all the world to bring their friends to watch the Good
News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in The Gospel of John."
... "Also, as with any portrayal of Christ, one's image from reading the book will be
different from what one sees on the screen. For one, I was enthralled by the
cleansing of the temple. It was totally different than I had expected. "
________________________________________________________________________
The Toronto Sun says the following:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/releases/pondrls092403.htm
"Superior to almost all religious films ever made. Henry Ian Cusick is the finest and
most refined Christ in film history!"
"Henry Ian Cusick is a marvelously human Jesus Christ."
Toronto Sun
________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts of CBN "Gospel of John" Review
http://www.cbn.com/living/entertainment/screen/movie_gospelofjohn.asp
...Christians should be thrilled beyond words that there are a couple of movies
portraying Jesus and His ministry coming soon to a theater near you. Just as there
are four different gospels with four different interpretations of Christ and His
ministry, so can (and should) there be a multitude of distinctly different movies
telling the truth about Jesus and who He was and is.
...I have seen Mel Gibson's movie The Passion and it is a completely different story,
focus and interpretation from The Gospel of John, so why would anyone think one
would hurt the other or that one would be better than another? Isn't that the beauty
of telling a story, that there are many different ways to do so?
...Because this is a literal translation of the Gospel of John there are a few scenarios
and characters missing that are familiar to many people who have read the other
gospels. For instance; there's no explanation of what happens to John the Baptist
after he recognizes Christ as the true savior. After Judas betrays Christ we don't see
him hang himself. Jesus isn't shown praying in the garden and asking that the cup
be passed from Him. There's no explanation of who Mary Magdalene is and why
she's constantly hanging around the disciples and Christ. During His trial Jesus is
never taken to Herod, no man steps from the crowd to help Jesus carry His cross and
the thief on the cross who's repentant, isn't told he would be in paradise that day with
Jesus. And (perhaps most important for a person who might not know the story of
Jesus nor be familiar with the scriptures) there's no explanation of His appearance
before many in that area or His ascension into heaven, so literally we don't see or
know what happens to Jesus after He appears to His disciple and lets them see the
holes in His hands....
The movie made me appreciate the scriptures that have (through the years) become
so familiar and seeing Jesus' uniquely human character in dialogue form gave me a
renewed intimacy and appreciation for the sacrifice He made on the cross. His
radical personality, His passion for the truth to be told so that many would be saved,
His compassion, His heart, I fell in love with Jesus all over again and I bet it has the
same effect on you!
________________________________________________________________________
Garth Drabinsky, the producer, said in a recent interview:
http://www.demossnewspond.com/john/presskit/ajc092003.htm
''You can draw from the movie whatever you want: spirituality, education or pure
entertainment. It's not religious outreach.''
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| Like a God? What about the God? |
| Power struggle over ideas?? Is that what the Gospel of John shows us? |
| Jesus is not just some character in history or in the movies. He is the Son of God! |
| Trendy Jesus Films ...A New Face for "Jesus" |
| Further Study: What's Wrong With the Passion? The Antichrist and The DaVinci Code Call His Name Jesus The Greatest Sin Jesus Died For Us What's Wrong With Tribulation Films? Did Mary Have Other Children? |
|
