We know we are loved by Jesus. We are told so many times in the Bible. By Jesus Himself.
But do we trust these words? Do we believe them? And are we truly worthy of that love? Do we trust Him enough to be by our side at all times of our lives; especially when things are difficult ... very difficult?
Thank you Lord. I am a sinner. I am not worthy ... thank you ...
This "must-see" short video (3 minutes) shows us an example of someone who thought he was not worthy. Do we have as much faith as him? Do we pray and believe Jesus will respond?
Powerful! More than once what I was seeing/hearing gave me goosebumps. Do you know who it is, portraying Jesus? His face is so compelling; exactly as I imagine Christ!
ReplyDeleteThe actor portraying Jesus is Robert Powell. The centurion is Ernest Borgnine.
DeleteSee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_of_Nazareth_(miniseries)
This was a British mini series on TV directed by Franco Zeffirelli.
God bless you always, Mevely.
Thank you, Victor
DeleteThanx Mevely.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
This clip brought tears to my eyes, Victor. Yes, do we have the faith of this centurion? I pray we do!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Faith is such a difficult and personal thing, Martha. I may pray, time and again, but do I have enough faith that my prayers will be answered?
DeleteGod bless you my friend.
Very touching and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen I pray I always hope that my prayers will be answered.
But if they aren't...I must trust that God has a better plan and place my trust in Him.
God's Blessings Victor 💮
That's a great attitude, Jan. Many perhaps are uncertain about how/whether their prayers will be answered. The centurion had great faith indeed.
DeleteGod bless you.
Victor, I've watch that movie so many times, but when one scene is depicted like this, wow, how powerful. Thanks for sharing. Jesus sees who is worthy, faith is the key. BTW I did leave bowl of my easy peasy dinner on your doorstep...bet that dang neighborhood cat got it. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteThank you Wanda. It is a powerful movie and scene, reminding us how many of us have such faith.
DeleteAnd thanx, I did find an empty bowl and wondered where it had come from. The cat was licking its lips; so he enjoyed it at least.
God bless you and your family, Wanda.
A wonderful example of faith! I believe I saw that movie when I was young.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful movie with a great cast of top actors.
DeleteGod bless you and yours, Bill.
I've read that often from the Bible.
ReplyDeleteHe had great faith.
Indeed he did.
DeleteGod bless, Happyone.
Fantastic, great acting.
ReplyDeleteHe did have great faith.
Wishing you a good weekend Victor … it's the last one in June!
I don't know where the days and weeks go, even in these times of Covid 19 they are racing by.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
Yes Jan, the days are racing by, and what times we are living through. Requiring great faith indeed.
DeleteBest wishes always. God bless you and yours.
Of course we are unworthy, that's why He had to come and do the work He did, to make us worthy through what He did, not what we do.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read Ernest Borgnine's account of what happened to him during the filming of that movie?
"When it came time for my scene during the crucifixion, the weather was chill and gray. The camera was to be focused on me at the foot of the cross, and so it was not necessary for Robert Powell, the actor who portrayed Jesus, to be there. Instead, Zeffirelli put a chalk mark on a piece of scenery beside the cameraman. “I want you to look up at that mark,” he told me, “as if you were looking at Jesus.”
“Okay,” I said, moving into position and looking up at the mark as instructed. “Ready?” I hesitated. Somehow I wasn’t ready. I was uneasy. “Do you think it would be possible for somebody to read from the Bible the words Jesus said as He hung on the cross?” I asked.
I knew the words well from the days of my childhood in an Italian-American family in Connecticut, and I’d read them in preparation for the film. Even so, I wanted to hear them now. “I will do it myself,” Zeffirelli said. He found a Bible, opened it to the book of Luke and signaled for the camera to start rolling. As Zeffirelli began reading Christ’s words aloud, I stared up at that chalk mark, thinking what might have gone through the centurion’s mind.
That poor Man up there, I thought. I met Him when He healed my servant, who is like a son to me. Jesus says He is the Son of God, an unfortunate claim during these perilous times. But I know He is innocent of any crime.“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The voice was Zeffirelli’s, but the words burned into me—the words of Jesus. Forgive me, Father, for even being here, was the centurion’s prayer that formed in my thoughts. I am so ashamed, so ashamed.
“Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” said Jesus to the thief hanging next to Him. If Jesus can forgive that criminal, then He will forgive me, I thought. I will lay down my sword and retire to my little farm outside of Rome. Then it happened
As I stared upward, instead of the chalk mark, I suddenly saw the face of Jesus Christ, lifelike and clear. It was not the features of Robert Powell I was used to seeing, but the most beautiful, gentle visage I have ever known. Pain-seared, sweat-stained, with blood flowing down from thorns pressed deep, His face was still filled with compassion. He looked down at me through tragic, sorrowful eyes with an expression of love beyond description. Then His cry rose against the desert wind. Not the voice of Zeffirelli, reading from the Bible, but the voice of Jesus Himself: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”
In awe I watched Jesus’ head slump to one side. I knew He was dead. A terrible grief welled within me, and completely oblivious to the camera, I started sobbing uncontrollably.
“Cut!” yelled Zeffirelli. Olivia Hussey and Anne Bancroft were crying too. I wiped my eyes and looked up again to where I had seen Jesus—He was gone.
Whether I saw a vision of Jesus that windswept day or whether it was only something in my mind, I do not know. It doesn’t matter. For I do know that it was a profound spiritual experience and that I have not been quite the same person since.
I believe that I take my faith more seriously. I like to think that I’m more forgiving than I used to be. As that centurion learned 2,000 years ago, I too have found that you simply cannot come close to Jesus without being changed."
Thank you, Mimi. What a wonderful story. Jesus' sacrifice all those years ago touches another man's heart such a long time later.
DeleteGod bless you always.