Exodus 11:1 ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence.’

DAILY READING 1 John 4; Ezra 1-2; Psalm 91

Mel Gibson’s biblical drama film, The Passion of the Christ astounded audiences worldwide after its Ash Wednesday release in 2004. Focusing on the final hours of Jesus’ life, the film was praised for its cinematography and performances. It remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

Apart from the many people impacted around the world, The Passion of the Christ had a very profound impact on its cast and crew. For many of them, it was an unforgettable experience, as they caught a little glimpse of what Jesus suffered at Calvary..

Perhaps the most impacted person was Jim Caviezel, the lead actor, who played the role of Christ. Filmed in Italy during winter, the movie left Jim Caviezel with bouts of pneumonia and hyperthermia. A couple of errant lashes during the extended flogging scene gave Jim a 14-inch scar on his back. Caviezel was even struck by lightning while shooting the Sermon on the Mount. Jan Michelini, the first assistant director, was also struck by lightning twice. Cases of lightning are quite a rare occurrence. According to a study, lightning strikes only about 240,000 people per year around the world. However, interestingly during the filming, lightning struck three times on the set. And according to the statistics, the odds of that happening are about one chance in a trillion.

Speaking recently in an interview. Jim said he almost died while acting out the crucifixion scene. During the last shot, his body turned blue,  not due to makeup, but because he was almost dying from hypothermia. While on the cross, he could feel his shoulder dislocating and his heart was not beating right. A doctor was brought in to take a look at him. After examining him,  the doctor told Mel Gibson that Jim could die.  At that point, they were about to shoot the last scenes, and so Mel asked Jim, if he wanted to go ahead with the shooting or call it off. But Jim knew he had to finish the movie. At that point he said he cared less about his life. He desired more for the film to be shown to the world, so that many could catch a glimpse of the sufferings of Christ. Jim, a committed Christian, who understood the spiritual implication of the role he was playing, had been fasting and praying during the shooting. And so at that point he told God he was ready to die on the set, if that was God’s will for him. Having made that decision, he told them to continue with the shooting. Fortunately he survived, but had to undergo serious medical attention afterwards. Jim said he felt Jesus was letting him catch a little glimpse of the price He paid at Calvary.

If Jim suffered all of these while simply acting out a written script in a controlled environment, then it is unimaginable to comprehend the actual sufferings of Jesus at Calvary while surrounded by the blood-thirsty Roman soldiers. The truth is that we may never fully comprehend the transactions that took place at Calvary, nor the depth of the suffering Jesus endured for us.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says, ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’

Jesus paid the ultimate price for man’s redemption. His blood was shed to deliver us from every form of bondage and satanic assault. Just as the mystery of the blood was engaged to deliver Israel from 430 years of bondage, the blood of Jesus delivers us from every form of bondage. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, ‘For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.’

Because the whole world lies in wickedness, God has made available the Blood of Jesus as a weapon to combat and overcome the evil in the world. The mystery of the blood covenant is what is needed today to silence the opposition. It is the ultimate of our victory.

In Exodus 11:1 God says, ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.’ That “one more plague” God sent against Pharaoh was the mystery of the Blood. Once the blood was invoked, Pharaoh was urgent upon the Israelites to leave. In the same way, by the invocation of the blood of Jesus everything holding you captive will be in a hurry to let you go.

It is expedient that we receive, believe and engage the mystery of the blood in order to command mastery over every force of wickedness. As we begin to apply the blood, every force hindering or resisting our progress must be destroyed. By the blood, every handwriting of ordinance against us is erased. By the blood everything tampering with our joy or contesting our glorious destiny is permanently terminated. Indeed, by the Blood of Jesus, we have total and permanent victory over all life’s challenges in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER:

Lord, Thank You for the power You have made available to me through the blood of Jesus. Indeed, by the power in the blood, I have the victory in every battle of life in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE:

The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you.