Gibson expects ‘the worst is yet to come’

Orlando, Fla., Jan 21, 2004 / 22:00 pm

During yet another screening of his film on the Passion of Christ, Mel Gibson predicted that "the worst is yet to come," reported Reuters.

The news service said Gibson made this comment at a screening of “The Passion of the Christ” to 4,500 evangelical Christian pastors at the Global Pastors Network conference in Orlando yesterday.

Referring to the controversies the film has created, Gibson thanked the pastors for their prayers, but warned: "I anticipate the worst is yet to come. I hope I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong."

Gibson recounted how he had been thinking and imagining the film for 12 years as he meditated on the Gospel stories of a God who became human so he could pay the price for human sin, reported Reuters.

"He could have done it by pricking his finger and shedding a little blood. He didn't; he wanted to go all the way," Gibson told the pastors.

The Catholic filmmaker has openly shared with the press and preview audiences how his conversion of heart and faith journey were driving factors in the making of the film.

In a Michnews.com report Jan. 15, Gibson recounts how his relationship with Christ began to grow only after he had reached the depths of despair.

"Couple years back, I was looking out of a window wondering why I shouldn't jump,” Gibson told Michnews.com. “Life had no meaning for me. It was boring. Purposeless. That's when I turned to Him. That's where my relationship with Christ really starting growing. You see, I was a bad guy . . . a really horrible guy. My sins were the first to nail Him to the Cross. I wanted to tell His story."

The Passion of the Christ received an R-rating, based on the graphic depictions of violence and torture. But Gibson’s publicity director, Paul Lauer, said it should not dissuade pastors from sending youth groups to watch the film when it opens in North America Feb. 25.