In the Footsteps of Jesus: One Man's Journey through the Life of Christ

by Bruce Marchiano

What does it feel like to play Jesus? Since playing Christ in The Visual Bible’s phenomenal motion picture, "The Gospel According to Matthew," actor Bruce Marchiano has shared his testimony worldwide and thousands have come to know Jesus. Here, he talks about his experience portraying Christ’s amazing love and incredible joy in "Matthew." Taking us behind the scenes and sharing the rewards and challenges of the "Matthew" production, Marchiano invites you on an intimate journey into the life of Christ. As he reflects upon memorable scenes, the case and crew, and the fulfilling experience of portraying the Son of God, you’ll discover the inspiration behind the film - Jesus as a man of giving, a man full of life, and a man of great joy. The filming of "Matthew" comes to life with vivid colors and black-and-white photographs throughout.

Genres: Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christianity

218 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Autumn Slaght · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how to begin this review.
Other than to say that I considered this book to be one of the most beautiful things I've read in a long time. Why? Because the Lord brought so many realities out in it. Realities about Him. About His creation (us). About His love.
Bruce Marchiano's heart is poured forth in every page, laid out for all the readers to see. He details the story of his life, and where God brought him from. One of the things that mean the most to me is how he continually tells his readers, "I'm just a man. I'm nowhere near perfect. God is the One who put any good inside of me." And I love how he pointed everything to the Lord.
He tells the story from beginning to end about how he was called to play the part of Jesus in the movie Matthew. And throughout the entire story, you could see God's hand working! It was such an exciting thing. God was behind every scene, every word on that script (which was the word-for-word account of Matthew) and He orchestrated every move so perfectly that it had to be God! Bruce gave all credit to the Lord and none to himself which was so encouraging.
Bruce Marchaino had said again and again in these pages how in love he was with Jesus, and how he fell deeper in love with Him during the "Matthew Adventure."Something else that I found to be so wonderful...and encourages me to fall deeper in love with the Lord.
In addition to retelling the story of how he got the part and played the part, etc, Bruce Marchiano also lets us in on some of his discoveries about Jesus, such as His joy, love, compassion, etc. Some of these realities quieted my restless heart and opened my eyes to Jesus in a way I've never seen Him before. Coming away, closing the cover of this book for one final time until I pick it up again, all I can say is I am encouraged by how God orchestrates everything in our lives when we are living within His will and I am moved by how deeply Jesus loves us. Those aren't just words...He truly loves us.
I strongly encourage you to read this book. There were many things about it that encouraged me and I hope that it would encourage you too!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is remarkably honest, and I would recommend it to those who are jaded by fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible, or who have a distorted picture of what Jesus was like. Marchiano emphasises that Jesus was filled with love and joy, and reading this book in tandem with viewing the film whose production Marchiano recounts will give tired Christians (and interested others) a wonderful perspective on the Lord.

[Kelly Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the series of Mathew bought to life on screen that Bruce did. I always call him the Smiling Jesus The book was based on making the movies and portraying Jesus Loved it!

[Sheri Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well! What do I say about this book? An average man is called from normal American life to fly across the ocean and step into the footsteps of Jesus. For the few months it took to make a film on the life of our Savior, starring actor Bruce Marchiano is in a constant state of awe and wonder that he, a normal person, had inhabited the persona of the Christ. Two years after making the film he wrote this book, still glowing with the heat of the challenge and its rewards. Marchiano writes constantly in the superlative, but that's the level of his experience. Here's a quote from page 200:

"From December of 1992 through April, 1993--the most remarkable time of my life--I was forced to set aside everything that was my life and take a fresh look at Jesus--someone I assumed I knew well; someone I knew very little. And oh, who I discovered--a Man, the son of the living God, who was so much more magnificent, so much more extradinary--so much more Jesus--than I ever dreamed possible. A man so far beyond my wildest imaginings that with all that's been written on these pages, and the two and a half years it took me to do it, I haven't even come close."

[Nelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this faith-affirming narrative, actor Bruce Marciano recounts the story of the filming of "The Gospel According to Matthew," in which he plays Jesus. The film uses the text of the Matthew gospel and was filmed in Morocco and South Africa. It was a life-chancing experience for Bruce and countless others who worked on the film.

[Mandy Hackland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of one man's journey as he lands the part of playing Jesus in the film Matthew - and how God was involved from start to finish.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone who's interested in the Visual Bible's depiction of Matthew. Enjoyable, encouraging, and informative.

[Ranell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives such a different perspective on Christ. Great read.

[Claudine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saturday, July 31, 2021
One of the best books I’ve read in a very long time.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's GOOD!!

I would encourage you to raed it...........

[Jana Loofbourrow]

I didn’t read this book, but don’t know how to delete it.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis wrote that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord He claimed to be. Unfortunately, on stage and film many actors slip into the "lunatic" portrayal--especially during difficult (usually angry) scenes like the cleansing of the temple and confrontations with the Pharisees. And those who avoid that pitfall often portray Jesus as a mystic with His head in the clouds, completely out of touch with reality.

But through great prayer and study Bruce Marchiano captured a portrayal that not only overcomes these two problems but does so much more. Often his portrayal is surprising and even amazing, but for students of the New Testament, it rings true. This is a Jesus who is passionate and full of joy.

I have read this book over and over and never cease to be inspired by the remarkable insights it provides. For scholarship, try Philip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew." But for the remarkable revelations only an actor discovers, read this amazing book.

2018--update.

I just read this again. It's still a great book. Over the years, it has often served me as a sort of Advent Calendar, and I have read it in anticipation of playing the role of Jesus on stage. This season was no different--the book again enriched not only my experience and my acting, but gave me specific things to pray about both off-stage and on. I borrowed Bruce's prayer: "Make me a puppet on your strings," and a second for the audience: "Melt the stone-cold hearts."

This year I also found myself applying a specific idea based on Marchiano's repeated emphasis on the joy and laughter of Jesus. I found a way to work an actual belly laugh into the show. Some would find that sacrilegious or not-serious enough for a portrayal of Jesus--and those are just the ones who might need to see that God's Son (and God the Father) not only laugh, but INVENTED laughter.

Anyway, I do love this book.

(I originally posted this review on Amazon.com in 2001, under the title, "Best Portrayal on Film.")

[jaimedannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I saw Matthew was in my teens, I loved the way Bruce portrayed Jesus in the film. I recently met him and had no idea he wrote a book. This was a fascinating read, it falls under biography, but it's more memoir. Bruce shares his journey during a specific time period in his life dealing with getting the part in the film, the preparation, the filming and the change it had on him. Now I need to go watch the film again.
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.

[David Takle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the best portrayal of Jesus ever done on film, Bruce Marchiano takes us through his own personal journey as he prayed and wept his way through the production of "Matthew". I highly recommend seeing the movie itself before reading the book, because he continuously refers to scenes there. Both are worth the time and effort. Through both, Bruce helps us to see Jesus as a man of joy (not the somber stoic we often see portrayed). We also see how so many lives were impacted by the movie itself, as well as the process of making the film.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite all time books. Written by Bruce Marchiano, he actually played Jesus in the movie "Matthew". All of his spoken words in the movie are scripture quotations, nothing added. Loved the movie too, but the book is about what he learned while playing Jesus, insights and observations and how his faith was stretched. I just loved how real, and intense his love for Jesus became through this experience. I cried and totally marked up my copy of the book.

[Scot Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's be clear from the beginning: Marciano is not a good writer by any stretch of the imagination. He's heavy-handed, repetitive, and tells far more than he will ever show.

That being said, this is not a book about writing styles. This is a book about an actor who played the role of Jesus Christ coming to realize the depth of character that Jesus has, and the miracles that surrounded the filming of a movie about him. If Jesus has ever felt 2-dimensional to you, read this book.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The behind-the-scenes events in the filming of The Gospel according to Matthew made for an interesting story in themselves, but what fascinated and inspired me was how playing the role of Jesus transformed Bruce Marchiano's life. It increased my desire to walk more fully in the love and compassion that characterize my Saviour.

[Rick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story of the film as told by the lead actor. It didn't work for me.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read 2000

[Gale]

Interesting things happened during this book and while playing the part in the movie.

[Bipolar1forever · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the Matthew series and then wanted to read his book. The whole set of tapes are exact words from The Gospel According to Matthew.

[Anja Noordam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now We need a movie night to see this Matthew movie, although I do not look forward to the crucifixion scene

[Patricia Inniss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me fall in love all over again with my Lord.

[Debbie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. Challenging, Encouraging, Interesting! Read it cover to cover and back again - would have read it a third time immediately but others were waiting to read it

[Hugs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book opened my eyes to God's vast love for us.

[Lesley Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a special book. Made me fall in love with Jesus all over again!