The Gospel in Les Miserables

This movie was the first of many in a long time that caused me to weep. I watched as a depraved man, a thief, was shown mercy which began for him a life of showing the same mercy while paying others back for the gratitude he had for a man and his wife whom not only spared his freedom, but gave him above and beyond what he deserved to show him mercy.

He then began a life of honesty and generosity. He was a “changed man” as he’d claimed he would be, and yet there were of course, still the consequences of his former sin which he had to live with. While his life was sought extensively by the ‘evil one,’ he lived in peace knowing he’d covered his bases; yet this evil one was out to prove him wrong. He did feel a deep sense of remorse for his past, and was willing to take the charges, should they be proved against him while others were potentially put to the stake for being mistaken with his actual account. He rescues many from failure and hardship, and the very life and nurturing of an orphan he promised to care for. He takes what his past represented and attempted to spare her life from anything close to it, yet goes to the extreme as sadly so many overly fearful though loving parents mistakenly do. He wants to hinder this child from the world and its ugliness, but the day comes where it is not possible. What he could have done was teach her the truth and how to combat the harsh realities of life with the power of God. However, while they do break out into reality, and life makes for harder decisions, his honor keeps him to the end. He does what he can out of love; having been a receptor of such deep mercy and grace, he then extended it on to many generations.

His attempt at reviving the life and love of one whom was shown no mercy for her sin, showed a beautiful picture of what some of the world would see as unjust. Our very God is just yet the justifier too, and we know His hand to be perfect in our lives when others may see it as not right in their own eyes.

The evil man in this movie was so bound by sin, and the law he felt he must keep that he showed no mercy even when such a changed and blameless man was snow before him. He could not get past it, and his wicked schemes did not let him rest until they lead him to death, as sin we know always does.

In the end, our main man goes free; and walks away down a road and info a flock of birds that then fly up into the air, representing the likeness his heart clearly felt as his burdens and weight of the past sins in his life too, flew away.

Many times his life was pictured to me as Christ’s while though he was a sinner, he had come back to repentance and changed and though still sought after, he was always willing to give up his life and freedom for others. You can’t help but love him as all main characters, especially with such renovated and pure motives for the well being of others. And you can’t help but despise the disgusting man who sought his life, as his lack of mercy was so relentless and unjust. Sin does this to our lives, as is vies to strangle us with every ounce of strength it holds on our life. We must run from it, and know its end.

We must pour mercy on those who need it, as we’ve been shown this great mercy! And never forget the unconditional love we’ve been shown; as there is NO greater love than that one should lay his life down for his friends. God in Christ Jesus did this, and His very life was laid on our account, to forever wash us clean. Our slates are new; what can we do but show mercy today!?