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But I think the main reason I like the film is the way it shows how Jesus Christ can bring forgiveness and healing into our lives. Ben Hur is a man eaten up with hatred and revenge. A local Roman official has been responsible for an act of terrible cruelty which has devastated Ben Hur's family. In response, he can only think of taking revenge. His family has been destroyed, so he will destroy the culprit in return. Then, as the film draws to its climax, Ben Hur finds himself standing at the foot of Jesus' cross. He watches the Son of God suffering and dying; he hears him say "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And, as he later reports, "I felt his voice take the sword out of my hand." Forgiveness and reconciliation came into his life, because of his encounter with the crucified Jesus. One Good Friday afternoon, the BBC screened Ben Hur. As I'm always in church at that time taking services, I set the video recorder to tape it. Later that day, as I sat and watched the recording, I was annoyed to find that at the very climax of the film the BBC had chosen to splash news flash captions across the screen. As I tried to watch Jesus dying on the cross, the picture was hidden by a flash telling us that a historic peace deal was being struck at that very moment in Northern Ireland. And that caption came up not once, but several times during the crucial last few minutes of the film. Suddenly, I stopped being annoyed. It was an amazing piece of timing. The truth is, that if there is to be real reconciliation and forgiveness between the warring parties in Northern Ireland, it will be when all sides repent and submit to Jesus, who died to bring humanity back to God and into peace. Two years on, we still wait for that to happen, and the Good Friday Agreement seems a long way off. But the cross is still the hope for the province. As I write this, another conflict is capturing the headlines. Israel, the very place where Jesus lived, died and rose again, is the scene of violence between Palestinian and Israeli. There too, the hope for real peace lies in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He will not force the hand of nations and governments, but where men and women turn to him, he will bring his peace and forgiveness. What is true on a national scale is true for individuals. Do you know the peace of Jesus Christ in your heart? Cogges Parish | Other articles | Previous issue | 
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© 2000; Published in Cogges Parish monthly newsletter, number 256, November 2000 | |
I have always had a soft spot for the film Ben Hur. I
guess it's partly because of the sheer spectacle (all those
galley slaves rowing their socks off, not to mention that
chariot race!), and partly because of the haunting musical
score by Miklos Rosza. Perhaps there's even a bit of
curiosity: they do say that if you look carefully, you will
see a red Ferrari intrude into one of the scenes of the
ancient Roman Empire. I have looked, and so far, I haven't
spotted so much as a Reliant Robin!