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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt first, I was going to compile a list of my favorite Resurrection-themed movies. However, I realized that there are several other movies and books that I wanted to feature in this post. So, instead, here is a list of some of the best character encounters with the cross (in no particular order).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Warning: Spoilers ahead.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The Pilgrim\u2019s Progress<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This book is one of the most well-known Christian works to be written, and the scene at the cross is very moving. I also love the scenes in both the live-action and animated movie versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the animated version, Christian arrives at a steep hill, at the top of which is a cross. As he climbs, the burden on his back loosens, and he begins to run towards the cross. At the top of the hill, the burden falls away and rolls down the hill into an empty tomb. Overcome with awe and emotion, Christian raises his arms and shouts, \u201cI\u2019m free!\u201d This cry of victory spreads throughout the kingdom, reaching Appolyon’s dark lair, as well as the City of Destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the live-action version, the scene is much quieter, but moving nonetheless. As Christian approaches the cross, his burden falls away and disappears. Falling to his knees, Christian simply whispers with tear-filled eyes, \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Ben-Hur<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
While I haven\u2019t read the book (yet), this movie is among my favorites. It\u2019s packed full of symbolism and a great theme. By the time Judah arrives at the cross, we\u2019ve already been taken through a long journey and we\u2019ve seen that revenge doesn\u2019t satisfy. But Judah\u2014and the audience\u2014are wondering\u2026 if revenge isn\u2019t the answer, then what is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Jesus is hanging on the cross, Judah can\u2019t help but question this pattern of death\u2026 even the Son of God must die. Yet hope begins to glimmer in his heart. Out of all the suffering and death in the world, perhaps this death will be the one to bring life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cFather, forgive them,\u201d Judah later tells Esther, \u201cHis voice took the sword out of my hand.\u201d If even Jesus\u2014who had done nothing wrong\u2014could forgive those who were at that moment putting him to death, then surely Judah could forgive those who had wronged him. And this is where the true Climax comes to an end\u2026 when Judah recognizes that true peace and satisfaction are found in forgiveness, not revenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Vinegar Boy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This book isn\u2019t very well-known, but it\u2019s one of my favorites. Pretty much the whole thing takes place on the day of Jesus\u2019 death, and most of that is at the cross. However, one scene in this book stands out to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Jesus\u2019 body is taken off the cross and buried, Vinegar Boy (he has no real name) is still sitting on the hill. His friend, Marconius the centurion, is shaken by what\u2019s taken place on the hill that day. At last, Marconius approaches the empty cross and places his sword at its foot. With simple words of faith, he turns from his sin and trusts the One who had died on that cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Marconius kneels there, someone else comes up the hill. It\u2019s Barabbas, the freed criminal whom Vinegar Boy had helped. Marconius reaches for his sword again, ready to defend himself. But Vinegar Boy, fearing for Barabbas\u2019 life, knocks the sword away. It lands at Barabbas\u2019 feet, and Marconius knows that the outlaw could kill him in an instant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, after a moment, the outlaw kicks it away. He has come to realize that the Man who died in his place offers a better way to live. There, in the shadow of the empty cross, two men who were once mortal enemies clasp hands in friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Titus, a Comrade of the Cross<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
I also haven\u2019t read this book, but I\u2019ve listened to the audio drama produced by Lamplighter Theatre. It\u2019s a very moving story that portrays many of the people whom Jesus met during His ministry. The story all comes down to the scene where Titus is hanging on the cross next to Jesus. He knows he\u2019s made bad choices in his life, but he knows just as well that Jesus has never done anything wrong. So, in full repentance and faith, he asks Jesus to save him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Fireproof<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This is one of my favorite movies\u2026 if you haven\u2019t seen it, I would highly recommend it. While the movie is primarily about a man\u2019s struggle to save his marriage, there\u2019s a scene at the Midpoint that is incredibly powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up until this point, Caleb has been doing the Love Dare half-heartedly. He and his dad are walking on a wooded trail, and Caleb is trying to explain why he\u2019s finally done with the Dare. As they approach an outdoor chapel for an abandoned campground, Caleb seats himself on a tree stump. He begins to list off one thing after another to his dad\u2026 how he\u2019s tried and tried to save his marriage, but his wife keeps rejecting him and throwing it all back in his face. He\u2019s given everything, but she doesn\u2019t even seem to care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Caleb\u2019s complaints go on, his dad slowly begins to walk around the rows of seats toward the front of the chapel. Finally, Caleb finishes his tirade and looks up. Instead of responding, his dad simply leans against the cross, looking at his son with knowing eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then Caleb gets it. Everything he\u2019d just said\u2014everything that his wife had been doing\u2014is exactly what he’s doing to God. With his father looking on, Caleb bows his head, giving his life fully to Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Left Behind<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The 2000 “Left Behind” movie also has a lot of memorable moments (again, I haven\u2019t read the book yet). However, one of its most moving scenes comes soon after all of the Christians have vanished in the Rapture. An assistant pastor named Bruce is sitting at the front of a church auditorium\u2026 in utter disbelief that he has been left behind. He realizes that everything\u2014his whole life, practically\u2014has been a lie. He goes through many emotions\u2026 shock, cynicism, and even anger as he knocks the cross at the front of the church to the ground. Finally, he falls on his knees before the fallen cross, crying out to God to save him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another main character, Ray, happens to be walking into the church at that moment. He hears the heartfelt plea for forgiveness, and it\u2019s all the encouragement he needs. He knows that he\u2019s been rejecting God for far too long already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Ray heads down the aisle towards the cross, Bruce asks God to use him in some way. Tears flooding his eyes, Ray puts a hand on Bruce\u2019s shoulder, telling him, \u201cHe already has.\u201d The scene ends with both men kneeling at the front of the church, in awe of the forgiveness of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Do You Believe?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This movie is pretty much all about the cross. Early on in the story, one of the main characters, a pastor named Matthew, gives out small crosses during a church service. Those crosses end up touching numerous lives, including a dying atheist, a homeless single mom, a gang member, and a suicidal ex-Marine. The Climax of the movie even comes to a head on a bridge, underneath a cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, one of the most significant scenes with the cross happens much earlier in the movie. Matthew is driving home late at night, when he sees an older man walking down the street, carrying a cross. The man is preaching to anyone who will listen\u2014which, most people won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew rolls down his window and begins to talk to the man. During the conversation, the man asks him, \u201cDo you believe in the cross of Christ?\u201d Matthew responds, \u201cI\u2019m a pastor, so\u2026\u201d The man responds, \u201cYou didn\u2019t answer my question. I asked if you believe in the cross of Christ.\u201d Later, before the man turns to leave, he looks Matthew straight in the eyes and tells him, \u201cIf you believe, then the question is\u2026 what are you gonna do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This statement is basically the entire premise of the movie and a challenge to anyone who is watching. Pretty much anyone can shout \u201cAmen\u201d and say that they believe in Jesus. But if the cross has really touched us\u2014if we\u2019ve truly been changed by it\u2014then it\u2019s going to show up in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nI hope this post has been a blessing to you, and maybe it has inspired you to watch\/read some of these movies and books for yourself. But, most of all, I hope that it\u2019s caused you to consider the wonder of the cross, and what it represents. As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians, \u201cThe preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nComment below your favorite character encounter with the cross!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since Resurrection Sunday is coming up in less than a week, I thought this would be a good opportunity to give you guys a list of some memorable scenes in Christian movies and books. So stay tuned for some good movies to watch this Easter season!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[119,26,120,29,117,118],"class_list":["post-619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-books","tag-characters","tag-christian-literature","tag-christian-writing","tag-cross","tag-movies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=619"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":631,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions\/631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Do You Believe?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Left Behind<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Fireproof<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Titus, a Comrade of the Cross<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Vinegar Boy<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Ben-Hur<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n