Difference between revisions of "Sermon for January 22nd, 2017"

Revision as of 20:01, 21 January 2017

Isaiah 53:1-6

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 4Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Matthew 11:2-6

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Faith & Film V: Hacksaw Ridge

• Film Clip #1: Trailer

Three Minute Film Summary

Hacksaw Ridge is a film based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a World War II medic, conscientious objector, and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, which he was awarded for saving the lives of over 75 men, one at a time, at the battle known informally as Hacksaw Ridge.

The film opens with scenes of violence, explosions, and the carnage of war. Juxtaposed over top of this, we hear the calm voice of Desmond Doss, quoting the passage from Isaiah 40: The Lord is the everlasting God, who gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Those who wait for the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles, run and not be wearly, walk and not faint.

Next we are taken back in time, sixteen years prior, where we see Desmond as a child. In one scene, Desmond is fighting with his brother, and hits him over the head with a brick, knocking him unconscious. As Desmond's parents attend to his brother, Desmond gazes fearfully at a painting of the ten commandments in his parents' home, at the sixth commandment: Thou shalt not kill, and a picture of Cain murdering his brother Abel. Although Desmond's brother recovers, this is a formative moment in his life.

Later, when he is a young man, he saves the life of another young man injured in a car accident by using his belt to apply a tourniquet. When he takes the man to the hospital, he meets his future wife, Dorothy, who is a nurse. When the war breaks out, Desmond makes the decision to enlist, even though his religious convictions don't allow him to take the life of another person or even pick up a weapon.

In basic training, he is harassed, mocked, and beaten by his fellow soldiers, while his commanding officers try to force him to quit. Eventually, however, he is allowed to serve as a medic, going into battle unarmed.

The second half of the film centers on the World War II Battle for Okinawa, where Doss and his unit are assigned to climb and capture a steep escarpment known colloquially as Hacksaw Ridge. This proves far more difficult than anticipated, and chaos and casualties ensue. It is here that Doss proves his character, working tirelessly as a medic to help fallen soldiers. When American forces withdraw from the escarpment, Doss stays behind and works through the night, finding one wounded soldier after another, carrying each one to the edge of the cliff, and lowering them down to safety with a rope. Eventually, he himself makes it down and the remaining soldiers learn of his heroism.

The next day, Doss and his unit are ordered to mount a final assault. By now, the soldiers have learned to trust him, and they refuse to go back up without him. But it's Saturday, and Doss is a Seventh Day Adventist. Eventually, he agrees to go, but only after he's had a chance to pray and read his Bible. The final assault is successful, but Doss himself is wounded in the action, and his fellow soldiers rally around him, lowering him down the ridge to safety and even going back to recover the Bible he lost on the battlefield.

Climing the Ridge

-Cut to blue ridge mountains, six years earlier. -Two boys race to the top of a ridge. The top of a ridge is a metaphor. -Dorothy and Desmond climb the ridge together. I'll help you, but it's gon' cost you. What? A Kiss.

Wrestling With A Conscience

-Seventh Day Adventist -Sixth commandment? (on picture) thou shalt not kill. -To take another man's life that is the most agregious sin in the lord's sight. Nothing aggrieves him so much. (Desmond's mother) I'm a conscientious cooperator Cannot work on a Saturday/Sabbath. Do not look to him to save you on the battlefield, because he will be wrestling with his conscience. What do you do when everything you value is udner attack. I don't know. I don't have answers wto questions that big. Film doesn't shy away from difficult moral question at the heart of the story: As Doss is saving lives, his "guardian angel" is smitty, who is killing plenty of enemy soldiers to protect doss's life.

Desmond Doss, Christ Type

What if you was attacked? Smitty hits him and quotes "turn the other cheek" verse. Desmond doesn't fight back. Use scripture verse from Isaiah: He was beaten for our ... he was wounded... I'm prepared to give my life for my men. YOu don't win wars by giving up your life. I'm being treated like a criminal just because I won't kill. At bottom of ridge, after his long night of rescuing, water is poured over Doss to wash the blood away. BAPTISM. All I saw wasa skinny kid. I didn't know who you were. I've never been more wrong about someone in my life. I hope one day you can forgive me. Desmond is lowered down ridge on stretcher. As he is lowered, we see him floating in space, camera pans around him to look above. Light shines down from sky on him. Scripture verse: And the blind shall see, the lame shall walk, the dead be born again???? Scripture verse: Whatever you do for the least of these my brothers, you have done for me.

Hearing God's Voice

Smitty dies, as Doss's company retreats from the ridge the first time. Angelic music plays while Doss is about to descend. Says: What do you want from me? I don't understnad. I can't hear you. Instead he hears the cries of his fellow soldiers, the wounded. Stands up and walks back into the carnage. -Please, Lord. Help me get one more.

• Film Clip #2: Cowardice
• Film Clip #3: One More
• Film Clip #4: Ending Scene