An input on the 9th commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Three different movie scenes from "The Hurricane" with Denzel Washington are shown and a parallel is drawn to the similar case of Jesus. The focus will be on the false testimony and what it caused. The participants should become aware of the effects a false statement can have and they should be sensitized for this topic
In our youth group we first played a game in which one of the youth was wrongly accused of throwing a stone at a leader during an integrated water fight. A whole trial was staged with judge, jury, prosecutor, false witnesses, with some of the participants being part of the jury. Much like the movie "Hurricane."
Of course, you should know the story and plot for input. Watching the movie beforehand can't hurt ;).
Introduction
Today I will show you some movie clips from one of my favorite movies for a change. The movie clips have a lot to do with the Bible - or rather the life of Jesus. So we look at a short clip and then I draw the parallel to Jesus.
Short sneak peek of the film
Three movie clips
The movie is about a true story. It revolves around Ruben Hurricane Carter, a former boxer from New Jersey. At an early age, Ruben had to learn that life is a struggle. He was sent to a juvenile detention center for an act of self-defense and only because the man he was fighting off was a white man and he was dark-skinned. When he later got out of prison, he went straight into the Army and became a boxer. He swept through the ring like a hurricane. That's how he got that nickname. But then when a murder happened in the area, that's when his whole life changed.
First film clip: The false witnesses
Let's watch together the first film clip (43:43 - 46:43)
In the bar where the murder happened, two criminals were staying. When asked if the two - Ruben Carter and John Artis - had done it, they shook their heads. But they had violated their parole. That is, the two had been convicted of another crime before, and so pressure was then put on them. Finally, that pressure moved them to make a false statement.
In the life of Jesus it was quite similar. The leading Jews (Pharisees and scribes) also sought false witnesses who would testify against Jesus. Some were found who claimed: This man said he would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. But they were only telling half the truth. Jesus never said that he would tear down the temple. He said: You tear down the temple and I will rebuild it in three days
Second Film Clip: The Verdict
Let's now watch the second film clip (46:43-48:43):
When Ruben Carter was still in the ring, people were cheering for him. And now? Ruben Carter and John Artis were given three life sentences at once. Sure he had people sticking by him, but what good was that anymore? In the American justice system, life doesn't mean 25 years. No, a life sentence means 75 years. That means for both of them, if they got three life sentences, they would serve 225 years. So they would die in prison either way. They wouldn't have survived life even once. Ruben Carter died this year. Even if he had served 75 years, he would not have been released until 2041.
And Jesus? He, too, was tried and convicted. Not to a life sentence, for instance. In his case, the death sentence was pronounced immediately. By the cruelest method of execution, which existed at that time in the Roman Empire - death on the cross. In most cases the criminals were tied to the cross and then put up for hours or even several days and they died the most agonizing death of that time, in sweltering heat and cold nights. Breathing was hardly possible. But in Jesus' case, nails were used in addition. Absolutely cruel.
Third film clip: The acquittal
After about 20 years Ruben Carter came to federal court. In the process, brand new evidence was presented. The case is on the back burner because it bypassed New Jersey state court. The evidence would have been useless forever if the judge had decided not to hear Ruben Carter. But he did. Let's look at the third and final excerpt in a moment (2:05:15 - 2:07:01 and 2:10:05 - 2:11:27).
Ruben Carter is free! The chief justice of America has released him from prison.
It was the same with Jesus. His father is lord over all lords. It's amazing, but Jesus also asks the Father for justice. He should restore him to the place of honor he had with him before he left the heavenly world and became a man. After three days, Jesus rose from death. He is alive. His Father stood by him through the most difficult hours of his life. His father is absolutely holy and just. He raised him from the dead and gave him the place of honor at his right hand.
Closing Thoughts
Many thousands of people have been innocently thrown into prison. Ruben Hurricane Carter was just one of them. Many have been wrongly sentenced to death. First and foremost, of course, Jesus. He was absolutely without guilt, something none of us could claim.
Yes, what does it look like specifically in our lives? Do we speak the truth about others? Or do we sometimes take a dim view of the truth? God challenges us with the 9th commandment to make a difference. One false testimony can destroy a lot. That was the case with Ruben Carter, John Artis and many others. Of course, these are blatant examples of what can be triggered by a false testimony, but it starts in the smallest of ways.
And one more thing: We too will stand before this righteous judge one day. Those who belong to Jesus in this have absolutely nothing to fear. For Jesus himself is our righteousness and in him we have acquittal and victory. I think one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie is when Ruben Carter together with Lesra are talking to each other before the verdict and Lesra says: "If this doesn't work today, I'll get you out of here by force." "You'd do that?" retorts Ruben affectionately. "Yeah right, I'll break in and get you out." "But you already did," Ruben counters. "What was the first book you read?" he continues. "Well, yours," Lesra agrees. "Can that be a coincidence?", Ruben asks him and continues right away, "Lesra comes from Lazarus. The one who rose from the dead. Reuben, Genesis chapter 29 verse 32: Behold there a son. Connect these two and it comes out, Behold there the son that rose from the dead. Hate put me in prison, love will get me out. It is no accident."
In the end, justice and love will prevail. Then when the supreme judge, the Lord over all lords pronounces his judgment.
Sources
- Cover image: DVD cover "The Hurricane"
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