The All Is Lost Moment
In the Christian faith, Good Friday refers to the day that Jesus was crucified. It's interesting that the day that the founder and perfecter (Heb. 12:2) of the Christian faith, Jesus Christ, died on the cross is a day that Christians call "good." Wouldn't a better title be "Crappy Friday?" The story of Jesus as the coming King of the Jews sure seems to take a weird turn considering he ends up dying! Doesn't that seem hopeless.
This thought occured to me today:
Good Friday is the reason for the "All Is Lost" moment in movies.
Think about it, in almost every movie comes the scene at the end of Act II where all is lost.
In an "All is Lost" moment:
- Everything seems hopeless.
- The main character seems to be helpless to do anything.
- Evil is going to win out.
This screenwriting website tells us that the "All is Lost" moment should have three essentials, pain, emotion, and paradox. "Those three essentials—pain, emotion, and paradox—are basically all you need to create a second act ending which is effective and powerful. In short, one with impact."
Here is a classic example of a moving "All Is Lost" moment:
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| "Dad? Dad, come on. You gotta get up." |
In "The Lion King," Scar the evil brother sets a trap for Mufasa the King, by luring him into a wildebeest stampede that leaves Mufasa hanging on the edge of a cliff where he is betrayed by Scar and falls to his death. When Simba sees his dead father, Scar tricks him into believing that Simba is the reason for his dad's death. Scar has the hyenas try to kill Simba but he escapes, and Scar returns to tell the kingdom that both Mufasa and Simba are dead. Simba collapses in the desert and we are left with an impactful "all is lost" moment where everything seems hopeless.
The "All is Lost" moment is essential for great storytelling. The audience is left emotionally gripped and invested, wondering what is to happen to their beloved hero. The situation seems hopeless, and our hearts are hurting as we hope to see the resolution that will hopefully come in Act III.
The reason why Good Friday is the reason for the "All is Lost" moment in movies is because on Good Friday, Jesus goes to the cross. The cross is the great ending scene in Act II of God's plan for salvation. In the great story of salvation, the cross seems like the most hopeless moment. Everything seems hopeless. It seems like the main character is helpless to do anything. It seems as though evil is going to win out.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the scene was festive and joyful.
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11 ESV)
Good Friday seems ages removed from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. At this point in the story, now on Good Friday, Jesus has foretold of his death. Judas has betrayed Jesus with a kiss. His disciples had been scattered, abandoning him. Jesus had been denied by his close friend Peter. All those who partook of the Last Supper with Jesus have been faithless to their teacher. Jesus has been handed over to Pilate after being falsely accused, as violent men seek his life. The crowds have chosen to free Barabbas, a murderer, instead of Jesus. The crowds have declared to Pilate that they want Jesus crucified, and Pilate has delivered him over unto death. Jesus has been stripped and given a crown of thorns and a reed for a scepter, being mocked. Jesus has been hung up on the cross, derided, reviled. Lastly and most significantly, Jesus has been forsaken by God.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV)
Truly the joys that flowed from the mouths of his disciples have turned to sorrows. This rabbi, this teacher, Jesus - this man was to be King! His disciples have given everything, left their homes, their jobs, their lives, given everything to follow him. They stand by and watch their beloved leader be taken away and they abandon and deny him. At this point in the disciples lives, they must be questioning everything about themselves and about who Jesus was. As Jesus yielded up his spirit and breathed his last, his disciples couldn't have felt more hopeless, helpless, and lost.
As Jesus Christ hangs on the cross, all seems lost. However, this is only the end of Act II, so to speak.
God is not finished. Jesus will not remain on the cross, Jesus will not remain in the tomb! When all seemed lost, Jesus rose from the dead!
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 ESV)
In film, the end of Act II culminating with a moving "All is Lost" moment makes for great storytelling. In God's plan of salvation the cross is the all is lost moment, but it is also the beginning of new hope and new life because Jesus rose from the dead. The situation that seemed hopeless is in fact our greatest hope.
God's plan of salvation needs the cross. Jesus was forsaken for our sake. Our sin sent Jesus to the cross.
John Stott says this, "Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us."
Peter tells us the gospel:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25 ESV)
Our sin sent Jesus to the cross as the sacrifice that would redeem us to God. We sinners have been given the chance to be reconciled to God. Our sin is nailed to the cross. By the wounds Jesus suffered we receive healing. We who once walked away from God with our lives turn back to him!
God has shown us great mercy! By faith we can be born again to a living hope because Jesus has been raised from the dead!
Peter describes it this way:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)
Each movie that has a great "All is Lost" moment at the end of Act II has an incredible powerful Act III triumph! These great stories are inspired by Good Friday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on Easter!
Jesus' death on the cross gives us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sin, and his resurrection gives us the opportunity to be raised to new life! (Romans 4:25). Jesus has been raised from the dead and by faith in him we are born again into a living hope!
Do these words from Peter ring true to our hearts?
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV)
Thank you, Jesus!
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