"The Hidden Gospel Message In Saving Private Ryan"

The Hidden Gospel Message In The Movie 'Saving Private Ryan' the text is taken from Isaiah 53.

Another title for this message can be. Are you living a life worthy of the sacrifice that Christ made for you? And so it was strange when the Lord dropped the name of the movie called Saving Private Ryan into my spirit while I was struggling to prepare for an evangelism workshop. I was on my knees when it happened and so I decided to watch the film, still doubting that there was an evangelistic message in it. I had seen the name of the movie over the years but never had a desire to watch it. And I was surprised to find that the film had won five Academy Awards and that it had received other accolades as well.

While all of the events are not true the movie is based on a true story. Nevertheless, reports say that some of the battle scenes in the film were so real and so accurate, that when the film came out in 1998 some World War Two veterans who watched the film had to go into counseling afterwards. Because it brought everything about their gruesome ordeal fresh to their memories as if it was yesterday. But even after watching the movie it took a while for my senses to awaken to this hidden message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For those who have not seen the film it is about World War II. The deadliest conflict in human history, during which there were 35 to 60 million casualties according to britannica.com. In particular it was about the battle of Normandy, one of the deadliest conflicts of the war. The most striking scene was the first day of that battle that was infamously called D-Day. On that fateful June day in 1944. The US and its allies lost some 4,400 or more troops in the Normandy Landing of 150,000 soldiers which took place during horrible wintry weather. Germany's losses doubled the amount lost by the allies on that first day.

Father we thank You for this word. Bless it. Give understanding and motivate Your children Father we pray in the precious and the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.

But the main story line is about a young man named Private Ryan whose only three brothers were killed in the conflict. And when the US top brass realized that these three brothers had been killed and there was a fourth brother still fighting behind enemy lines, a decision was made to send Captain Miller and seven soldiers back into the battle to find Private Ryan and bring him safely home to his family, in order to spare that family further grief.

In the closing scene of the movie. Captain Miller, the leader of the team of eight who had been sent back into the battle to locate Private Ryan and bring him home to the US, is seen propped up on the ground. He's obviously in intense pain and is bleeding profusely. Miller's part is played by Tom Hanks. At this point in the film only Captain Miller and two other officers are still alive. The other five have already been killed in combat. Miller has been shot three times and he knows that he is about to die also. One of the other two surviving soldiers holds a piece of white cloth to his side to try to stop the gushing blood but it is no use. The Soldier frantically screams out for a medic and goes to see if he can find one. Meanwhile Captain Miller's life is expiring quickly. He calls the young Private Ryan over to him and painfully whispers some hardly audible words to him. And he gasps as he mumbles two phrases to him. He says earn this. And then he says earn it. In other words myself and these brave men have sacrificed our lives for your life now you must go out and make your life worth the cost of this great sacrifice we have made for you. The words earned this would haunt Ryan for years.

They would become a burden that he would carry for his entire life. He would constantly question whether he had been worth the loss that the families of these faithful men suffered. And the hardship they endured to save him. And even their painful death on the battlefield. While World War II is about the nations of the world banding together to stop a mad man and his allies who were hell bent on ruling the entire world in a tyrannical manner. Private Ryan's story is a golden nugget hidden under a ton of unimaginable tragedies and whether you believe it or not there's a parallel between Ryan's story and the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made for us. These eight valiant soldiers as a group can be said to be a type of Christ that went on a mission to save one man. They all laid down their lives for Private Ryan in order that he may live out his life and bring some Joy to the hearts of his parents and other family members in the midst of all their grief. What a privilege this 20-year-old Soldier was granted. In the same way Jesus Christ who knew no sin became sin for us and laid down his life, that all men may have a chance to live anew in eternal glory with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit He was able to pick up His life and live again.

Sadly six of these men would not have an opportunity to be able to pick up their lives and live out their purpose. The prophet Isaiah in the 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah, writing to us hundreds of years before Christ would ever come to the Earth. Described Jesus Christ as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And he said we hid as it were our faces from Him. He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Which means we did not value nor did we appreciate Him. Isaiah would then go on to say surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities and the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. But the prophet does not stop there. He goes on to say all we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Yes friend, the Savior carried on His shoulders the sins of all human creations. He was scorned, He was ridiculed, He was beaten, bruised, ripped and finally hung on a cross so that we may have life and have it abundantly.

And yes less than 25% of today's world recognize and value His enormous sacrifice for us. Captain Miller's final words to Private Ryan admonishing him to earn this. Meant that he should make this good by living a life worth this enormous privilege that he had been handed. It also reminds us of Jesus Christ's Words in John 15: 12 and 13, where He tells us this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this. Than to lay down one's life for his friends. This my friend is what Captain Miller and his team did for Private Ryan and his family. They laid down their lives for their fellow Soldier. And to spare his family further the grief.

The story also brings into focus the reason why the Lord implemented the breaking of the bread as a Sacrament that believers in Christ are to participate in on a regular basis. According to first 1st Corinthians 11: 23 to 26, on the same night in which He was betrayed. Christ told His disciples and apostles the following. "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." In other words every time you partake of this Sacrament, remember what I have done for you. And keep the memory alive until I return. This was to be a continual exercise throughout the lives of all believers. Throughout the entire dispensation of grace some refer to this sacred offering as the communion service. Others call it the Eucharist and some say the Lord's supper or the Last Supper. Whatever we call it, we are to do it continually in memory of the awesome privilege of the free gift given to us by the Savior at the expense of His own life.

We are ever to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ. And to strive to live a life that demonstrates our appreciation for this wonderful gift that we have received free of charge. Now when Private Ryan becomes an old man, we see him walking hurriedly toward the American Normandy Cemetery. He's going there to visit the grave of Captain Miller. The leader of the group of eight who had saved him. He's followed by a small group which includes his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. For years he has been very anxious to make this trip and they have insisted on going along with him. As he approaches the cemetery he begins to walk even faster leaving them behind. The cemetery sits on a 172.5 acre lot of land and there are approximately 9,389 US soldiers buried there. All were killed in the battle of Normandy. In fact a total of 29,000 US servicemen were killed in that bloody battle.

When he arrives at Captain Miller's grave he falls to the ground filled with emotion. He begins speaking to Captain Miller as if he thinks he can hear him. And he tells him every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. And I've tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. As he turns away to leave. He asked his wife anxiously whether she thinks that he's a good man. And she touches his face tenderly and says yes. He's hungry for assurance that their deaths were not in vain. He wants to be sure that he has lived a life worthy of the tremendous sacrifice made on his behalf.

For each of the first two days of the workshop I tried to insert the story of Private Ryan and could not find the right spot. Finally on day three, the last day. I felt led to close out with the story. As I began to share the story with the budding evangelist. I suddenly could hardly speak because a gush of emotion came up from deep within my gut. At that instant the full impact of the message took a hold of me and I spoke to the attendees of the awesome responsibility we have to live a life pleasing to the Lord. In demonstration of our appreciation for the great sacrifice He made on our behalf. I spoke about the awesome mission that we've been given to go out and share this wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order that some sin-sick soul may be rescued from the bondage of sin and thereby saved from hell and damnation. And about the charge given to us by Jesus Christ to make disciples of as many as we can. I am also reminded about the command given to us to occupy until the Lord Christ returns. If we accept the call we will forever walk in the glorious light of God's redeeming and transforming love. And find a smiling Savior at the End of the road. God bless and keep you in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

At this point we want to give you an opportunity to give your heart to Jesus Christ. Please engage your heart and say this prayer after me:

• Father I am a sinner and I'm sorry for all my sins.

• I crave Your forgiveness.

• Today I have decided to return to You.

• Thank You Lord for receiving me.

• Today I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.

• Dear Lord Jesus make my heart Your home.

• I give You the key to my heart because I now belong to You.

• Please give me the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth.

• Thank You Lord for saving my soul. Amen.

Welcome friend to the body of believers in Christ. There are so many of us here waiting for the return of the Good Master. In the meantime we have some simple instructions for you. Number one, become water baptized as quickly as possible. Let your pastor know that you have given your heart to the Lord. Begin reading the Word of God every day. Begin in the book of John. Then go to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Pray daily. Attend at your local church and one glad morning the Savior will come and receive us all unto Himself and and we shall forever be with the Lord God bless and keep you in Jesus mighty name. Amen.