![Pair of Candlesticks, By Paul de Lamerie (Holland, active England, London, 1688-1751) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Pair_of_Candlesticks_LACMA_57.67.1a-b.jpg)
The paroled convict Jean Valjean finds himself an outcast, and seeks food and shelter from a saintly bishop. Valjean repays the bishop by stealing his silver and sneaking away. Police catch him with the goods and bring him back to face the bishop — who turns the tables by saying that he freely gave it all to Valjean. The bishop then goes well beyond the second mile, forcing Valjean to also take the candlesticks he “forgot.” The police leave, and the criminal is left with the one who has every right to be his accuser.
The bishop faces the one who stole his most precious possessions and says in the book
“Do not forget, never forget, that you have promised to use this money in becoming an honest man.”
Valjean hadn’t forgotten it. This is the first he’d heard about it. The bishop goes on:
“Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God”
Even the film version got me all weepy, though I’m not sold on their cheery portrayal of the bishop.
Valjean spends the rest of the story living with the consequences of grace.
- It is not just the simple grace of being forgiven.
- It is the complicated grace of being forcibly placed under new ownership.
That should remind readers of the Heidelberg Catechism of the essential nature of Christian faith. In Question 1 we say that our only comfort is
“That I am not my own, but belong–body and soul, in life and in death–to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”
It drives Valjean to truly strive to become an honest man — to live a life worthy of the calling that came to him though a loving man’s personal sacrifice. In every situation, even when he must risk his own life, he is compelled by this new identity bought with a price.
This is what, in Romans 12, the Apostle Paul calls being a “living sacrifice.” The old is as dead as if our bodies were on the altar, a whole burnt offering in ancient Israel; and yet we live with that life dead. As a sacrifice we are now devoted to God — so how will we live?
The Heidelberg Catechism calls this “conversion.”
88 Q. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
A. Two things:
The dying-away of the old self,
and the rising-to-life of the new.
I’ve read the story of Jean Valjean’s dying-away and rising-to-life for God. I’ve seen it on Broadway. Now I’ve seen it on film. Makes me want to live more truly for Christ every single time.
If you’ve seen Les Miserables, what do you think of it as a portrait of conversion?
What do you think marks the reality of Christian conversion?
A beautiful portrait indeed, and I love the ways Valjean repeatedly pays the sacrifice forward. The end of the film, when Fontine (sp?) takes his hand and leads him to eternity slayed me. Talk about weepy. Dang. What marks the reality of Christian conversion? I’m willing to go with what people say they believe myself.
Thanks Chad! Yes, that ending was amazing — and not the only thing that makes me want to reread the whole book and compare notes.
As to the question of what marks the reality of conversion, I’ll take someone’s word as well, of course. What I’m wondering is what people think ought to show in our lives, either internally to ourselves or externally to others.
Maybe not the best question. I’m still trying to figure out how to spark discussion — I am delighted to see the stats of people stopping by for a look, but would love to be able to hear their thoughts as well.
When I first saw Les Mis, and this scene in particular, I was struck by how powerful a portrayal of conversion it is – precisely because of the look of uncomprehending surprise and shock on Valjean’s face. Who can believe such forgiveness exists? We can, when we realize that the way forward is not accomplished alone. I think the reality of Christian conversion is marked by repentance such that we become “yoked” to Jesus.
Hey, Margaret, thanks for joining the conversation!
Yes that look of shock is great. And nice observation about being connected to Jesus in the journey. I think the film does convey that sense that he is not alone — he is continually turning to the God to whom his soul has been given.
Hello
I too use this reference a lot in ministry. It seems to illuminate the greatness of God that out of a bad thing can come good: trouble we get in is a preset destiny to enlightenment and God’s grace.
Thanks, Tobias! Victor Hugo had a wonderful ability to portray grace in action, eh?
Dr. Hansen, one of my favorite plays, I still can recall the first time I saw it and i”ve seen it numerous times, each time opens up new ideas for me. Your scene with Valjean and the Bishop is such a great scene, when the Bishop says you forget these other items, it’s like WOW! Living with the consequences of Grace. I read a quote yesterday in a book im reading, it was a quote by Albert Einstein, There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is…A quote that rings true about gratitude and grace, when you are sick there is only one thing you wish for, when you are well, there are many things that you wish for. Just think about that for a moment as it relates to Grace, if we would spend more time in our DAILY walks with God, just being grateful for the birds, the sun, the rain (boy has it been raining), and not being consumed with the other “worries” of our lives, maybe just maybe we too could be like the bishop and say to others, well, you forgot these, take them as well!
Thanks Joe. If you want to see that grace unfolding, you really should read the book!