You may have seen the movie based on the old novel: Ben Hur. This was the best-selling novel of the 1800’s. The book’s full title is Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Ben-Hur was translated into at least 20 different languages, including Arabic, Portuguese, Thai, and Hebrew. It has never been out of print. It is a tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness, culminating in the arrival of faith to Ben Hur.
Veteran Civil War General Lew Wallace said that he wrote Ben-Hur to sort out his own beliefs about God and Christ. Wallace noted that he knew little about Jesus and subsequently began to research the historical setting for the Messianic events. He wrote parts of the book in Indianapolis, and the remainder in the New Mexico Territory, while serving as territorial governor, (1870’s). I (Pastor Hobbie) often traveled right by the farmhouse property where he finished his novel.
According to his own account:
Two very unbelieving men sat on a railroad train discussing the life of Christ. One of them said, “I think an interesting romance could be written about him.” The other replied, “And you are just the man to write it. Tear down the prevailing sentiment about his divinity and paint Him as a man – a man among men.” The suggestion was acted upon and the romance written. The man who made the suggestion was Colonel Ingersol, the noted atheist. The writer was General Lew Wallace. In the process of studying the life of Christ General Wallace found himself facing the greatest life ever lived on earth. The more he studied, the more he was convinced that Christ was more than a man. Until one day, he was forced to cry, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”
Resume article:
At the culmination of the book, on the early morning of Jesus’ death, Ben-Hur learns that the Jewish priests have tried Jesus before Pilate, and although he was originally ruled “not guilty”, has nevertheless been sentenced to crucifixion due to the people’s insistence. In the novel, Ben-Hur is most surprised at how his legions have all deserted him in his time of need, and furthermore, how a Roman was more kind toward the Christ than his own people.
Going up to Calvary, Ben-Hur resigns himself to what he believes is God’s will, and watches the crucifixion of Jesus. The sky darkens, despite there not being an eclipse. Ben-Hur offers Jesus wine vinegar to return Jesus’ favor for him, and Jesus utters his last cry. All that had assented to his crucifixion now run in fear, as an earthquake has arrived and the sky is still dark.
For Ben-Hur and his friends, however, this is a moment in which they committed their lives to Jesus, who they now realize is not the earthly king they had previously hoped for, but a heavenly king and a Savior of mankind.
“Truly, this man was the Son of God.”
The cry of Judah Ben Hur was also the cry of General Lew Wallace. He himself a soldier, a veteran leader of the American Civil War. Came to faith. Like the Centurion at the Cross.
I hope it is also the cry of your heart. He is the Son of God. He is the King of Israel. He is the Lord of the Church. He is the Word of God made flesh. He is the Savior of all who trust in him. He is here and now, able to save, speaking to you by his word proclaimed and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Hear him. Trust him. Love him. Enjoy his gift of eternal life.
0 Comments