In Clint Eastwood’s movie Gran Torino, Walt Kowalski is a cranky Korean War vet disgusted by the gangs now running his neighborhood. He gets to know Thao, a teenager living next door, after catching him trying to steal his Gran Torino car—an act forced onto the young man by a local gang.
Thao had no future due to the gangs. Either they would coax him into joining them or destroy him for resisting. So Walt decided to deal with them himself, beating one of the gang leaders to a pulp. The strategy backfired, for Thao’s sister was brutally raped in a retaliatory attack.
After deep reflection, Walt realized another approach was needed. Walt walked to the gang’s house one evening. The thugs aimed their guns at him as he slowly reached into his coat. And then, Walt ripped his hand from his jacket—prompting a shower of gunfire from the gang members. His body was riddled with bullets as he fell to the ground. And there he lay, his arms outstretched in a cross-like fashion, with a cigarette lighter in his hand rather than a gun. The police arrived and the gang was arrested. Thao was saved from their tyranny.
Gran Torino vividly portrays one aspect of the cross. Like Thao, we were at the mercy of evil forces (Ephesians 6:12). But when Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, those powers were disarmed and arrested—releasing us from their grip (Colossians 1:13, 2:15). Jesus didn’t free us by retaliating against evil, but by submitting to it in our place—and then rising in triumph “from the dead” (Acts 3:15).
Walt Kowalski was no Christ figure. He was an aggressive, vulgar racist who needed his own redemption from guilt. But Walt’s act reflects what the sinless Jesus did for us on the cross—rescuing us from the dominion of darkness.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
More:
Read Matthew 12:29 for another picture of Jesus’ victory, and Ephesians 6:10-18 to see how we can defeat Satan’s strategies.
Next:
From what evil “powers” do we need Jesus’ rescue today? How have you submitted to Jesus’ power?
tom felten on March 26, 2013 at 9:08 am
Sheridan, thanks for these inspiring insights from Scripture! It can be so easy to see the hurtful, destructive words and actions of others simply through my human eyes. Lately, however, God has really been opening my eyes to seeing people as He sees them—precious individuals made in His image who are trapped in the bondage of sin. When I can grasp His view, my responses are so much more Christlike and my heart for them is so much larger!
ve9cbc on March 26, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Agreed tom! My life is surrounded by people and circumstances where Satan tries to enter and rule me. But once I pray for those people and circumstances, Jesus looks after them – and I have to stop worrying about them! And that is easier said than done. I am always ready to show them what Jesus has done for my life – just by living in His grace. And sometimes I do kind things for them – when they least expect it! What a true rush that is!
sheridan voysey on March 27, 2013 at 6:31 am
That’s it! Prayer and graceful actions (and gentle confrontation where and when necessary) is the key. It IS hard to emotionally disentangle though. But the breakthrough will come.
sheridan voysey on March 27, 2013 at 6:29 am
‘God has really been opening my eyes to seeing people as He sees them…’ This is such a key thing, Tom. It really is a spiritual discipline – to constantly see what God sees, especially to see people as God sees them (greatly flawed but greatly loved, as one author put it). It is only prayer that helps get His perspective, and it is a perspective I need to regain each and every day.
lindafrances on March 26, 2013 at 11:06 am
When I see those who are not just leading this country into sin, but sometimes forcing sinful laws on our country; I have a hard time seeing them as redeemable. All I can see is they are trying to destroy the hearts, minds, and souls of our nation; my children and grandchildren. My first thought is the millstone. Then I have to step back and realize that Jesus came to redeem the whole world, not just those I think deserve redemption.
It hard praying for these people, but we are told to pray for our enemies. I have to give my anger and fear to God and trust Him to protect my loved ones
My prayer is: God, raise up uncompromising brave godly leaders who will speak the truth (protect them), open the eyes of those who have bought into satans lies and sees evil as good and good as evil, speak to the hearts of my Christian brothers and sisters who are being deceived and following man over You, and change my heart; help me to see these people as You do; may I pray for them with hope of their redemption and not grudgingly, and give me the faith, wisdom, and right attitude in this spiritual fight, to do Your will, not mine. Amen.
sheridan voysey on March 27, 2013 at 6:33 am
‘Help me to see these people as You do; may I pray for them with hope of their redemption and not grudgingly, and give me the faith, wisdom, and right attitude in this spiritual fight, to do Your will, not mine.’
Amen, amen, amen.
marvin williams on March 28, 2013 at 8:53 am
Dude (hope you don’t mind me calling you Dude), this is a provocative devotional. It gripped my heart in a fresh way. Jesus redeemed us, buying us back from the slave market of sin, at a dear cost – his own life. The condemnation that was ours was placed on him so that we might be set free. There are so many more Thaos in our world who need to hear that they don’t have to be at the mercy of evil forces; they can be set free by the death of Jesus. I need to be more of that leader that lindafrances talked about. Sheridan, thanks for this great reminder.
sheridan voysey on March 28, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Dude, bro, homie, you are welcome :).
The story is powerful because of the greater Truth it reflects.
winn collier on April 3, 2013 at 5:55 pm
This scene was a very profound one for me. Thanks for bringing me back to it.