In the movie God’s Not Dead, Josh Wheaton is a college student, and a Christian, enrolling in one of his first college courses. Philosophy 150. The first day of class the teacher, Professor Radisson, presents to the class an assignment. They must sign a paper denying the existence of God. If they refuse, they will fail the course or they must debate their belief in God in front the the whole class. Through the course of the debate it becomes clear that Professor Radisson is not ignorant of God but is angry with God over the death of his mother when he was just 12 years old. And he has spent his life vehemently denying God’s existence and pressuring his students to accept the same belief.
In the film, Risen, the Roman soldier, Clavius, was responsible for carrying out the crucifixion of Jesus. After Christ’s body goes missing from the tomb, he is tasked with finding the body to disprove rumors of His resurrection. He then embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to not only finding the physical body of Christ alive but finds his own life in the spirit of the resurrected Lord. He comes to believe and accept.
These two films, I believe, demonstrate what Jesus meant when he stated that to blaspheme the Son of Man can be forgiven but blaspheming the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. He was addressing the Pharisees who had seen the miracles and the works of Christ first hand. They heard His words, His sermons, His revelations and fulfillments of the Law. But yet, they could not, or would not, believe. They were not only denying Christ the man standing in front of them but they were denying the Spirit in Christ. Pride and lack of humility blinded them to what was right in front of their eyes. St. Paul says as much to the Ephesians in today’s first reading. That their eyes have been enlightened. But others have their eyes shut and their hearts hardened to the truth that is obvious. The narrow door is closed and the Spirit could not enter.
I discussed this point two weeks ago as well when talking about how the head, scholarly knowledge of God, can obscure the heart, the eyes of faith. Clavius’ eyes were opened when he allowed his heart to see the risen Christ. He could no longer deny the truth that was literally standing before him. Professor Radisson had seen the truth but refused to accept it as a result of the pain he experienced as a child. He denied what he knew to be true.
But as is demonstrated by the parable of the workers in the vineyard who received the same wages, regardless of how long they worked for, it matters not WHEN we come to accept Christ as our Savior. Just that we do. In the end of God’s Not Dead Professor Radisson is struck by a car and lie dying in the street. A passer-by stops to pray over him and asks if he will accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And he responds with his own Fiat..his own act of acceptance as did Mary when she is given the word that she is to be the Mother of God. And in the end he will stand alongside Clavius and Thomas and Peter and Jonah and Paul and, hopefully, you and I as we not only accept Jesus, God the Son of Man, but also God the Spirit.
