In Tombstone, revenge, and justice collide on a day of reckoning.
Tombstone is a great movie. As a western, it’s probably a top-five movie of all time. And many film critics agree. Personally, I rank it as one of my favorite moves. The writers did an excellent job of presenting the story. And many well-known actors excel in their roles. Classic and memorable scenes pile up as the story progresses to its climax. It is really a very good movie.
And, surprisingly, there are some biblical themes that are dealt with in the storyline. Of course, as one would expect, good versus evil is there. Also, some of the characters struggle with the place of ‘religion’ in their worldview. One leading man openly declares his belief in the afterlife. Those around him, scoff at his view. But the tension and uncertainty are clear. Some of them wonder about what happens when one dies. Of course, they do. Death is happening all around them. Throughout the movie, there is one overriding theme. There is a cry for justice while an outlaw gang rules in the city.
“What do you think darling, should I hate em?”
There is more than one Tombstone
But Tombstone is just one city. The history of the world tells many similar stories to the one in Tombstone. Humanity breeds conflict. Whenever two people get together, deferring opinions collide. The first two people lived in a perfect world. As you know, they had differing opinions about what to have for dinner. Eve wanted a forbidden fruit. Adam didn’t. They didn’t live in Tombstone, they lived in the Garden of Eden. In another story, the first two brothers had different opinions about worship. A clash ensued, Abel died, and from that moment, murder became a popular remedy for those seeking revenge.
The movie Tombstone is partly a fictional story. But it is based upon actual facts. Many of the characters, families, and events are real. But, as one would expect, there is a bit of ‘Hollywood’ written into the movie.
God’s story is the greatest story ever told. And many of the stories that Hollywood tells are based on the themes we find in the Bible. Of course, they are, the themes are classic.
A Tombstone classic moment
There is one memorable moment in ‘Tombstone’ when the theme of the movie becomes clear. The hero, Wyatt Earp, kills the leader of the rebel outlaw group. I will remind you, that this is a story that is based on true facts. Wyatt Earp was a real person of historical importance in American history. But the conversations and scenes in the movie ‘Tombstone’ are often fictional.
In this particular scene, Wyatt Earp walks into a river while a hail of bullets flies around him. He dares the gang leader to step out and challenge him. The gang leader accepts the challenge and Earp guns him down. Seeing their leader fall, the gang is quickly routed. Many are killed.
After the battle, the ‘good guys’ are amazed at the brazen move by Wyatt. One of them declares, “For his next miracle, he’ll walk on water.”
So, he is clearly depicted as a type of Christ figure. And this is where the theme becomes even more clear. And the conflict between revenge and justice is brought to a head. Wyatt, the Christ-figure, is angry that one of his brothers was killed by the outlaw gang. One of Wyatt’s friends says, “I don’t blame him for seeking revenge. If it was my brother, I would do the same.”
But Wyatt’s closest friend, Doc Holiday, replies,
“Oh, it’s not revenge that he seeks, it’s a reckoning.”
And that is where Christ’s role in end-time events screams loudly.
The Jesus moment in the movie
We can complain about Hollywood. And we do. Nowadays, they screw up a lot of movies with their political ranting. But in Tombstone, they got some things right. The writers seemed to grasp the deeper darkness hiding in the hearts of men. Most men who have suffered injustice will seek revenge. And when they do, they usually go too far. That is not God’s righteous standard. Men seek revenge, not reckoning. When Jesus returns to the earth, he will not seek revenge. But he will seek a reckoning. Jesus died on the cross in order to make a way to reconcile sinful man. To reconcile means to correct the wrong. Or, you can say, make amends for the wrongs done. To make peace between God and mankind, there must be a reconciliation for the wrongs done. That is why Jesus went to the cross. It was the payment for all of our sins.
The cross is the fix that every person needs. We all have our sinful nature. And, as sinners, it is natural to seek revenge when we feel we are treated unjustly. But, revenge is an act of sin. Every time. The final judgment isn’t revenge. The Father doesn’t want revenge against those who killed his Son. The Father sent his Son in order to reconcile the world back to him. He knew they would kill his Son. That was the plan all along.
Not revenge, but a reckoning
It’s not revenge he seeks, it’s a reckoning. It will be time to pay up because many didn’t accept the payment for their sins. And they continued in their wayward direction. For those who rejected the mercy of God, their debts were never accounted for. So, the Lord will reckon their debt as unpaid.
Remember, “the wages of sin is death.” “But the gift of God is eternal life.”
Those who refuse the free gift will be reckoned with. The leader of the outlaw gang (Antichrist) will die. Those who follow him in his rebellion will follow him into death.
It’s a simple message.
Some Tombstone verses to consider.
Daniel 9:24
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. To finish the transgression and to make an end of sins. And to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
2 Corinthians 5:18
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Ephesians 2:16
“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven.”
Hebrews 2:17
“Wherefore in all things, it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren. That he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. To make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
Let me know what you think.