I’ve never watched the TV show 24. I’ve only heard about how the show is popular with the “torture is OK if it helps you get crucial information” crowd, amongst others. Here’s a mashup of the lead character grilling Santa.
A good exercise I learned from years and years of Biblical studies, let alone the thousands of sermons I’ve heard or read, is to put yourself into the story. Be Joseph, be Jonah, be one of Job’s friends. It’s always nice to “play” one of the good guys. It’s a lot harder to “be” one of the bad ones.
How am I a Jack Bauer? Gulp.
The scene that gripped me most? The one where Santa wishes Bauer “Merry Christmas”. You have to be in a certain place to be able to have Bauer’s reaction. It’s hard to pin down what that exact response is, however. Was it disgust? Was it fear? There’s a sense of frustration, of course, but worse than that, a sense of defeat. He’s never going to break Santa. Even after the abuse and torture, Santa can still wish Bauer a Merry Christmas and mean it.
Talk about an innocent being slain! For Christians, talk naturally is about Christ sacrificed on the cross. The words of grace and love still on his lips? After all that’s been done to him? Anyone witnessing Santa’s torture must have thought “How is it possible for Santa to be gracious to Bauer?” When I saw the scene I immediately thought: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 24:34)
If I put myself in the role of Bauer, where in my life am I repulsed by such indomitable love? When in my life do I fight against this fierce love and walk away shaken?