Did Ben Get Off Easy?

In the CaPC Water Cooler, our writers discuss the implications of the latest cultural events. These days, we’re discussing Lost.

Warning! If you are not completely caught up with Lost, you won’t want to read any further.

David wrote,

So here’s my question: was the forgiveness Ben recieved for killing Jacob cheap? I mean the man murdered and he is let off the hook simply because he let his daughter die too. I am not sure how that all works. I loved this week’s episode and found myself sympathetic toward Ben too, but I can’t help but wonder what motivated that sympathy in me or in the other characters on the show. Thoughts?

Richard wrote,

David, I have to admit I was caught off-guard by your question. To me, this wasn’t a show about the nature of forgiveness as much as it was the nature of repentance and grace.

I too felt sympathy toward Ben’s predicament, not because I identified with his “murder,” but because I identified with his root struggles: his disappointment in himself, his uncertainty as to the nature and reality of Jacob, his regret that his uncertainty caused him to betray Jacob, and his fear that such a betrayal would cause him to be rejected by those who love Jacob.

So yeah, if this situation weren’t quite so cosmic, maybe we could debate whether Ben should get life in prison or something. But what we’re really talking about here, as alluded to the last time we discussed Lost, is a faith struggle – and Ben came out on the other end of it.

We see the same thing from Jack, who caused quite a bit of harm as well, throughout his life, because he didn’t have enough faith to simply accept that some things just can’t be, and shouldn’t be, fixed. His belief, or lack thereof, came to a head in Lighthouse and he has come out with a stronger faith than ever. Jack isn’t a guy who kills people – we saw that early in the series, when he refused to allow the easy death of Kate’s arresting officer. But here was Jack, willing not only to blow up Richard, but himself as well – except he figured that probably wasn’t going to happen. We could tell from his face that he wasn’t entirely sure, but he figured he had to accept the stakes and jump in at some point. That’s what that scene is all about.

We see the same leap of faith exhibited not only by Ben, but by Ilana herself. She seems to be quite close to Jacob, considering him to be the closest thing to a father that she’s ever had. Isn’t it interesting then, that she would forgive Ben for killing him? Maybe she’s following in her father’s footsteps?

This season is all about the main characters (at least the candidates) experiencing their crisis of faith, and either getting stuck there or coming out stronger for it. Hurley was lucky enough to have had this crisis throughout the series – which is why he’s suddenly more confident and mature than everyone else at the moment, and why he saw no need to stand next to some dynamite while it exploded. Far from suicidal, Hurley has a lot ahead of him. As far as he’s concerned, Jacob has a wonderful plan for his life.

David wrote,

I like where your going and I agree the overall focus was not on Ilana but Ben. Nonetheless, she seemed so willing to forgive only after she heard Ben’s struggle with faith. Perhaps, then, following your conclusion, she is having the same internal struggle (not yet revealed) and she has sympathy towards Ben for that reason. If you’re right then maybe this isn’t about cheap forgiveness so much as it is about genuine sympathy. Thoughts?

Drew wrote,

Last week may have been my favorite episode to date because of the way the show affected me. When Ilana told Ben to dig his own grave, I thought that Ben was finally getting what he deserved. Then as the the show progressed, and we saw a different side of Ben, his struggle with faith, and finally his desperate need for acceptance. Ilana’s forgiveness of Ben was pure grace and it hit me hard at the end–the punishment I wanted for Ben was what I deserve before God.Ben’s case was the most dramatic, but this week was all about people’s struggle with faith in an omniscient God–this was Richard’s struggle as well and Jack’s test. Another wonderful moment in the show was when Miles shared that up to the moment when Ben killed Jacob, “he was hoping he was wrong about you.” Discussions of omniscience aside, this reminded me of Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

I think it was Martyn Lloyd Jones who said, if you aren’t occasionally accused of being an antinomian, you might not be preaching the Gospel of grace–this very charge was being made against Paul (Rom. 8). This episode made me think about the gospel more than perhaps any television show has that I can remember.

I hope I am not getting off subject, but to answer David’s question–yes I think Ilana is trying to exhibit true sympathy and I suspect that she is following Jacob’s example of offering grace to Ben.

Previous Installments:

Pre-season: Lost’s Biggest Question.

Pre-season, part 2: Lost’s Free Will Dilemma.

Season Premiere: ‘Lost’ Patience.

What Kate Did: Poor Jack.

The Lighthouse: Sawyer’s Choice

Sundown: Jacob is Good, All the Time

David, I have to admit I was caught off-guard by your question. To me, this wasn’t a show about the nature of forgiveness as much as it was the nature of repentance and grace.