“Shawshank Redemption” & Contagious Hope

Introduction

This post focuses on the contagious power of hope and how it helps us press forward amid incredible challenges in life. The film Shawshank Redemption and the Book of Revelation highlight hope’s importance amid the threat of hopelessness and despair.

Before beginning, it is worth noting that this is the seventh post in a series that reflects upon theological themes in dialogue with pop culture in the form of films. The others in order of appearance were: first, “The Book of Eli: Taking the Bible Seriously in Dystopia”; second, “Prometheus Unbound: Finding Direction Home”; third, “The Biblical Crisis & The Batman: Tragedy and Hope”; fourth, “Blast Off with Interstellar: The Cosmic Force of God’s Love”; fifth, “Jesus and The Matrix: Free Your Mind?”; and sixth, “Lars and the Real Girl & the Real Church: Total Acceptance”.

The theological fit of the seven posts, including this one, is: first, the biblical canon as a core foundation for theological inquiry; second, creation as the source of life; third, the crisis of the fall into sin and its aftermath; fourth, God’s covenant operations in caring for humanity; fifth, Christ who is the savior of the world; sixth, the church, which is Jesus’ community; and now finally, seventh, the consummation of history with the return of Christ.

Hope in Shawshank Redemption

There are two principal characters in the film Shawshank Redemption. The first is Andy Dufresne, an innocent man who was wrongly charged and convicted of killing his wife and her lover. The second is Ellis Boyd Redding, who murdered someone when he was young. The two men form a bond of friendship while in prison. They approach life together behind bars with decency and rekindled hope to live life to the full. Eventually Andy escapes from prison and Red obtains release on parole. They reunite in the end. You can watch three trailers for the film here, here, and here.

Three of the greatest lines in the film are:

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

…there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours…. Hope.

…hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Hope is not simply a golden thread that runs throughout this cinematographic masterpiece. It also runs through the metanarrative of Christian Scripture. It climaxes in the book of Revelation.

Hope in Revelation

I have always been impressed with the resilience of Jesus’ followers in the face of significant tribulation who appear in Revelation. It all starts with the author, traditionally recognized as John the Apostle, reflecting on his difficult situation. Take for example these words: “I John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9; NIV) It has been debated whether John was imprisoned/in exile under Roman Emperor Domitian’s rule for his faithful witness to Jesus Christ. Examples of those who claim that Domitian did not engage in widespread persecution of the church can be found here and here. One of the articles places the writing of Revelation and persecution of the church in the A.D. 60’s under an earlier emperor.

Triumphs Amid Trials & Tribulation

No matter the context and timeframe, the author highlights the importance of enduring and triumphing amid trials and tribulations. (Revelation 2:3-5, 3:10, 14:12). John and the early church had reason to hope in view of the overwhelming, awe-inspiring vision of God and Jesus that we find in such places as Revelation 1, 4, 5, 19-22. God in Jesus has conquered the grave and will conquer the forces of evil, leading his people to victory.

The inspiration to move forward with renewed hope all begins with John’s vision of Jesus and the Lord’s words to his faithful follower:

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:12-18; NIV)

Later John writes of the church’s triumph over the forces of evil. Key to their triumph was that they did not go it alone. They went forward stocked up on the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and trust in God to secure their eternal destiny:

They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11; NIV)

There is nothing worse than looking into the eyes of someone who has given up and despairs of life. There is nothing more wondrous than looking into the eyes of someone who experiences renewed hope. Rather than get busy dying, their eyes reflect Andy’s resolve in Shawshank Redemption to get busy living. There’s no time to waste. No time to die.

Solitary Confinement, Solitude and Solidarity

Andy was locked up in solitary confinement for a spell. It was his own form of exile on the island of Patmos. Andy survived the confinement by playing Mozart’s music in his head and heart. His solitary confinement gave way to solitude. It helped him realize that there are places in the world not made of stone like the prison. (Click here to watch the scene) He also thought of springing free and making his way to an ocean beach. Such thoughts of hope helped Andy live free and made a catalytic impact involving solidarity with fellow inmate Red.

The same is true in Revelation. The hymns of praise around God’s throne lifts the weary spirit and the scene by the river of the water of life whets the appetite and quenches the thirsty soul. Jesus’ words to John and the apostle’s vision serve as catalytic forces that inspire hope and help the church not simply survive but also thrive against unbelievably long odds.

Contagious Hope: No Slump in the Slums

One of my seminary students is a pastor from India. He joins class sessions remotely via Zoom. He has had a positive impact on the rest of us in class. This pastor ministers in a very challenging context among poor though precious people in a slum. In addition, he and his family bear the pain of losing one of his children a few years ago. It is his eschatological hope in Jesus whereby he will see his son again someday and hope for young people rising up and not allowing caste and/or class divisions to keep them down that drive him. There is no slump in the slums. While he struggles with significant health challenges, you could sense none of that when he spoke about the meaning and purpose Jesus brings to him and the youth to whom he and his wife minister. His passion and hope are contagious!

Conclusion

John the Apostle, Andy in Shawshank Redemption, and this seminary student teach all of us that we ultimately have one choice amid life’s seemingly unsurmountable challenges: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Let’s choose living based on hope. For hope is a good thing that will never die.