Every once and a while, I will hear a line spoken that leaves me entirely incapacitated. Sometimes words can be used to communicate just how inadequate words can sometimes be in communication. I know that might sound a bit confusing. Let me explain.
If you’ve been around this blog for any length of time, you will know that films are a very significant way that I behold the Lord. For some mysterious reason, Christ has often chosen to reveal Himself to me through film. That is why there is a category on this blog specifically devoted to movie reviews.
With that said, I’d like to tell you about a film that is at the very top of my list in regards to films that have completely changed my life. Each time I watch this particular film, Christ reveals Himself to me in new ways. Hands down, this is my favorite film of all time.
Spanglish
Spanglish is a 2004 film starring Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, & Tea Leoni. I am not going to describe the plot of this film with you here today. You’ll have to watch this film for yourself. I would like to describe one scene from this film for you, however. This scene literally communicates how I feel about Jesus Christ (& His bride) better than any other film on the planet. I don’t know who penned the lines for this film, but this particular scene (in my opinion) has the most biblically accurate line about Jesus Christ & His bride that I have ever heard.
In the film, there are two prominent women portrayed. One woman (represented by Tea Leoni) represents the world’s system. Adam Sandler’s character is married to her in the film. The other woman (represented by Paz Vega) represents Jesus Christ & His bride to me.
In the scene that you will see, Adam Sandler’s character has just learned of a heartbreaking betrayal that has occurred by his wife (Tea Leoni). As a result, He retreats to spend the evening with another woman (Paz Vega). In the film, Paz Vega is a breathtaking picture of Jesus Christ for many reasons that I will not get into here in this post. (You’ll just have to watch the movie!) This scene is so breathtaking to me, that I was compelled to search the entire internet to find it just for you.
Because this film is not very well known, this particular scene was also not easy to find. I only found one clip on YouTube. Unfortunately, the clip is not of good quality. Nevertheless, I am still compelled to show this scene to you because the words used in this scene are simply from a different realm.
Although the clip is over nine minutes in length, I would like to draw your attention to what occurs beginning at 3:30 in the clip. The characters (Adam Sandler & Paz Vega) have just finished eating (their final meal) together when they mention to one another how they enjoy watching one another. Paz Vega wants to hear more. As a result, Adam Sandler says something to her that communicate how words fail to communicate just how beautiful she really is. I have read this line before in the scriptures, but I had NEVER seen anything close to this depicted in film until I saw this scene. Here is what He said:
They should name a gender after you…
What!? Can you believe that he actually said this out loud? He is so stunned with her beauty that he actually says the reality of ‘male’ & ‘female’ are not adequate to contain her beauty. To Adam Sandler’s character, she is totally other than those descriptions. Brothers and sisters, is this not the heart of Galatians 3:28 in which Paul tells the Galatian believers that they are no longer identified by fleshly distinctions like ‘Jew’ or ‘Gentile’, ‘slave’ or ‘free’, or ‘male’ or ‘female’?
Christ, expressed through His bride, is simply out of this world beautiful! She is totally other. She cannot be described with fleshly terms. The next line that Adam Sandler’s character says is equally as stunning when he says this:
Looking at you doesn’t do it, staring is the only thing that makes any sense…
Allow me to substitute the word ‘staring’ with the word ‘beholding’. Brothers and sisters, is this not the heart of the Lord’s desire for us to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? This Christ is expressed through His bride! It is through our beholding of this glory that we are truly transformed into His image:
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…(2 Cor. 3:18, NASB)
I’d like to invite you to watch & listen to this stunning exchange from this film that I have posted here below. Please pay close attention to the exchange that specifically occurs between 3:30 – 5:20 in the video clip. Again, I am sorry for the poor quality of this clip. The sound is off by a few seconds, and there are arabic subtitles as well. Nevertheless, I pray that you will hear the heart of your bridegroom coming through this clip to your own heart. You have been redeemed, and you are this beautiful as well.
They should name a gender after you:)
Jamal Jivanjee
The passionate desire of our Lord is for us to see Him, as he sees us. This passion is expressed in many ways, and it is deeper than words on a page. This passion can be depicted in the beauty of a sunset. The words and embrace of our spouse. Or in the context of a film. His passion stirs the Spirit within us, wooing us to come closer, and to drink more deeply.
Looking at you doesn’t do it, staring is the only thing that makes any sense…
Jim,
Well said brother, thx!
He is the conversation of my life…
Amen Mary, this conversation never ends…it just keeps on going deeper and deeper:)
To behold Him together is beyond the spoken definitive words of any human language. Language is finite, but His body expressions are unbounded in Eternity, with our-face-to-His-face, we stand in astounding awe, wholly captivated forever. Together in Him, we have always just begun.
Amen:)
The grace that you have the see the Lord in these films is amazing, and quite a treat. I really appreciate your sharing of the glimpses that you see of Him, bcs it’s calibrating me to have eyes that see Him more and more in film as well.
Thx bro!
Thx so much bro, I’m very glad that this was an encouragment to you:)
Thanks for reminding me of this fantastic film…makes me want to watch it again now, but in a different light!!
Yes, I’m sure you would discover some amazing riches:)
I love this movie and I own a copy. It has to be about the only, if not the only, Sandler movie pretty well devoid of lewdness of some sort. Love your analogies!