Have you ever looked at the world of sports and wondered who the most influential people are? 

What accounts for their success? 

 

What separates them from their peers? 

 

There are many answers to these questions, but one trait is shared by all of them. 

 

These are the people that have remained relevant long after their prime. 

 

They’re still winning, still popular, and they’re still making a difference. What is it that makes these people different from everybody else?

 

It’s not just natural talent or hard work.

 

What separates the world’s most powerful people from everyone else?

 

–  The Most Powerful People in the World of Sports All Have This Trait in Common 

 

My favorite movie has always been “The Patriot.”

 

 This movie has all of my favorite themes, but most importantly it is about character, honor, integrity, courage, sacrifice, leadership and Godliness.

 

Those themes are so prevalent throughout the movie that I do not know whether to call it a 

drama, a war-epic, a historical allegory or a Christian epic.

 

Even though I have written about the movie at length before , 

 

I would like to share with you one scene from the film that especially stands out for me. The scene is this:

 

The main character, Benjamin Martin (Nick Nolte), receives word from another patriot who is fighting in upstate New York which leads him to make an extraordinary decision. 

He decides to make the “spiritual sacrifice” of giving up his wife not because

 

 he does not love her but because he knows she will bring shame on him and his family if she knows what he is doing.

 

This theme of “spiritual sacrifice” has always stood out to me; but what I want to share with you is the preview of the next scene.

 

Here is a preview of the next scene:

 

One might wonder why this is such an important scene; especially

 

 when one considers that the main theme of this movie is an allusion to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross; and that this scene takes place in a war-epic.

 

Benjamin Martin decides to walk away from his family so that he can be at peace with himself 

 

 so that his family does not have to endure pain, suffering, disgrace and death while fighting for freedom from tyranny.

 

This is an extraordinary act of self-sacrifice, especially for a movie which is all about sacrifice.

 

Can you not see the Christ in this movie?

 

If you are a Christian, the answer should be obvious.

 

If you are not a Christian, then I will provide another example of Benjamin Martin’s “spiritual sacrifice.”

 

In this movie, Benjamin Martin turns his back on some poor women and younger children as 

 

they beg for help as he helps another man who is wounded by soldiers on horseback.

 

To me, this is an example of Martin’s “spiritual sacrifice” because he could have helped them out because “It is better to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

 

As in all things, the scripture is true in this case; but Benjamin Martin makes the decision not to help these people which leads him into a difficult situation.

 

Some might say that it is “selfish” for Benjamin Martin to make this decision, but I see it differently!

 

Benjamin Martin has already risked his life by helping others; and it is well known that when one helps others; one gets hurt by helping them (Matthew 25:35-40).

 

Can you not see how powerfully this scene illustrates Christ’s sacrifice?

 

If not, then I will provide you with the next example!

 

If I did not know that this movie was about Christ and that Benjamin Martin was symbolizing 

 

Him, then I would have assumed that the next part of the movie would have been about Martin’s death and resurrection.

 

 Instead, Martin is met with an onslaught of British troops.

 

Through his faithfulness to God, Martin defeats these troops without having to fight them personally; 

 

but he shows courage in proceeding forward towards their camp even though he is out-numbered.

 

 He shows faithfulness by fighting on so that others may live free rather than turn his back on 

them only to save his own life.

 

All of this can be said to represent Christ’s suffering for our sins.

 

I’m sorry that I cannot post more than one or two scenes at a time; but I just cannot talk about this movie enough!

 

If you are not familiar with the movie, then watch it on DVD or Youtube HERE .

 

There are many other scenes in this film that are just as powerful or more powerful than these 

 

few examples; but please watch the movie so that you can understand my point!

 

If you disagree with my interpretation of the movie, then please feel free to comment below. 

 

Since most of my comments are here, I often feel like an insider even though I am not.

 

You can make a difference! You can help these messages reach as many people as possible.