Mark Rauch
A good story is good because it resembles the best story, which is, of course, the gospel of Christ's kingdom redeeming the world as seen in history. A princess is separated from her Lover, Who promises to come, rescue her, and make her His bride. But the rescue involves swords, disguise, battles with giants, challenging the apparent authority, overwhelming odds, even torture. And alas! the Princess loses all hope when her Rescuer is unexpectedly killed. But can death stop the true love of the Lord Jesus Christ for The Princess Bride?* If we ignore for now some possible irreverence, what semblance of hope, truth, and good character may we find in The Princess Bride in comparison with God's story? (Unless you frequently familiarize yourself with the Holy Bible, you'll likely miss a lot of the parallels below. Let me assure you, however, that as you read the following, you may think that you're reading about The Princess Bride, but please know that you are also reading the story of Jesus Christ and His Bride.)Many men want to know (about the Bible), like Fred Savage's character in the movie, "Is this a kissing book?" But the storyteller arouses us with descriptions of "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles." Buttercup doesn't expect to be swept off her feet by one who has always served her. But her discovery of the real meaning behind his expression, "As you wish," may be compared to the believer's discovery of God's passionate intentions manifested through His abundant grace.Then the Man must go away for a while. But He promises, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). Again he assures her, "Here this now: I will always come for you." When she asks, "But how can you be sure?" he responds, "This is true love. Think this happens every day?"And, sure enough, he does come for her, but not as expected. And though it may seem "inconceivable," He doesn't get thrown from a cliff by His enemies. Instead he snatches the princess away from her captors for a short while, only to be captured himself and taken into the Pit of Despair - the Garden of Gethsemane. Life is sucked out of our hero through torturous means; a great cry spreads throughout the world. The last glimmer of hope is provided by the miracle worker, who has reason for a vendetta against the prince of this world. A little time passes; a Maximum Miracle occurs. Our hero lives!However, despite her best efforts and intentions, it seems the princess is bound forever to be separated from her true love because of the "mawwiage" forced upon her by the mal-intending prince. But all is restored when the false-hearted prince is bound, a father is avenged upon the death of the SOB, a successor is named to carry on the redeemer's work, and the princess bride is reminded that "there is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. 'Twould be a pity to damage" hers.So whenever the Bride is tempted to doubt her Lord, saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:4), we will remind her of what he says: "I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?" And when she says, "Well, ... You were dead," we will again show her that "death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." After all has been restored and the two lovers are reunited to live happily ever after, it will be told throughout the ages that "since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure, -- this one left them all behind." We will finally be convinced that, however great might be "a nice MLT -- mutton-lettuce-&-tomato sandwich -- when the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe - tht-tht-tht! they're so perky; I love that," -- "true love is the greatest thing in the world!"
