Arts and Faith #13: The Seventh Seal

Scott's introductory comments on the Arts and Faith Top 100 Films List
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Director: Ingmar Bergman (Sweden)
Arts and Faith top 100: #13

How is this for a plot synopsis: A medieval knight returns to Europe from the Crusades, only to be met by Death. The crusader challenges Death to a chess match. The stakes of this game have never been higher. Victory in chess means victory over Death.

Throughout history, persons of faith have struggled with the inevitability of death. The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that the last enemy to be defeated is death. More recently, J.K. Rowling remembered this verse (1 Corinthians 15:26) and made it a central claim in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Some of the great texts of Western literature, e.g. Dante's Divine Comedy, Tokien's The Lord of the Rings, and Augustine's Confessions, have all struggled with the mystery that is death. The Christian tradition teaches that at the end of all things, Death will be defeated.  However, that is a truth that is seen only be faith, not by sight. In the here and now, we all face the existential reality of death.

The title of the movie comes from Revelation 8:1: "When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."  How many of us have prayed to God for an answer about this mystery, only to receive a response of silence? How many of us have wanted to say something comforting to a grieving friend, only to find our words empty of meaning?

The Seventh Seal does not offer answers as to how to defeat death. We may play games with the Grim Reaper, but Death does not play favorites.  Death comes for us all.  Even the Son of God was crucified, died, and was buried.  Christians worship a God who took on human nature, and experienced suffering and death.

Jesus did not remain in the tomb.  The tomb was emptied. The hope that we have in Christ leads to the claim that Death will not have the final victory.  Christ's resurrection is a sign for the rest of humanity that we will follow Him in Life.  The Book of Revelation does not end in Death's victory.  Death will be swallowed up, and Eternal Life will prevail.