How much do you think you are worth? Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan'

The Spielberg/Tom Hanks film vividly portrays the horrors of war, while examining the themes of sacrifice and camaraderie. But the end of the movie leaves open the question, 'Was Private Ryan saved?'

In World War II, three brothers were killed. The fourth, Private Ryan, was behind enemy lines in Normandy, France. The command was given for a squad of eight men to find and rescue Private Ryan, to bring him home as a solace to his family. Several of them died in the attempt, and just before his rescue, the captain of the squad dies in his arms. He leaves one final charge to Ryan.

Previously the squad had debated if it made sense for eight men to risk their lives to save one. There was no logic for it. They had hoped that Private Ryan's life was worth theirs.

The final charge to Ryan was: 'Earn it,' that is, 'live your life in such a way so that our lives were worth dying for you'. Captain Miller repeats the charge and dies. The scene fades and we see Private Ryan fifty years later visiting the grave site of the captain in Arlington cemetery.

Was his life worth it? And better yet, what was the quality of his life afterwards? In the last brief scene we learn from his past that every day he had tried to be good that day. He asks his wife tentatively if he was a good man. He says that he hopes his life was good enough.

Captain Miller had saved Private Ryan from the battlefields of Europe, only to leave him haunted and entrenched in doubt and fear. Was his life good enough? Would Captain Miller approve? He would never know. What about the other soldiers who had died - would they be in agreement? Would they say his life was 'sort of' worth it?

Private Ryan woke up every morning never knowing if the previous day was good enough, or if he would fail that day. Private Ryan didn't ask to be saved, but when he was, he was chained by the captain's last words.

And so many of us have been ensnared. We know we haven't always lived our lives well. We have lived mediocre lives. Sometimes we failed through lack of patience or ignorance, and sometimes out of foolishness or plain meanness. We have made enemies.

And in those quiet moments as we contemplate the end of our lives, we fear. Because we never know if our lives have been good enough in the eyes of the one that really matters, God. Just as Private Ryan wanted the reassurance from his wife that he had been good enough, but she couldn't give him that reassurance, just a wife's 'yes dear'.

Another man gave his life to save Private Ryan's life. There is an allusion to him in the last scene. Private Ryan salutes Captain Miller's grave. This grave is marked by a white cross - a cross that marked another death, a cruel death. While Private Ryan was saluting the man that died finding him, he should have saluted the god-man that died to save him. Just as with the captain, Private Ryan didn't ask to be saved, he didn't ask to be taken out of the war. Yet Private Ryan was in a spiritual war, and from his self doubt he knew he was lacking. He had not just failed Captain Miller. He had failed his God.

Yet this god-man was not the same as Captain Miller. Instead of saying 'Earn it!' the god-man said 'It is enough.' 'Receive.' In truth, what life could Ryan give to pay for the life of four others? He couldn't. Nor could he pay his debt to the god-man. Captain Miller didn't know that Private Ryan couldn't pay his debt, but the god-man did know.

And the god-man said 'God forgive them.' 'Receive my spirit.' Forgiveness is never something we can earn or merit. We receive it by faith. Private Ryan lived never knowing if he had acceptance. But we can know that we have a greater acceptance from the One, by faith. It is a life of freedom from guilt, from never measuring up, from fear of death. If you have those fears, pursue faith in the One. He is pursuing you.

Group discussion

Gather a group of friends and watch the movie. What do you think? Can you learn anything from this movie? Here are some questions to get you thinking. Use whichever ones you like. I have included references to the Good News Bible, but you can look these quotations up in almost any Bible. Ask someone for help who knows where things are in the Bible if you need help. You don't have to be a Christian in order to use a Bible.

Discussion Questions

Did Captain Miller and the squad think Private Ryan was worth risking their lives for? Did their views change?
Would the mission make more sense if it was composed strictly of volunteers? Would you volunteer?
What did Captain Miller require from Private Ryan at his death?
If you were Private Ryan, how would you have lived your life? What would you do if you failed in meeting your aspirations or goals?
An early Christian named Paul wrote:

For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose. It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! (Romans chapter 5 verses 6-8)

Was Jesus a volunteer? Did he die for good people? Why did he die? For a hint, see what his follower Matthew wrote:

She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus---because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew chapter 1 verse 21)

Did Private Ryan deserve to be saved? What was Private Ryan saved from?
Are we also in a war, what type of war?
What did Jesus require from us, at his death?
The same early Christian Paul next wrote:

By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life! (Romans chapter 5 verses 9-10)

What is God's attitude towards us now?

How can we be saved from God's anger or wrath that is mentioned above?
What must we do to be saved? Talk about it first, and then refer to what early Christians and Jesus said about it. You can get started below:

For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Of course he is. God is one, and he will put the Jews right with himself on the basis of their faith, and will put the Gentiles right through their faith. (Romans chapter 3 verses 28-30)

So they asked him, "What can we do in order to do what God wants us to do?" Jesus answered, 'What God wants you to do is to believe in the one he sent.' (John chapter 6 verses 28-29)

Also see the second chapter of Acts in the Bible which tells of the very first Christians. Peter was asked "What must we do to be saved?"

Is it difficult to do what will save us from God's anger? See what Jesus said as quoted by his follower Matthew:

'Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.' (Matthew chapter 11 verses 29-30)

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