Wednesday, March 26—Day 22

Christ, the Firstborn from the Dead
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1: 15-20

In Him All Things Hold Together
The epigraph at the beginning of Terrence Malick’s masterpiece, The Tree of Life, quotes Job 38:4 (“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”). Two hours of visual and aural lyricism later, the film ends with 10 minutes of Berlioz’ “Requiem,” the “Agnus Dei” section: Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them everlasting rest.

Among other things, the film is about the various ways we understand God: as a fearsome force — the “where were you?” Creator of the universe that we see in Job — but also a loving man, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself so that we might be saved. The tension is also seen in the film’s “nature vs. grace” dialectic, embodied by a stern father (Brad Pitt) and compassionate mother (Jessica Chastain). Can the God who permits us to suffer be the same God who suffered so violently on the cross for us? The film wrestles with this question, as do Malick’s previous films in their own ways (e.g. the final voiceover of The Thin Red Line: “Darkness and light. Strife and love. Are they the workings of one mind, the features of the same face?”)

The “Job” vision of God is given its most powerful expression in the famous “universe formation” sequence of Life, featuring Preisner’s achingly beautiful “Lacrimosa – Day of Tears” (take a few minutes to watch the clip now). Immediately prior to this sequence we witness the immense grief suffered by a father and mother after they find out, via telegram, that their son is dead. The mother (Chastain) is particularly distraught, and all she can do is cry out to God. “Lord, why? “Where were you?” “Who are we to you?” “Answer me.” These are the only words we hear as Malick takes a 20 minute detour from his Texas-based plot to show us his vision of God’s “when I laid the foundation of the earth” creation, from nebulae to DNA to dinosaurs and beyond.

Among other things, this sequence reinforces that God is a god who creates. He makes new things. And he makes all things new. Out of the void, he created. Into the darkness of our own souls, he breathes new life. By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. In the midst of our suffering, however many questions we have for God, it’s comforting to know that he’s in control and reigns supreme. And that he gives life.

Significantly, this abstract sequence eventually lands back in Texas with tangible images of new love and new life (childbirth) as main character Jack (a proxy of Malick himself) asks God, “When did you first touch my heart?” Later in the film we hear the melody of “Lacrimosa” again in subtle piano quotation, following a sequence in which Jack comes to terms with his sin/rebellion and more fully understands God’s grace: “I didn’t know how to name you then,” prays Jack, “But I see it was you. Always you were calling me.”

In and through our suffering, and in the depths of our sin, God calls us. He speaks to us through the beauty of creation and the longings of our hearts. He wants to reconcile to himself all things.

The Tree of Life, like the Bible’s bookend symbol of the same name that shows up in Genesis and in Revelation, is ultimately about reconciliation. How are we creatures reconciled to God? How do we recover the Paradise that was lost, when man dwelled with God and all was shalom? Reconciliation happens through the blood of the cross, “the way of grace” that will return us to the garden of God’s presence (note that the reconciliation scene between Jack and his father near the end of the film happens — where else — in a garden).

The ultimate tree of life is the tree upon which Jesus died. It is the crux of creation; the way back home.

The majestic God of creation is not opposed to the humble God of the cross. They are the same Being: The Being of beings preeminent over all things and in which all things — the trees, the stars, and the grieving Texas mother — hold together.  Thanks be to God.

Prayer
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who creates all things, create in us clean hearts.
Lamb of God, who holds all things together, make us whole again.
Lamb of God, who is in all things preeminent, draw us closer to you.
Lamb of God, who loves us relentlessly, help us to love like you.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Brett McCracken, Managing Editor, Biola Magazine