Have you seen the play or movie Les Misérables?

It is a story of redemption, mercy, forgiveness, and hope. At the core, it illustrated a downtrodden man’s salvation in the early 1800’s.

The main character, Jean Valjean, is a convict without hope. His parents died early, and he was forced to provide for his family. One day he was arrested for stealing a loaf of bread to feed the kids. In prison he rages, and his prison stay is lengthened to 19 years. Finally, Valjean is awarded his parole. He entered prison sobbing and exited prison hardened.

Once out, no one wants anything to do with this felon. There is utterly no place to go and no place to work. In desperation, Valjean comes to a Bishop’s house and asks for a stable to sleep. The Bishop embodied the grace and love of Jesus Christ. He invites a dejected Jean Valjean into his home for a good dinner and a bed for the night. They eat with the nicest silverware.

However, Valjean is not used to grace and is confused. Before bed, the Bishop puts his hand on Valjean’s head and prays for him. No one had ever touched him except to hurt him. Valjean panics in the night and reverts to what he learned in prison. He steals valuable silverware and flees.

 He is apprehended by the police and returned to the Bishop, whom they expect to condemn him as a criminal. “To the astonishment of the policemen, and Valjean, the Bishop instead tells the officer that he gave Valjean the silver, and reproaches Valjean for forgetting “the best” – a pair of large silver candlesticks from the dinner table. He thanks the policemen for being so vigilant, but insists their services are no longer needed and dismisses them.

 Valjean, utterly speechless, can only listen as the Bishop gently sings:

“And remember this, my brother; see in this some higher plan.

You must use this precious silver to become an honest man.

By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood,

God has raised you out of darkness. I have bought your soul for God.”

 Valjean is thinking, “I have committed a crime. I have to pay.” The Bishop is saying, “No, I will pay! The silver is what it costs to set you free.” Valjean weeps as he experiences amazing grace. It is an outrageously valuable gift freely given to an undeserving person. This gift could not be earned. This is the gospel. Valjean is changed from the inside out and remarkably this recipient of grace extends grace in marvelous ways to others who are undeserving for the rest of his life.

 This story is a beautiful picture of the cross. Jesus paid the price he did not owe so we could be forgiven and set free. “The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

 We live in a world “full of the same injustice, depravity, conflict, suffering, and hopelessness as the world was in 1815—evidenced by the disturbing events we read about in the news. And yet, the gospel is still just as powerful to transfigure the lives of sinners.”

Dr. Michael Sprague is the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. Michael does life with his wonderful wife Donna and resides in Mandeville, LA. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” You can find more information about Michael here.