Discipleship is characterized by how well we succeed in following God. During the course of the movie Les Miserables, the main character, Jean Val Jean, develops the qualities of being a faithful disciple. The four main criteria of being an excellent disciple are that a disciple must put personal desires aside, accept suffering, serve others, and love others, even those who are our enemies. At first, Jean Val Jean was lacking in compassion for others and faith for God, and was even imprisoned for stealing bread and continuous attempts to escape prison. It was not until Jean Val Jean knocked on the door of a bishop and requested to stay in his house. Although the bishop was suspicious, he still cared for the homeless man, and when Jean Val …show more content…
Earlier in the movie when someone else is framed for being him and is put on trial, he accepts fault which is accepting to go back to prison. Still Val Jean evades this situation and continues his life of suffering as he cares for Cosette. After Val Jean lets Javert go, he carries Marius who was injured fighting, through sewers because he knows this is the man Cosette loves. Val Jean is willing accept suffering even though as he races through the sewers, Javert is still after him. When Val Jean finally emerges from the underground pipes, Javert is waiting to arrest him, and Val Jean pleads not for his own life, but for the life of Marius. Even when at risk for dying, Val Jean places the obstacles of others instead of his own exemplifying his amazing fulfillment as a disciple. Javert then lets Marius go in order to talk to Val Jean and then tormented with the decision to kill him or recomponsate Val Jean for saving his life, throws himself into the river to kill himself. Javert did not have the same traits Val Jean had and was dumbfounded by how he could simply gone through all these terrible adversaries just for the benefit of others.
Overall, the movie Les Miserables was a movie that makes me question my own role as a discipleship. I personally have never had to make such drastic changes to my life as Jean Val Jean, but I can still parallel his abilities as a disciple to my own. I think this movie calls upon me to question how big of a sacrifice I will make for others and to determine what extent my love goes for others. In the end, discipleship should be a priority for all Christians and we should fulfill the opportunity God gives us everyday to