I hope that it is acceptable for me to warm this thread back up. It?s easily one of the most interesting I?ve run across here, and in rereading it this morning, it spurred some thoughts regarding the themes of some of the past Indiana Jones films, as well as a plausible one (at least in my mind) for Indy IV. For purposes of this post, I?m going to be talking about the films in chronological order. Translation:
Temple of Doom took place prior to
Raiders and
Last Crusade and isn?t going to be included in what I?m extrapolating on.
I am going to talk a little theology here, not from the standpoint of forcing the films to conform to a strict Biblical foundation (as I know creative license is going to be applied), but from the idea of how the movies tie in to certain Biblical concepts. Yes, the ride could get a little bumpy, so hang on.
The idea that Jones? goal could be the Garden of Eden is one that has grown on me since I first read it proposed here. The more I?ve considered it, the more sense it makes within what I regard as some of the broader themes of the series. Eden, from a Biblical standpoint is the foundation of creation, where God first placed man following His creation of the earth and all that was within it. In what is frequently referred to as the Edenic Covenant, God had made mankind stewards over all that was in the earth, animals and plants alike: man was essentially the keeper of creation. Notably, Adam and Eve enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God and access to His holy presence, as sin had not yet entered human history. The only restriction on mankind was that the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil never be eaten. In essence, Eden was creation as God intended it to be, unsoiled by mankind?s rebellion. Of course, ultimately the serpent is able to deceive Eve, and through her Adam, into breaking God?s command, sin breaks man?s relationship with God, and the first covenant in broken. Man is forced out of the Garden.
Next God forges a covenant with Abraham, referred to as the Abramic Covenant, in which God promises to place His chosen people, the children of Israel (Jacob), in a land flowing with milk and honey. It takes some generations to see the covenant fulfilled, but it begins with the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. One key development during this time is the establishment of the tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant, crafted according to God?s instructions, is kept and represents the presence of God with His people. Throughout the exodus and into the conquest of Canaan, which is led by Joshua, God passes judgment on those nations that persist in wickedness and reject Him. Even the generation of Israelites that followed Moses out of Egypt are barred from entering Canaan due to their unbelief.
The New Covenant, established by Christ, answers the problem of sin. Luke 22:20: ?This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you.? God?s Law, perfect and holy, cannot be fulfilled by imperfect man. Thus Christ fulfills the Law through a perfect life, and through His sacrificial death and resurrection, is able to offer man forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, restoring the fellowship that was lost at the Garden. In point of fact, Christ?s triumph over sin is first prophesied in the wake of the sin in the Garden (Genesis 3:15).
Now, to consider the Indiana Jones films in relation to the above, Jones has had interaction with artifacts significantly tied to two of the covenants named. The Ark of the Covenant is one of the central artifacts related to the fulfillment of the Abramic Covenant, and the Holy Grail is associated with Christ and the Last Supper, where He declared the establishment of the new covenant of grace. Now to interject Eden as central to the fourth Indiana Jones film would have Indy find an artifact/place that was associated with the first covenant, made at the onset of creation. The critical observer will notice that Jones has met with the covenants in their chronological order, until now, where this last prize is apparently from a period that precedes all of the others. But does it?
As already noted in this thread, the Tree of Life is mentioned prominently at the close of the Book of Revelation. ?Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.? (Revelation 22:1-2) ?Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.? (Revelation 22:14) A central part of the prophecy of Revelation is the fact that God remakes earth, creating a new earth that conforms to His original design: free of sin and corruption. In other words, Eden is restored and the earth becomes a place where man is able once more to have unbroken fellowship with God. In considering how Eden might relate to Indiana Jones thematically, I think it is this aspect of Eden that is relevant to Indiana?s experience.
So how does all this talk of covenants tie into the Indiana Jones films? I see it as follows:
Raiders of the Lost Ark: (Judgment) Jones is skeptical of the existence of the supernatural, (?Who knows?lightning?fire?the power of God.?) but is aware of its Biblical significance. Ultimately, those that are proud (Belloq, the Nazis) and would seek to manipulate power for their own selfish/evil ends are destroyed by the power of God, manifested through the Ark. Jones, who responds in reverence (
Thank you, Deadlock ) is spared, and has a different respect for the Ark and the Power behind it.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: (Forgiveness/Reconciliation) Through the quest for the Holy Grail, the past bitterness between Jones and his father is forgiven and their relationship is restored. Or, to look at it from a certain scriptural slant, the prodigal son returns to the father.
Indy IV: (Restoration) Jones, through his quest for Eden and another encounter with the supernatural is brought full circle, gaining something from the experience that enables him to come to peace with his life and the decisions, good and bad, that he has made. In settling with his past, he is afforded a new beginning.
Perhaps I?m drawing far too much into all of it (I have a bad tendency to do that at times), but as I considered it this morning, it made a lot of sense.
Oh, and for the record, I like the idea of the ambiguous ending, ala
Shane.