Sharing God’s Story with Wreck-it Ralph
This Reel Parable has major spoilers, and I mean major. Major like “did you know that Qui-Gon Jinn dies at the end of Star Wars Episode I?” major. This movie bible study assumes that you have seen Wreck-it Ralph or don’t care if we spoil it for you. We warned you…
This is part 5 of a 6 part Christian movie review of Wreck-it Ralph. You can find all of our Wreck-it Ralph content here.
Sharing God’s Story with Wreck-it Ralph
How do you know that Ralph truly loved Vanellope? They fought. They argued. They hurt each other’s feelings.
So how do we know he really loved her?
Because he was willing to die for her.
My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13
No greater love than this that a man (Ralph) would give his life for a friend (Vanellope).
While almost everything King Candy said was a lie (that deceiver!) what he said about Vanellope leaving the game was true. Because of her glitch, she could not leave the game. Anyone else could simply leave the game.
She could not.
We see that this is true when Sugar Rush is about to be destroyed.
The aliens from Hero’s Duty have taken over. They are destroying everything and trying to devour everyone.
King Candy – Turbo – is unmasked and his true nature revealed.
He is out to destroy Sugar Rush.
As everyone escapes the game we see that Vanellope truly cannot leave and is about to be destroyed.
If she dies in the game then she dies for real.
Game over.
Forever.
Ralph figures out that the Mentos over Diet Coke Mountain will create a flame/light to draw the bug’s attention.
Bug Turbo and Ralph duke it out in an epic final battle to the top of Diet Coke Mountain. It is during this epic battle that Ralph realizes that the only way to save Vanellope is to sacrifice himself.
He can save her. But he will die if he does.
Because he really does love her, Ralph decides to save her, at all costs.
If he can just fall into Diet Coke Mountain he can knock the Mentos into the Diet Coke causing a volcanic eruption, create a homing beacon, and draw the bugs to their destruction!
This will save Vanellope and all of Sugar Rush!
In that moment Ralph decides to offer himself as her sacrifice.
He would give up his life to save her life.
Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
As a result God exalted him…Philippians 2:3-9a
This sounds like Ralph, right?
Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
When Ralph saw that Vanellope truly needed help he cared about her life more than his own. He humbled himself so that he could save her.
He knew she was important.
He put her needs above his own.
You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
Ralph did this too.
Ralph really, really, really wanted to win a medal. He could have simply left Sugar Rush, returned home, and showed off his medal.
Instead, he chose to help Vanellope.
He chose to empty himself of his own ambition – the desire to win a medal and to be a part of his community – and instead chose to stay and help Vanellope.
He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
I know Ralph did not die. I get that.
But he was willing to die to save Vanellope.
He thought he was going to die.
He did humble himself to the point of death. At least to the point of being willing to die!
As a result God exalted him…
I know this may be a stretch, but I love that Ralph does get exalted back in his game.
After he does his bad guy job the whole community literally holds him up – exalts him! – and it is then that he can see Vanellope!
So why would Ralph do that for Vanellope?
Why would he save her?
Why would he sacrifice himself for her?
Because Vanellope could not save herself. As simple as it sounds, she needed a savior.
And Ralph understood her pain.
Ralph knew her suffering.
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.Hebrews 4:15-16
Ralph knew her suffering.
Why?
Because he had suffered the same way that she had suffered.
He had been hurt in the same way that she had been hurt.
Like Vanellope, Ralph lived alone on the outskirts of town.
Like Vanellope, Ralph longed for community and to be a part of the group.
Ralph understood Vanellope because he was treated like she was treated.
He may have been an outsider – a savior from another world/game – but he understood her pain and her suffering.
But remember, he didn’t just save her; he also set her apart and helped her fulfill her purpose!
It was only after Ralph literally saved her that she was able to finish the race and cross the finish line, fulfilling her purpose!
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Until next time, God bless.
Simon L Smith
Sharing God’s Story with Wreck-it Ralph
