The Princess and the Bridegroom

or
Never Go Up Against a High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek When Sanctification Is on the Line

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
-Matthew 25:5

In The Princess Bride, we encounter a provocative illustration of the relationship between the Lord and the believer. Like Princess Buttercup, we all have given up on waiting for the savior, our bridegroom. Fortunately, our salvation does not depend upon our patience, but rather upon a God who pursues us to bring us into relationship with him, just as Wesley, a figure for Christ, saves his bride from both living and literal death.

Buttercup had vowed to wait patiently for her bridegroom, Wesley, to return for her, but when she was told he had died, she gave up her vigil and all hope. (One could make much of the “God is dead” school of philosophy at this point, but one does not want to draw ridiculous analogies.) As with the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, she gave up looking for her bridegroom when he appeared to be too long in returning. She preferred to trust in the reports of news carriers rather than in the promise of her one true love. She was like those who believe scoffers instead of remembering “(t)he Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Pet 5:9)

We too have forsaken the knowledge of God which we hold in our hearts (Rom 1:19-21). As Francis Shaeffer observed in The God Who Is There, we all (as unbelievers) recognize the true shape of the world as it is, but choose to deny that truth in order to be able to live according to our own lights. Unfortunately, the worldview we construct is woefully inadequate, especially in comparison to the joy and glory which is found in fellowship with God.

Buttercup certainly found herself in this situation. Having forsaken her true love (because it appeared he would not return), she chose the fleeting, worldly glory of marriage to the prince and future king of the land, Humperdinck. Like unfaithful Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16), she prepared to forsake her true love for another. Though she had all the outer trappings of greatness, her life afforded her no joy. Indeed, though in appearance a beautiful, vibrant princess, she felt as though she were dead.

All believers were once also dead in their sin, no matter how vital they may have appeared in their pursuit of fleshly gratification (Eph 2:1-3). How grateful we should then be that we have a savior who gave us life out of death! (Eph 2:4-5) Had Buttercup’s only chance of finding joy been to wait faithfully, then she was truly without hope. Fortunately, like us, she had a bridegroom who pursued her despite her faithlessness. (Is there a parallel between Wesley’s pirate persona and Peter’s assertion that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” [II Pet 5:10]? But I digress.) Wesley rescued her from her kidnappers (as Christ frees believers from the bondage of sin, Rom 6:6 & Gal 4:7), then guided her through the deadly forest (as the Holy Spirit guides us through the travails of life, Jn 14:26, 16:13-15) at great cost to himself. (The journey through this forest can best be understood as a metaphor for the Christian’s struggle with sin. The R.O.U.S.es symbolize besetting temptations, and the fall into the pit the result of succumbing to those temptations. How fitting, then, that the “penalties” fell on Wesley, the Christ figure, for the penalty for our sins was paid by Jesus Christ. But I digress again.)

The clear parallels to the work of the Lord in our lives are staggering. Just as Buttercup rejoiced to find Wesley alive again after death, just as Mary Magdalene cried out to Jesus in the garden (Jn 20:14-17), so we burst forth in hymns of praise when we remember the good news of the resurrection. Like Wesley, we are given new life that we might truly live.

The Christological import of Wesley’s character is significant indeed. At the beginning of the film, we meet him as a servant who gives of himself unselfishly, whose service is quite literally a statement of love. Nor can we overlook his (nearly) death and (sort of) resurrection. This bridegroom sacrificially loves his bride so that she may be joined to him.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Eph 5:25-27)