Watch It Again | 13 Reasons Why (Part 1)

Tonight, we have the honor and privilege for the very first time in our 5pm history to launch a brand new series specific just for this community. With our Senior Pastor’s blessing, for the next 5 Sundays in July, we will be working through our own version of “At the Movies” with a series based entirely on the most popular and influential shows on Netflix.

We’re calling this series “Watch It Again,” because after we discuss these shows, I want to encourage you to watch these shows again, but this time, with the mind of Christ and ask yourself this question: how does the Good News of Jesus Christ intersect with the popular stories of our culture?

One powerful theologian named Frederick Buechner, says of faith and story:

If someone were to come up and ask me to talk about my faith, it is exactly that journey that I would eventually have to talk about—the ups and downs of the years, the dreams, the odd moments, the intuitions. I would have to talk about the occasional sense I have that life is not just a series of events causing other events as haphazardly as a break shot in pool causes the billiard balls to careen off in all directions but that life has a plot the way a novel has a plot, that events are somehow or other leading somewhere. Whatever your faith may be or my faith may be, it seems to me inseparable from the story of what has happened to us, and that is why I believe that no literary form is better adapted to the subject than the form of fiction. From the essay “Faith and Fiction."

Often, art speaks the language of the heart that the mind doesn’t readily comprehend. Story matters for our faith. Jesus used parables as a means to transport our hearts into a different reality, even for just a moment, to glimpse what life could be like under different circumstances, especially the kinds of circumstances that conflict with how we think and process the world around us.

Stories help us talk about tough topics. Stories also help us talk about life’s intangibles, those things unseen that we can’t touch or feel or hear. Stories bring to life the witness of our faith.

Even the Psalmist wrote, "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” Psalm 107:2

And then later in God’s vision for the future, the Apostle John wrote that fellow believers will triumph over the evil one by “the blood of the lamb and word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11.

The stories that we tell about Jesus and our forgiveness matter for how others will discover their own salvation by grace through faith.

This series is designed to help you talk about your faith using the visual novels of our culture.

Others will experience our faith and the goodness of our God only as we tell our story, and one of the many ways that we can tell our story in such a manner that will open the eyes and ears of those on the other side of us is by asking the question: "how does the Good News of Jesus Christ intersect with the popular stories of our culture?"

Most of us in this room feast on Netflix, and the majority of the influential stories of our culture right now, especially among young adults and young families, are based on this platform.

And so with the help of research sites, as well as our 5pm crew of young adults, I have listed out 4 series over the next 5 weeks that will serve as our visual novels for us to learn the stories of our culture and talk about the good news of Jesus based on these stories in order to further help young adults and young families live for God’s kingdom within the context of Miami culture.

As a warning... some of these Netflix series' are controversial and not suitable for children and younger teenagers. For our friends eighteen years and older, however, I recommend these shows to you because I guarantee you that your friends, colleagues, peers, and neighbors are watching these shows, and they are identifying their lives into these stories. Each one of these series possess broken elements of the human experience that Jesus came to redeem.

This week and next, we will discuss 13 Reasons Why, week 3 will address Bloodline, week 4 will be Stranger Things, and then giving the final message in this series, Andrew Ling will discuss Lost in Space.

So invite your friends to the 5pm, and let’s make this space a safe and thriving one for our friends to experience the Good News of Jesus and to understand how Jesus desires to redeem some of the most influential and powerful stories within our culture today.

Because "today is a day of Good News” 2 Kings 7:9, so let’s never be accused of not sharing it with anyone.

In preparation for 13 Reasons Why, one word became obvious about this show: controversy. Some people raved about it, while others refused to watch it, and still others allegedly copied the fate of the series' main character and committed suicide.

Of course, when I read about that, my heart just broke for the anguish of what those young men and women must have felt to make such a decision. I even contemplated whether or not to use this series.

Yet, after some time, I came to the realization that these issues beckon me all the more to understand the influence of this series on the lives of so many. Netflix received more letters about this series, demanding them to take it off air, and for its viewers to boycott it, than any other series in its history.

I don’t recommend this series lightly. In fact, I do not recommend this series for anyone who has experienced sexual trauma, abuse, or bullying. The content concerning these issues is graphic. In fact, I applaud those who have chosen to prioritize their own recovery over watching a television series.

Listen, you are more important than pop culture, and I will always encourage and support you for putting your health and recovery ahead of any TV series.

13 Reasons Why is a mirror of youth and young adult culture in North America, and the question the church must ask of this series is how does the Good News of Jesus Christ intersect with this visual novel?

For those of you who haven’t seen 13 Reasons Why, take a look at this preview:

PLAY PREVIEW. 1:07.

Originally a novel by acclaimed author Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why is about a high school aged girl named, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide, leaving behind recorded tapes that implicate twelve people as the thirteen reasons why she ended her life. That’s the storyline on the surface, but underneath the layers, this series is really about who’s in and who’s out... and how we justify ourselves to gain power with the ‘in-crowd.'

That my friends, that’s one of the most basic elements of the human experience: Who’s in, who’s out? That’s one of the most basic survival instincts for human beings. And all of us flirt with this. Every single one of us. Hannah Baker’s story and Clay Jensen’s story is our story. And so also is Justin Foley and Bryce Walker. These guys are the power structure. At times, we’re on the outside like Hannah was. Other times, we’re on the inside choosing who’s in and who’s out, just like Justin and Bryce did.

As human beings, something within us drives us to compare and contrast ourselves with others. Do I fit in? Do I belong? Do I look and act like the people who I want to accept me?

In Hannah Baker’s first tape, she confessed that the beginning of her end began when she decided to go on a date with Justin Foley, who had a bad reputation for doing bad things with girls, because as a new girl to a new school, she wanted to feel accepted by the ‘in crowd.’

What transpired from that date at the beginning of Hannah’s junior year spiraled into a series of choices made by her and others from which she could not justify and make right, neither on her behalf nor on the behalf of those who hurt her, which ultimately, culminated in her death at the end of her Junior year.

The in-crowd will justify and maintain their power by taking it away from the ‘out-crowd’ through bullying, abuse, neglect, manipulation, you name it. Whatever goes to keep the ‘in-crowd’ on the power side of the boundary line.

This is the setting for 13 reasons why.

Now, enter stage left the moral voice of the series and Hannah Baker’s best friend, Clay Jensen. Clay sees the power structures for what they represent, and he understands how they contributed to Hannah’s death. As the series unfolds and Clay becomes aware of how others hurt Hannah, Clay decides to avenge Hannah’s death by bringing down the very power structures that hurt Hannah.

...Now, Every great story has a moment when the driving question or the main point of that story is made known to the reader or viewer.

In the fifth episode, sitting by Hannah Baker’s graveside, Clay Jensen asks the main question of 13 Reasons Why, take a look:

PLAY SCENE 1 - 3:27

Powerful scene!

Clay asks: “Don’t you feel like someone should pay for that?”

And his friend responds, saying: “Aren’t you paying?”

This is the question of all questions.

Clay’s question is one that every human being will ask at some point in his or her life, and it is the driving question of 13 Reasons Why: “Who will pay?” Who will pay for the wrongs in our lives and makes them right?

Clay wants payment for a debt that, ultimately, no one can pay. No one can pay the debt of death. No one can pay the debt of suffering. No one can pay the debt of unrequited love and dashed hopes.

Some try, some work their entire lives to earn enough money to experience a glimpse of joy. Some self-medicate to dull the pain of suffering. Some build invisible prisons of shame and accept a life-sentence for their actions.

Some want justice and demand condemnation as payment, but even our condemnation doesn’t ultimately satisfy the debt. Just ask any surviving family member of a murder victim. There’s no such thing as a guilty verdict that can satisfy the perpetrator’s debt.

What we call justice or seek in vengeance is really a heart cry for something altogether different. What our hearts are really longing for is atonement.

Justice rights wrongs. Atonement pays for wrongs to be made right.

There is no justice with atonement.

Atonement is the reparation of a wrong. Justice then makes that wrong right.

Atonement pays the debt.

Since Clay cannot atone for Hannah’s death, nor can he pay for the debt of suffering that her death caused, Clay does the next best thing that all of us are guilty of doing at some time: he seeks vengeance on behalf of Hannah, believing that vengeance will satisfy his suffering and right the wrongs done to Hannah.

Clay thinks, 'I am going to hurt the people that hurt Hannah.’

Now, Be honest, ever think that before? Yes, to all of us! That’s a human nature response to the debt of suffering.

But Clay soon discovers what all of us do… that in seeking vengeance, everyone suffers in the end, becoming chained to a debt that no one can ever repay.

Underneath the layers of this show, every character is living in a prison of their own making and unable to pay for their freedom.

Friends, I believe this series resonated with so many young people because they feel the exact same way as these characters.

Not one of us can atone for our brokenness and sin. Whether on the inside or outside. No one can pay for the debt of their suffering. No one can. No amount of power, wealth, or prestige can free one from the debt of death and suffering.

But at the cross, the Good News of Jesus Christ intersects with Clay’s question. The good news about the cross and why it matters still today proclaims that while we cannot free ourselves, Jesus has already set us free through his atoning sacrifice on the cross. Our faith informs us that all death is a result of human brokenness and sin. We incurred a debt that we cannot pay, but in Christ, God assumed our debt of death and freed us from its bondage.

The Apostle Peter wrote in his letter to the early Christian church the meaning of Jesus’ death. He stated:

'Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.' 1 Peter 3:18

Our sin against a holy God demanded payment, and since our finite bodies could never repay an infinite debt against a holy God, then our punishment resulted in our eternal death apart from God.

That just is what it is. God didn’t do that. We did it to ourselves at the original moment when sin entered into our world, and we still do it to ourselves when we attempt to take over power and control as gods and goddesses of our own lives. It’s the price tag for our decision to live like God. But thank God that God loves us too much to make us pay for it.

Thus, the infinite God became finite through his Son and died our death that we deserved. Jesus atoned for our debt of death and assumed our condemnation. Jesus paid for it.

According to Peter, our sins have been suffered for. They’ve been wept over. And in Christ, our Heavenly Father has removed all condemnation from us and placed upon the atoning sacrifice of his son Jesus, reconciling us with him as his redeemed sons and daughters, and making us "at-one” together - the root of the word ‘atonement’ - so that we may be brought safely home to our Heavenly Father.

Thus why we sing ‘Jesus paid it all!’ for all time, for every person! The Good News to the Clay Jensen’s of the world, longing for atonement and seeking vengeance to find it is that his friend’s response doesn’t have to be the final verdict on your life. You don’t have to pay for it. You don’t have to work for it. You don’t have to earn it.

You’ve been graced. Forgiven of all debts.

Now, a person can respond to this good news in either one of two ways. First, with sheer joy and gratitude. You’ve been forgiven, truly, and that is worth rejoicing over. Or second, you can respond with anger, because in fact, no one deserves such a gift, and you don’t believe that any debt has been paid at all, so you return to seeking vengeance in order to satisfy your pain.

Which one are you? Do you believe this and receive it with joy, or is this too good to be true and only fuels your anger all the more? Which one is Clay Jensen? Take a look…

PLAY SCENE 2 - 2:53

To the Clay Jensen’s of the world and in this room, I want you to know that you don’t have to stay angry.

He says, “I can’t do this anymore.” Clay, you’re right. And neither do any one of you.

Your debt of suffering has been paid. Your sin has been atoned for. Your condemnation has been fulfilled in Christ through his atoning sacrifice on the cross.

And your freedom now lays on the other side of salvation by grace through faith. If you want out of your prison, then you must step through the door of faith.

The author of the great fiction classic, A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean once wrote, “The nearest anyone can come to finding himself at any given age is to find a story that somehow tells him about himself.”

If Clay Jensen’s story and 13 Reasons Why most helps you find yourself, then let today begin a dawn of your new story in Christ from whom freedom is found and satisfaction is promised.

Friends, may all of us tonight, whether for the first time or the thousandth time, place our trust once more in the atoning sacrifice of Christ so that we may find our peace, joy, and life at home with our Heavenly Father.

Would you pray with me?Watch