In 1976, on the recommendation of a friend, I went to see a film against my better judgement, since I have no interest in the sport of boxing. At that time I was the same age (30) as the leading character, Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone). Today I am about the same age (75) as his manager in the film, Mick (played by Burgess Meredith).

I am writing this because I just saw the film again for the first time in several decades. I have always believed that Rocky is one of the 3 best movies ever made, but my reasons for loving it have changed over time. (The other two are Casablanca, and Midnight Cowboy).  While some of the sequels were also very good movies, it’s the original that I cannot watch without a surge of emotion that leaves me breathless and in tears.

Why? What is it about the film that I find so compelling, and carrying such an important message? I never quite knew, beyond the story of a miraculous success by a downtrodden “bum from the neighborhood”. Of course, that was the obvious major appeal of the film to many, including myself, who came from neighborhoods where nobody was supposed to achieve anything worthwhile.

But this time I watched the movie from a new perspective – that of a Christian. Rocky is not a Christ-like figure, quite the contrary. He is who Christ talked about – the least of these. In other words, all of us. A sinner, a man who works for a criminal, violent, barely surviving, not very bright, a loser even when he wins, a failure, a man with no future, no skills, no luck.

But what else is he? He is compassionate, he is caring, he is looking for love, he is forgiving, he is the model of a Christ follower. And of course, he is a fighter, not just in the literal sense, but in the way the Apostles were fighters. The way MLK and Mother Teresa, and so many Christian saints have been fighters. Like all of them, Rocky did not give up. And that was all it took. The strength to not give up.

This is the strength I found when Jesus came to save me. The strength to keep going, to block the blows of life, to dance around the danger, to find the opening and to persevere. Because at the end we know that someone will call our name, as Adrian called out Rocky’s name in the midst of chaos and pain and final victory. Someone will call our name and tell us we are loved. And that is the happy ending for us all. Praise Jesus, and hallelujah.