Season 2, Episode 13—Beside the Dying Fire

Is this what Jesus meant by resurrection of the dead?

Hershel and Rick bring it up in this week’s Season 2 Finale’ of The Walking Dead.

This week we saw the true devastation “a herd” could bestow. Utter chaos swept the farm, and the group began to scatter. In the midst of this pandemonium, Rick was focused, doing everything he could to keep the group together.

This show always provides great lessons about leadership, and Rick continues to assume that central role, making tough decisions and seeking what’s best for the group. Even when the group questions him or demands of him, “Do something!” Rick’s response is classic:

“I am doing something! I’m keeping this group together, alive. I’ve been doing that all along, no matter what. I didn’t ask for this. I killed my best friend for you people!”

This episode had quite a few classic lines.

Rick: Where’d you find everyone?

Daryl: Well, those guys’ tail lights zigzagging all over the road – figured he had to be Asian, driving like that.

Glenn: (chuckling) Good one.

All said and done, this episode was about loss: loss of property, unity, weapons, friends, and even the strength of Rick and Lori’s marriage as she doesn’t receive the news about Shane and Carl too well.

Often, when people experience loss, they search for answers to the bigger questions.

Enter faith, stage left.

Interestingly, one of the stalwart features in the season so far has been the faith of Hershel, but the losses he endured brought out a different side to his worldview.

Start at 22:00, after Carl storms off:

Hershel: Rick. You’ve got to get your boy to safety. I’ll wait here for my girls and the others. I know a few places. We’ll meet up at one of them later.

Rick: Where? Where is safe? We’re not splitting up.

Hershel: Please, keep your boy safe. I’ll hide in one of the cars. If a walker gets me, so be it. I’ve lost my farm. I’ve lost my wife and maybe my daughters.

Rick: You don’t know that. They’ll be here.

Hershel: And you don’t know that.

Rick: You’re a man of God- have some faith!

Hershel: I can’t profess to understand God’s plan, but Christ promised the resurrection of the dead. I just thought He had something a little different in mind.

SEASON 2, EPISODE 13 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.  Do you perceive Hershel as a ‘man of God’? Why or why not?
2.  Do you think Hershel is starting to have doubts about God’s goodness? Why or why not?
3.  Is Hershel being sarcastic or does he truly think that the zombie apocalypse is the fulfillment of the end times prophecies?
4.  Was this scene an attempt on AMC’s part to ridicule Christians? Why or why not?
5.  How would you respond to Hershel’s statement if you were standing there?

 Read the following passage from Scripture:

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.

(John 11:25 NLT)

6.  What does Jesus mean when He says that we will ‘live, even after dying’?
7.  Could this passage be used to prove that the Bible talks about zombies? Why or why not?
8.  What is the difference between re-animation and resurrection?
9.  How could this promise of Jesus help us when we feel like we’ve lost everything?

Wrap up
Most Christians go through periods of doubt- and I can certainly see why Hershel is having his! But even in everyday life, we can’t profess to know God’s plan either, but one thing we can hold onto is that the end of this life is just the beginning of the beginning because of Jesus’ resurrection.