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Every movie has a message. What is this one saying? Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl reminds us that the pirates are not the only people under a terrible curse. Like the pirates, we have a debt to pay. Unlike the pirates, someone pays the price to bring us back to life.
SPOILERS BELOW!
WHAT IS A PIRATE? – Pirates are lawless men who work for themselves at the expense of others. Why is it so fun to watch pirates? Why do we want to be a pirate? Freedom. We want to live life on our own terms. We want to go where we please, do what we please, and be who we please. But what will that lead to? (Proverbs 14:12) Compare “pirate-freedom” to the freedom we have in Christ. (1 Peter 2:16)
THE CURSE – The pirates are cursed to walk the earth as half-men. They seem to be alive, but their true self is seen by moonlight: rotting flesh and bones. How is this similar to the curse humanity is under? Our curse is one we’ve inherited from Adam and Eve. Read about it in Genesis 3:16-19. We might be cursed, but we can look forward to a day where that is no longer the case. Read and discuss Ezekiel’s vision of restoration in Ezekiel 37:1-14. How are we brought back to life by the power of God?
BREAKING THE CURSE – The pirates are bound under the curse until they are able to repay the debt they owe. It’s a high-price debt of gold, but it’s also a debt that must be repaid with blood. Each individual is responsible to pay off the debt. If one person refuses to pay back the debt, they will all remain cursed. How is our curse broken? How is this different from the curse of the Aztec gold? (Galatians 3:13-14.)
“THE DAY YOU ALMOST CAUGHT JACK SPARROW” – Will and Elizabeth help with Jack’s final escape. They sacrifice their normal, well meaning life, for that of a dirty pirate. Will literally stands in Jack’s place. How does this compare to Christ’s love for us? (Romans 5:8)
