Transformation, Redemption, and Beauty and the Beast

“Tale as old time…” as the song goes. Whenever I hear the opening tune to Beauty and the Beast, something in my heart smiles (bear with my cheesiness for a moment). But it’s not just because I’m thinking of the sweet romance as portrayed in the Disney movie….

I remember watching the transformation scene with my mom years ago. Just before the last petal fell, Belle whispers “I love you” to the dying beast. Her words of compassion break the curse first placed upon the Prince and his entire household by the witch who had stumbled upon the castle and its coldhearted master at the beginning of the film. The miracle of the Beast’s transformation is set in motion, and he is lifted into the air as every part of him suddenly becomes illuminated and his fully human form is redeemed.

My mother told me that more than anything else, this ending scene of the film reminded her most of what our transformation in Christ looks like and the way that it affects every aspect of our lives—as shown by the transformation of the Beast’s manor. And while the external appearance of things has obviously shifted and improved, there is something internally fixed that was once broken.

Her words have stuck with me ever since and I’m reminded of her insight to this day whenever I watch the movie or hear its melodic soundtrack. To me, this thought was more beautiful than any picture painted by the Disney animation crew and more eternally resonant than the sweetest of romances compiled from the oldest of fairy-tales. And isn’t that the message of Christ’s redemption and His good news to a fallen and bitter world?

As in the story, the ugliness of our inner pride and selfishness is confronted. As Christians, we have accepted that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Accepting the love of one who has extended Himself sacrificially for our sake demands that our “beastly” flesh be put to death and that all things be made new instead! I love the way the old KJV expresses 2 Corinthians 5:17; “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; BEHOLD, all things are become new (emphasis added).

Not only can the tale of Beauty and the Beast teach us about the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit coming into our hearts after we accept Christ’s atoning love, but we see that the transformation also returns us to our rightful human form before the Lord! The image of the Beast reminds us of sin’s innate corruption since the Fall. Without the free gift of grace, restoration of our true humanity before God as beings created in His image is unattainable, and the restoration of an eternal relationship with Him doesn’t have a chance.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”—Ephesians 2:1-4

Verses 8-10 continue: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.

Needless to say, Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite tales of the redemption and transformation of a life, all because of the great, undeserved love of one person. I can only imagine that Belle and her prince lived happily ever after…as will we with our King and Savior.