Cpt. Kirk Sr's Sacrifice aboard the USS Kelvin: An allegory of Christ and Calvary

In the opening scene of the newest Star Trek film, we were all witness to Cpt George Kirk, sensing an oncoming danger and forthcoming destruction of his vessel, he eventually yells:  "Everyone get off of the Kelvin!" and kisses his super pregnant wife Winona goodbye as she goes into labor with his son James. She gives birth as George sacrifices himself and crashes the USS Kelvin  into the Romulans, saving everyone's life but his own. It's a pretty busy, and depressing, opening scene. Yet, while Captain Kirks father may have died rescuing his family and friends aboard the Kelvin his legacy lives on, emblazoned in all of our hearts. Yet what impacted me the most during this opening scene is the manner in which George Kirk Sr. dies, it is the finest picture of a selfless sacrifice. As the USS Kelvin hurtled toward impact, his thoughts were toward his wife and newborn son. He is naming him and thinking of the boys new certain and "safe future". We can all see representations of Jesus looking toward his mother Mary and brother John on the cross as he tells them in no uncertain terms to leave this place of shameful suffering and look after their needs. His mind must have drifted in this moment to the joy set before him, our new names and safe identity in Christ which are written in his nail scarred hands. He is most likely visualizing the wedding feast in his Fathers kingdom, an eternal life of joy, the creation set aright into an unfallen state, all of Satans lies exposed and done away with, forever. The new Jerusalem, his eternal bride composed of every tribe every tongue and nation, washed clean with a new redeemed nature in whom he was bleeding for. It must have been the only thing that comforted and sustained him in this shameful state of horror and morbid suffering.

I see Cpt. Kirks sacrifice as a picture of Jesus. His earthly pod is heading speedily toward incoming divine wrath and certain destruction. Yet his thoughts are toward us and our future lives we would get to enjoy as our death would become his. It must have been these images which comforted his poor tormented tried and vexed soul as he endures the unfathomable crushing weight our sins are so deserving of.  

"They are coming to you FATHER! I am bringing them to you". 

A cup mixed with gall is thrust to his lips. 

He refuses... 

He must taste the bitter pangs of death to the fullest.

If the weight of the fall is to be placed on the redeemers graceful shoulders. He must drink that awful poisoned cup to the dregs. 

It was in the very words He spoke to the Roman contingent right after his betrayal and before his arrest. 

"IF YOU COME FOR ME, LET THESE MEN GO THEIR WAY!"

In the same way Cpt Kirks mother was in labor, Jesus was experiencing the birth pangs of our new spiritual lives. It would NEED to take his sacrifice, a substitute in our place. An eternal redemption could only be purchased by an eternal being and the awful price of sin could only be understood by the death of the apple of God's eye: 

His own dearly beloved son. The God-man...

JESUS mans the doomed vessels we are all on, whose trajectory is a collision course for eternal destruction. In doing so the great exchange transpires as He vicariously interposes our broken and sorrow filled life for HIS perfect one...

The SON passionately yells at the adversary the same way he yelled at Pharaoh through Moses 1500 years prior 

"LET MY PEOPLE GO!"  

 Out of slavery of sin and Satan the redeemed must come...

In every cell of the dungeons of Despair, the sound is echoed.

 "Let these go their way," 


Satan hears the well-known voice, and lifts his foot from the neck of the fallen; and Death hears it, and the grave opens her gates to let the dead arise.  

Their way is one of progress, holiness, triumph, glory, and none shall dare to stay them in it.

By faith let us rejoice that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus. The woman's seed in spite of the decision of the first of her kind to taste the tainted fruit shall in the end prevail.What dishonor to Satan to have his head bruised by human feet! 

For Jesus, the ruling passion is strong in death. He resigns himself to the enemy, but he interposes a word of power to set his people free...

As to himself, like a sheep before her shearers he is dumb and opened not his mouth, but for his disciples' sake he speaks with almighty energy. Herein is love, constant, self-forgetting, faithful love. 

"No lion shall be on their way, neither shall any ravenous beast go upon them. "The hind of the morning (The Son of God)" has drawn the cruel hunters upon himself, and now the most timid roes and hinds of the field may graze at perfect peace among the lilies of his loves. The thunder-cloud has burst over the Cross of Calvary, and the pilgrims of Zion shall never be smitten by the bolts of vengeance. Come, my heart, rejoice in the immunity which thy Redeemer has secured thee, and bless his name all the day, and every day." -CH Spurgeon

By his love, and pity, and compassion, he is sure to remember you. A woman can sooner forget her nursing-child than your God could forget you...Amen :)