Key Gospel themes in the movie:
Ella was born for this purpose. From the beginning, there was a supernatural purpose for her life, even though everything seemed to work against her. She knew that her life was meaningful and purposeful, but she was in a struggle to achieve that purpose. She was given a memory of the need for courage and kindness, but that memory could only take her so far. God has an eternal purpose for each of us and it is a great purpose. Ephesians 1:4, 11; 2:10.
She had a longing in her soul for something more. Her own efforts at courage and kindness were not going to succeed without supernatural intervention. She knew there was a call on her life. Without help, she was incapable of achieving that calling. Jesus Christ is our help. He sent us the Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to live out God's call on our lives. Our faith and salvation is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5).
The stepmother and stepsisters represent the constant efforts of people and life's circumstances to keep us living in wretchedness. The stepmother told Cinderella, "you are and always will be a wretch. You can't escape it." The words echoed John Newton's words in Amazing Grace - "who saved a wretch like me." The world wants to tattoo "WRETCH" on our foreheads and fix that as our identity, but Jesus saves us to be the bride (His church). He gives us a new identity as SAINT and BELOVED instead of WRETCH. Jesus makes us a new creation - the old is gone and the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:14-17.)
When Cinderella resolves to leave her wretchedness in order to marry the crown prince, she knows that she is not the royalty that he deserves, but she also knows that she will be transformed in relationship with him. She tells him that she will marry him only if he accepts her just as she is, despite her circumstances. He joyfully and lovingly agrees and she is indeed transformed. These words echo the words of Just As I Am, the closing hymn of every Billy Graham Crusade. Jesus accepts and welcomes us just as we are. Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son / Loving Father, where the Father accepted and welcomed the wretched son, just as he was. Jesus called out, "come all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Cinderella humbly came just as she was. She was then empowered to lead the life of the bride of the king. We have that same noble calling.
At the end of the movie, as the credits are rolling, the song being sung describes "living as lights forever." As Phil. 2:14-15 encourages us: "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you SHINE AS LIGHTS in the world...." Daniel 12:3 describes shining forever: "And those who are wise shall SHINE like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the STARS FOREVER and ever."
Cinderella reflects the timeless Gospel truth that God has sewn into the hearts and minds of humanity. Stories like this ring true and deep, but people don't always understand why. The why is the opportunity we have to relate the story to the truth of the Gospel. Easter is a great time to share that truth.
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