Scotch College

A remarkable assembly

As twelve hundred boys and eighty staff settled down on the hard benches after the opening doxology, it seemed just a usual Morning Assembly but it turned out to be very different.

The break in the sequence of readings would hardly have been noticed except that Mr Savage drew attention to it. 'We interrupt our readings in Genesis to read today from John's Gospel chapter eight where the theme is freedom and slavery.' After the reading, the hymn, then the change-over on the last verse. Chaplain steps aside to allow the VP to exit the pulpit, then he gets into it himself. That's the usual anyway.

But hang on! What's this? Who's that? There is a boy getting on to the platform, a year 12 student. Hey, he's going right into the pulpit. Ooops, hymn's over. All sit. Rev. Bradbeer sitting too? That's Rob Turnbull (pictured right) up there in the pulpit. He's starting to talk to us...'What is the Matrix?' The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. What truth? That you are a slave. Like everyone else you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind...

Life in the Matrix

Life in the Matrix is meaningless just as this world is just as meaningless if you live it without the truth, and without the love of God. This feeling of the insignificance of life is a major cause of despair among guys our age today. Neo, in the Matrix, knew that there was something wrong with the world, something that he couldn't explain. Morpheus described it as a 'splinter in his mind driving him mad'.

Simon Smithson, in his winning entry to the Matrix competition saw heaps of parallels. 'The Matrix in our reality is not properly accepting God and not seeking redemption. The movie 'The Matrix' shows this by biblical references and comparisons.

Neo, the main character, is based (loosely) around Jesus. He is in fact referred to by one character as 'my own personal Jesus Christ'. He is the saviour who was prophesied, the one who would rescue mankind. Just as Jesus was proven through his death and resurrection, so is Neo. Just as Jesus was tempted by the forces of darkness, so is Neo.

Another interesting character is Morpheus, based around John the Baptist. He is sent to find Neo, just as John's purpose was to find Jesus. And, just like John, Morpheus is persecuted by the authorities. Also just like John, Morpheus decrees the one he is sent to find is much greater than himself.

Biblical references continue

Biblical references continue throughout the film - a renowned city called Zion, a ship called Nebuchadnezzar, characters named Trinity and Epoch. There is even a Judas character, who betrays Neo. There are two brothers who follow Neo, just like the brothers James and John. There are evil creatures who can possess anyone. The Matrix is something that keeps the human race from true freedom and happiness, just as ignorance of God is in this life'.

'I was like the Jews in this Bible reading.' said Robert, 'Refusing to accept that I needed to be set free. I believed that I was all right on my own. To people like me Jesus says

'No, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.' This is just as relevant to us today as it was when he first said it.

Morpheus faced Neo

Morpheus faced Neo with a choice: 'I can only show you the door; you're the one that has to walk through it'. Said Rob, 'I'm not here to tell you why I follow Jesus or why I believe that he is the truth. I am here to show you the choice, just like Morpheus. A choice only made possible by Jesus' death all those years ago.

'Take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth.'

It was Friday, 18 February 2000. An assembly to remember. Great effort Rob, the applause was well deserved.

Rev Graham Bradbeer, Chaplain