The Wages of Nothing

My father recently gave my wife and I a copy of Seinfeld season 9 on DVD. Aside from having some of the best and most brilliant episodes of the entire series (including Festivus and the episode with the Indian wedding that runs backwards), season 9 featured one of the most powerful morality plays in television history.

I’m talking about the last episode.

I can still remember the backlash that followed the last episode, with critics and fans saying how disappointed they were. I myself was blown away that a show about nothing would, in the end, have a moral conscience.

Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer were incredible selfish people. They lived for the moment, they looked out for themselves, and they rationalized every selfish action they made. It wasn’t just the humor that drew us to these characters; everyone acts like one or more of these characters on a daily basis. I have a George Costanza meltdown at least once a month.

Then one day after a near plane crash (a symbolic death), they end up in a town where morals do matter. They are put on trial for their sins, and everyone shows up to stand and accuse our beloved heroes. To paraphrase the Soup Nazi, there’s no pardon for them; they are guilty, and they are sent to their punishment.

Is it any wonder so many hated this episode? No one wants to think they will be judged for their sins. Yet all of us will face judgment, and the punishment for sin is far greater than a year in jail. What will matter most at that moment is not how good we were, but who stands in your defense… and Jackie Chiles is just not going to cut it.

Next time you watch an episode of Seinfeld, enjoy it, but ask yourself: who have you wronged that would stand in judgment of you? More importantly, ask yourself who will stand as your advocate? Only the blood of Christ will spare us at the real judgment day.