There are so many spiritual parallels in this movie that it will be virtually impossible to cover them all, but I will try to touch on many of them.

One of the primary questions that many ask about God and about life is why it is that bad things happen to good people. The reality of that is -- while there are never any pat answers that can give total satisfaction to someone who has had something bad happen -- we are all faced with the fact that people in this world are all capable of making decisions that are either good or evil. And sometimes evil decisions affect those who are innocent. It is one of the great prices love has to pay. The presence of evil in this world makes us truly appreciate the joys of experiencing love. But the existence of love cannot change the hurt that comes about from evil, especially when that evil is done to someone we love very much.

This is much of what is happening in the life of Frank Castle. When he recognizes that he has lost the people he loves the most, he resorts to the only thing he knows: “punishment.” At one point in the script, Castle comments that it is not vengeance that he is executing, it is punishment, and there is a difference. This is a wonderful reminder that while we serve a God of love, we also serve a God who both is -- and will be -- just in His execution of punishment.

The sad thing is that while Frank is looking at punishment for those who killed the ones he loved, and later on for all rapists, murderers, thieves and more, I was reminded of the fact that in comparison to God and Jesus Christ, we are all evil and deserving of death. The movie in many ways actually helps portray this concept.

Along the way Frank, while caught up in punishment, loses all that was good about him. He turns to the bottle, drinking Wild Turkey whiskey as if it is iced tea. He loses compassion and concern towards any that he may come into contact with. This does not change the fact though, that there are those that have gone through many hard times themselves who are willing to love him in an unconditional and pure way. While Frank lives in a rundown apartment complex, we are introduced to possibly three of the best characters to come along in a movie in a long time. There is Joan, played by beautiful and talented Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, a down-and-out waitress who has had bad relationships with men her whole life. She in many ways is a kind of Mary Magdalene or Samaritan woman at the well that we read about in the New Testament. Then there is Bumpo, a heavy cook, played wonderfully by delightful standup comic John Pinette. Then there is Spacker Dave.

These three in some strange, offbeat, humorous ways draw the audience into the movie even more. They provide some wonderful comic relief but also drive in the nails to help us, the audience, understand the importance of sacrifice and love. While each of these characters are there in part to let us know that there are some people who can love unconditionally, they also remind us that this love often comes at great cost. We see this no better than in the example shown by Spacker Dave.

Spacker Dave is a skinny, meek young man who is covered with piercings. In one scene in the movie he makes a tremendous sacrifice to save Frank Castle from certain death, in many regards he becomes a Christ figure. While we have seen him love and dance, fellowship and comfort, we see in one scene his willingness to give himself for one he knows little, Frank Castle. I was reminded throughout the torture that involves his piercings of another that was pierced for us, the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only son.

Spacker Dave, while being far from a perfect model of Jesus Christ, does as adequate a job as any normal man could do. It is his sacrifice, his piercings, and his love that help lead to a salvation from his enemies for Frank Castle.

After his rescue and understanding of the sacrifice that was made for him, Frank has to do something with his relationship with those that have loved him, but not before he finishes executing some of his own punishment. We are reminded that even for many who think they are saints, there is hell to pay.

I don’t believe it is any accident in this movie that the primary evil character in the movie has the name "Saint." Early on, we see that the club and business that he runs is named “Saints and Sinners.” I will guarantee that there will be many a Christian who bashes this movie because of its obvious intent to blast Saints (Christians). But we should be reminded of the fact that Jesus himself stated that there will be many who call him Lord that will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.