This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.
But (Jesus) emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! Philippians 2:7-8
Lent is about choice and sacrifice. Sometimes the choices and sacrifices are small (time, money, wants), but sometimes they are huge.
Peter Parker wanted a job, a girlfriend and to get good grades in school. All of these are good things.
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Instead of chasing after his own ambition, Peter Parker emptied and humbled himself. Why? Because Spider-man was the hero. And like Jesus, he humbled himself to the point of death.
In the image above Spider-man even looks like he is hanging on a cross. In the image below he even has a “spear pierced” side. The imagery is very powerful; that is what Jesus did for us.
Yea, I know he didn’t die, but he was willing to and the people he saved thought he did die.
Peter Parker emptied and humbled himself – to the point of death – to save others. Jesus emptied and humbled himself – to the point of death – to save everyone. So yes, Jesus loves us the way Spider-man loved his community. He loved us so much he was willing to die for us.
What would this kind of sacrifice look like in your life? What would it look like if we lived our lives like Spider-man? What would it look like if we lived our lives like Jesus?
What would we sacrifice? What would have to die?
For most of us, it is pride, wants, desires. For others, it is habits or addictions or other things you try to hide.
What is currently standing between you and God? Sacrifice it. Kill it.
What is currently standing between you and others, between you and family, between you and friends? Sacrifice it. Kill it.
What do you need to sacrifice – kill – to be the hero?
Personal Note on Sacrifice and Death
Right now, during the Lent season, Christians are dying. Every week, almost every day it seems, there is another report of Christians somewhere in the world who have been kidnapped or killed.
Our issues – our pride, our desire, our wants – fade in the light of this Earthly tragedy. I don’t want to make light of our issues. Bad habits – and especially addiction – are not easy to break. But do not for a moment forget that others are currently facing real persecution and are making real – the ultimate – sacrifice.
But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. (Hebrews 11:35a-40)
We are not tortured. We are not flogged, chained or imprisoned. We are not stoned, sawed apart or murdered by the sword.
Right now others, however, are.
As Hebrews says, the world is not worthy of these people.
They are worthy to suffer like Jesus and have received a glory beyond all comparison.
For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)
This Lenten season, I exhort you to pray that their suffering, that their sacrifice, that their death, would not be in vain. Pray with me that their testimony would be strong and their faith firm.
For their momentary, light suffering is producing for them an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. (II Corinthians 4:17, pronouns edited)
This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.
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Simon L Smith