#7 SPIDERMAN

Memorable Lines from Movies, Big Story in Bible 

#7 SPIDERMAN
Great power, great responsibility 

Among comic characters, none fascinated me like the superheroes: Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Ironman, and my favourite, Spiderman. He first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1962, and made it to the movies exactly 40 years later, in 2002. 

While many superheroes overwhelm us with their special powers, Spiderman (aka Peter Parker) endears us with his humanness. The discovery of his amazing spider-like prowess coincides with the tragic killing of his father figure, Uncle Ben. Events prior to his death haunt Peter as he felt responsible for the random murder, and for his curtness in their last conversation.

Earlier on, Uncle Ben (Cliff Robinson) had spoken to Peter (Tobey Maguire) the iconic line, "With great power, there must also come great responsibility.” Throughout the series of Spiderman, the legacy of Uncle Ben lives on, as Peter seeks to handle the awesome responsibility that comes with his spectacular powers. 

The Spiderman series ran for eight movies till 2021. The iconic line is repeated 10 years later in The Amazing Spiderman (2012): “The power is there, in case you want to use it. It's a gift, but it also comes with a responsibility."

Big Story in Bible 

In the Gospels, Jesus comes to us with extraordinary powers: to heal, to raise the dead, to walk on water, to calm a storm, to multiply loaves and fish to feed thousands. Not only that, he has the ability to read minds, know the life stories of strangers, anticipate his own death. 

Yet, the iconic portrait of such a superhero is one of him on his knees washing the feet of his disciples. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:13-14 ESV

In another context, Jesus tells them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”Mark 10:42-44 ESV

We marvel at superheroes who wield awesome powers with an equally awesome sense of responsibility, rendering spectacular feats of service to humankind. But none can match what Jesus had done when he, as God, stooped to give his life for sinners like you and me. 

“Christ Jesus… being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8 NIV