Redemption and Grace
Romans 5:1-11, 8:1-2
We have looked at the comparison between Batman and Peter. The comparison ends because for Peter life becomes about Redemption and Grace. But for Batman it will always be Obsession and Guilt.
You see, Batman, the self-made man, is the one who doesn't think he needs saving. And yet that's the one thing he's working for the most. The sad truth is, he can't save himself, no matter how perfect his skills at detection become, no matter how much science he learns, or how much he hones his body into the perfect physique, it will never be enough.
Partly because Batman can't save everyone. In the saga of Batman, plenty of significant people in his life have died. Michael Brewer in Who Needs a Superhero? writes, "We can forgive Batman for failing to protect every innocent and save every victim. He is, after all, only human. Unfortunately, Batman cannot forgive himself. His own heart tells him he should have tried harder. He should have done better. He should have been faster, stronger, smarter.,
Batman thinks he can save himself and he's as good as any human being could be, yet in the end, he still isn't good enough because a life driven by guilt can never be good enough.
Jesus was painfully clear with a message we often forget to take to heart and let it grow at the very core of our being. The answer Jesus gave the rich young ruler could have been the answer Jesus gave Bruce Wayne and Batman. Remember the story, the rich young ruler came and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
Jesus says keep the commandments; the young man asks which ones; Jesus tells him and the man says, "I already do that. There must be something else." Then Jesus looked him square in the eye and said, "If you want to give it all you've got, go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me."
Scripture says he couldn't do it. The cost was too high. Peter and the others were staggered by that message. You see, the prevailing thought was that if you were rich, that meant you were favored by God. The more faithful you were, the richer, more influential you became, It was the first century version of the prosperity gospel some people preach today.
Peter even asks, "Then who has any chance at all?"
Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
That's what Grace and Redemption are all about., trusting God to Do It. Trusting God to save us.
That's Grace. God never gives up on us., Even after Batman's butler, Alfred, shows him what Grace is, Batman still doesn't get it. He's still driven by guilt. Luckily for us, Peter learns what Grace is all about.
You will remember John chapter 21, the Risen Jesus has told the disciples to meet him at the Sea of Galilee. Tired of sitting around and waiting, Peter one night says, "I'm, going fishing." They fish all night and don't catch anything. But early in the morning, they see someone on the beach who has built a charcoal fire. This man hollers and asks how they've done. They holler back, "Didn't catch a thing."
The man then says "Cast your nets on the other side." John immediately recognizes the command and the voice of Jesus, tells Peter, who jumps in, robe and all, and swims ashore to be greeted by Jesus. They share a breakfast of grilled fish and bread. And then, Jesus looks at Peter and asks him, "Peter, do you love me?"
And Peter says, "Lord, you know I love you." Twice more Jesus asks Peter the same question. Peter's a little thick, you see and it takes three times for it to sink in. But then on the third one, it finally sinks in, one affirmation for each denial. One confession of faith in the face of faithlessness. One affirmation of love with each pronouncement of forgiveness and gift of grace.
Peter got it. He realized he had no chance at all(if he tried to pull it off himself. Every chance in the world if (he) trusted God to do it.": And he did. Peter trusted not only God but the Son of God to remove the guilt of his sin and set him free to be who Jesus had called him to be, the Rock, upon whom the church would be built.
And a steady rock he would become. When he preached his first sermon, 3,000 people gave their lives to Christ and were baptized. That day 3,000 experienced God's Grace. Praise God!
Thoughts to Ponder:
Can you forgive yourself if God forgives you?
Do you think you need saving?
Have you experienced God's grace?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
