Sermon Series Wrap-Up: Star Wars



Recently, Episode 9 of the Star Wars movies was released in theatres. Pastor Pope took that opportunity and the holiday season to use the popular movie series to illustrate the importance of Jesus. The first Star Wars movie released (Episode 4) was called A New Hope, and the series as a whole is about hope in the fight against powerful forces of darkness. That first movie was about the discovery of Luke Skywalker and the beginning of his journey and what he represented in the struggle against the oppressive empire. It’s fitting that this particular series took place around Christmas when we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Jesus’ birth was the new hope for humanity in the fight against sin, which is every bit as oppressive as a galactic empire.  

Pastor Pope identified another parallel between Star Wars and the Bible. The Force is the most prominent plot device in the Star Wars story. It has a dualistic nature with a light side and a dark side. The light side is defined by discipline, order, hope, and other positive characteristics. Whereas the dark side is fueled by rage, fear, hatred, and other negative characteristics. In some ways, Star Wars is about the battle between the light and the dark. That is also the story of the Bible. The Bible tells us the story of good versus evil, and it describes goodness as light and evil as darkness. Jesus, God in human form, represented God’s secret weapon in the fight against sin.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. - John 1:1-3
Jesus’ story is the most important in all of Christianity, but His story wasn’t His alone. We were introduced to several other important people in the Bible through Jesus’ life. However, only one person served the purpose of introducing or making way for Jesus. John the Baptist was that person. He made way for the entrance of the light that Jesus represented. The Jedi in Star Wars were the representatives of the light side of the Force. They spread that philosophy everywhere they went. Believers in Jesus are supposed to play a similar role. Just like John the Baptist, we are supposed to make way for the introduction of Jesus to those that need him, and just like the Jedi we are supposed to be representatives of the light.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. - Matthew 5:13-15
Perhaps, the concept of a savior is the greatest similarity between Star Wars and Jesus’ story. There is a reason that John the Baptist heralded the coming of Jesus. Jesus wasn’t just another prophet. He was the Messiah. Anakin Skywalker was a messianic figure in Star Wars. He was the chosen one, the person born of the Force that was supposed to bring order to the Force and end the fight with the dark side. As we know, Jesus had a miraculous birth and his purpose was to come and bring victory over sin and death. Anakin fell to the darkness and became Darth Vader, but in the end, he found his way back and completed his mission, defeating the dark side. While Jesus did not fall, he did die, and he was resurrected.  Through his resurrection, we gained victory over death. 
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace - Ephesians 1:7
Anakin’s actions transformed the galaxy, but as Pastor Pope pointed out, Jesus transformed our world and finding Jesus can transform anyone’s life. It’s not our actions or anything we can do short of our accepting Jesus into our lives that saves us. Outside of that, salvation begins and ends with Jesus. We humans are flawed and we wouldn’t have been able to overcome sin through our own devices. We have God’s grace to thank for our salvation, and that salvation was brought by Jesus.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14
All we have to do is believe in Jesus and our salvation is assured. Star Wars is a good story, but it’s just a story. Jesus is the truth and the light of the world. He is our hope, and whether it’s Christmas time when we are celebrating his birth or any other day of the year, we must always remember just how important he is and do our part to ensure that the grace that his life and death unleashed reaches as many people as possible.

Chris Lawyer
Sermons By Pastor Everett Pope
 
 
The Invasion
 
The Clone Wars
 
The Force Awakens
 
Grace Unleashed


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