Jesus, the One and Only
A multiplicity of different versions of the same hero in a variety of different contexts works wonderfully in Across the Spider-Verse; it doesn't work nearly as well when it comes to Jesus
Across the Spider-Verse is one of the most phenomenal animated features I have ever seen. From beginning to end, it’s a visual banquet for the eyes and a narrative feast for the soul. It presents us with a multidimensional reality in which there is a different spider-hero for every context. Although some narrative elements are “canon” and must remain the same in every dimension, much of each hero’s “spidentity” can change.
Every spiderhero in every dimensions a Spider-Person in his or her own context, but none of them is the definitive superpowered web-slinger. As viewers, we can—in some sense—choose whatever spiderhero we prefer as our favorite webbed wonder.
While watching the film, it occurred to me that many people want something similar when it comes to Jesus.
We want to be able to choose a version of Jesus that fits with our preferences and our contexts
That works wonderfully for a multidimensional spider-tale, but it doesn’t work at all when it comes to Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, there is no option for skipping “across the Jesus-verse” and finding the Jesus that you prefer. Part of apologetics has to do with identifying and rejecting false understandings of Jesus that are shaped more by our own contexts than by the words of Scripture.
As it turns out, I was writing a sermon the same week that I watched Across the Spider-Verse, so—perhaps not surprisingly for those that know me well—this thought made its way into a sermon from John 8 that I preached recently at Sojourn Church Midtown.
If you’d like to watch the sermon, here is the link to the message: “I AM,” John 8:30—58.