Light Knight Trumps Dark Knight

CBN.com I’m eager to see The Dark Knight, the Batman Blockbuster. Especially now, since my nephew insisted I first watch Batman Begins last week. It was a moral, thought-provoking movie with great characters and story development. I loved it.

One of my favorite parts depicted how Bruce Wayne was mercilessly trained for his larger-than-life role to fight evil. His brutal teacher pressed him in one bam, wham moment—“you must face your fears,” because whatever you are afraid of will control you. As we discovered, Bruce Wayne was afraid of bats—so he became Batman.

It reminded me of Jesus and how he spoke to the Disciples about fear as he walked with them daily and instructed them. He knew His time was short to train them before He in His divinity and humanity faced his greatest fear. Death and separation from God, the Father.

We all have fears. That is why God addresses fear in his top ten topics throughout the Bible. He knows what we are made of and where our weaknesses lie.

That is why David sought him for help beginning in his youth.

“I sought the Lord and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4) 

David was living in the desert at the time. Not a fun place. Fears could range from dying of thirst to scorpion bites. He faced predators roaming in packs including men—sent by Saul to slay him.

Jesus addresses the fear of being killed at the hands of ungodly men in Luke 12:5; “but I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Wow. The first time I read this as a new believer it shocked me. Scripture puts mans ability to harm us in perspective.

Women are always looking over their shoulders for any predator. We learn it as young girls: walking down streets, in parking lots at shopping centers, apartments or work, elevators, bike trails, scenic, isolated or not - you name it, every woman knows it. And men do too.

My nephews have been to parties where the butcher knives come out of the drawers and the gunshots sound in apartments at night. Recently my teenage neighbor was attacked by two young males as they walked by him in our suburbs.

Jesus faced the ultimate fear - death by brutality and separation from The Father forever. Death of body, soul and spirit. Jesus faced death with all the ridicule, torture and disgrace necessary…to carry our sins to the cross and prevent our ultimate extinction. He died so we could live.

He overcame death and became our Light Knight, rescuing us from the cavern of the corruptible. He made us incorruptible and immortal, by overcoming the Demon of Darkness in the Battle for our Redemption.

And he won. He rose. He overcame. And through Him we have overcome death. Because the same power that raised Him from the dead, He has imparted to us. He is our Master Teacher. And He has already gone before us and parted the skies to the heavens.

“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is Your sting?”  1 Corinthians 15:55

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Dee is an RN, freelance writer and coach. A native of Northern California, she enjoys the great outdoors with her happy dogs, a yellow lab and miniature schnauzer. She has volunteered with the Juvenile Justice Chaplaincy many years. Her first Devotion & Bible study guide for women, "Lord of the Ringless," will be out this summer. Visit Dee at www.LordoftheRingless.com