Please note, Black Panther is rated PG-13 Previously, we discussed T'Challa learning Killmonger's secrets, to the point that Killmonger challenges T'Challa for the throne and defeats him. This is a hard scene for me, as I know it is for others. T'Challa is the hero. Killmonger is clearly bad news. How could T'Challa, the hero, actually lose? As I've watched the film again and thought about it more, I believe T'Challa loses because he is unsure. He is still struggling with the past actions of his father (and fore-fathers) that led to Killmonger's creation, if you will, as discussed before. T'Challa is struggling to do the right thing in a tough situation. That is a very noble thing, and not something we always see with superheroes. It is a reminder to us to keep growing. It is also important for us to see failure. Failure is not something we often talk about or look at favorably. Yet we have some great examples of failure leading to good things in Scripture. In Genesis, Joseph is thrown in a well, sold into slavery in Egypt, and then gets imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. However, through his growth, Joseph rises through the ranks in Egypt and is even able to use his position to save his family from famine. Paul in Acts also grows from his failure, which was thinking God wanted him to persecute the followers of Jesus. Though Paul is blinded on the Road to Damascus, his experience allows him to learn and grow, become closer to God, and become a leader in the early church. We even have the example of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was victorious over death, and of course the cruxifixction, as we see in Scripture, was always a part of the plan. But there were many in Jesus' day who expected the Messiah to be victorious leader against the Romans, not one who would die at their hands, as we see in Peter's own confrontation of Jesus. Even though Jesus' death didn't live up to everyone's expectations, it gave the gift of life to us all. T'Challa's failure led to his own growth. He gained insight to the way forward not only for himself, but for all of Wakanda. The lesson for us is to take our failures, grow from them, and use them to lead to good. We also shouldn't forget that T'Challa makes it through his defeat thanks to the help of his family and friends. The same is true for us. We never make it through anything on our own. We have the help of those we love around us, and that includes God as well. Tune in next time to see the result of T'Challa's growth. Disclaimer: unless otherwise stated, the majority of images produced here are not owned or created by me. Commenting is encouraged. Please use discretion leaving comments below, letting the love of God guide you.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Please note, there maybe Spoilers in the Posts below!
The Rev. Trey KennedyHere is my take on how Superheroes and other characters can help us know God better. Categories
All
Archives
June 2024
|