"Greater love has no one than this"

I’ve been re-watching the CW series “The Flash”.  I admit I miss Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry Allen/The Flash.  His valor, optimism, and hope inspires.  The 6th season of the show is one of the high points of the series, in my opinion.  In the first episode of that season, Barry is visited by a cosmic being known as The Monitor.  He prophecies that there is an imminent threat coming, an event he referred to as a crisis.  “In order for billions to survive the coming crisis,” he states, “The Flash must die.”  Team Flash is initially skeptical, but soon they discover for themselves that The Monitor is right.  The dramatic, emotional build-up leading up to Crisis is gripping and palatable.  Everyone who knows and loves Barry don’t want to see their beloved hero sacrifice himself, but they know he will do it, to save countless lives.

Ultimately, after a lengthy multi episode arc – in part 3 of an epic crossover event known as “Crisis on Infinite Earths” – the moment Team Flash had been waiting for presents itself.  The situation had arrived: it was time for Barry to heroically give himself up for many.  In a touching scene that always makes me cry, Barry takes a moment to say goodbye to his team, expressing his love for them.  But, an unexpected twist occurs, another Flash from a parallel Earth, steps up.  He states that he will be the one to perish.  Barry and the team are reluctant.   “Let me do this,” he implores.  “Let me save you all.”

To better understand the emotional impact of this moment, we need to take a step back.  Back in 1990, John Wesley Shipp portrayed Barry Allen in an excellent TV show of the Flash – for some reason it only lasted one season.  This was my first exposure to the Barry Allen Flash; to that point, I had only seen the animated version of Wally West’s Flash in “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited”.  But this Barry Allen fought on.  This is made clear in the course of the conversation (and the fact that he was referred to as Barry from “Earth-90”; a clever homage).  “The Monitor said the Flash was going to die in crisis,” said the parallel Earth speedster, “he never said which one.”  They finally agree to the gracious offer.  To then watch Earth 90’s Flash selflessly sacrifice himself, as the old 1990 Flash theme song plays, always grips me emotionally, and makes me shed some tears.

At this point, you may be thinking, “It’s a new year, but it’s the same old Kevin.  He’s prattling on about superheroes.  Why are you talking about this?  So what?”  Rest assured, I don’t bring all of this up just because I’m going through “The Flash” withdrawals.  First off, I take the time to describe this epic saga because it doesn’t take a lot of imagination for me to predict the reaction of the CW’s Flash after all this took place.  There were actually 3 different times in my life when I was very close to the precipice of death myself, including this most recent time just last year.  To survive this leaves you feeling incredibly grateful, humbled, and with the knowledge not that you are living on borrowed time, but rather that you’re living on time that was granted to you as a gift, given out of love.  In fact, Jesus actually said in John 15, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Secondly, superheroes often present us with a picture, a fictional representation, of Jesus Christ.  A selfless hero, out of pure love, chose to give his life so that others might live (and this is true of either Flash, even though Grant Gustin's Flash lived on).  This shows what Jesus did for you and me.  In Matthew 20:28, Jesus states that He came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (italics added).”  1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”  Jonathan Evans, in his book “Your time is now” puts it well when he writes, “Not only did Jesus live perfectly, but He also died perfectly so that He could rise perfectly from the grave.  That is a receipt to let you and me know that the price had been paid in full…We don’t get the death we deserve because He took that death in our place.” 

The fact of the matter is Christianity is not just a religion; it’s primarily an invitation to have a relationship with Almighty God, through the finished work of Jesus Christ.  It’s my desire to live my remaining days pointing others to Him, in word and deed.  So I conclude by saying if you’ve strayed from God – or if you’ve never began a relationship with Him at all – let today be your day.  Cry out to God in prayer.  I love Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore and be converted [or, as the NLT puts it, “turn to God”], that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  

God bless,

Kevin