The Only Satisfying Endgame

In Jesus Holy Name Easter V Redeemer

I Timothy 1:15a, 2:3-6

“The Only Satisfying Endgame”

Have you ever read comic books? If you have then you are familiar with Marvel Comics and their heroes. Endgame is a 2019 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the “Avengers”, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studies. In just five days, “Avengers: Endgame” hauled in more than $1.2 billion at the global box office.

Who are the Avengers? (bulletin cover) That would be “The Hulk”. Mighty Thor with his long blond hair, Viking helmet and hammer. . Iron Man, Black Panther, Blade, Captain America, Ghost Rider, The Wasp were just a few of the characters created to combat evil. The comic series was published by monthly from 1964 till 1996

A decade long saga now concludes with this movie from Disney. “The Endgame”.

Beginning with Iron Man in 2008 movie by movie the drama unfolded. An evil foe, Thanos is destroying the world. The universe is in ruins. The Avengers assemble to restore order in a world of chaos. It is depleted team of superheroes that fight a foe that seems impossible to defeat.

(maybe have everyone take out their cell phone…google “the endgame trailer)

The story begins. The music plays over a desert littered landscape. “It seems like a 1000 years ago, I fought my way out of that cave and became “Iron Man”… and I realized that I loved you…. The world has changed. ..none of us can go back. All we can do is do our best…” “Whatever it takes…whatever it takes.” Self-sacrifice. Whatever it takes.

Like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, Marvel comics and Marvel movies remind us of years gone by. We read the Harry books, gave them to our children. We bought the Harry Potter Legos sets. We took our kids to see the movies for birthday parties or watched them with family members no longer with us.

If you read the Civil War novel “Cold Mountain”, or saw the movie, we had hoped there would be a happy ending. “As with any war, not everyone will make it out alive.” Some will perish so other will see the sunrise. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. This was the goal of the Avengers as they seek to destroy evil.

Deep down, the theme of self sacrifice strikes a chord within us. For someone to give his own life for another to flourish is an unpleasant reality. The horror of death, sprayed the fragrance of the supreme love….Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) As Christians we know the elements of good and evil, sacrifice and valor, protection and betrayal are all part of the “Greatest Story” ever lived and told. The “Greatest Story” ever told is the story of The Creator of the Universe coming from a distant land to battle evil itself, dying for his own, paying the ultimate cost for his people.

Whatever degree of sacrifice and triumph may be depicted in The Endgame the movie calls me to remember that God’s death on the cross 2000 years ago remains the only ultimate “Endgame.” The agony and shame of Jesus. Betrayed by a chosen disciple. Beaten so badly by the Romans he could scarcely be recognized. He was crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross, yet he had never committed any sin nor broken any commandments in his life. God abandoned Him on the cross for our sake. In the darkness of the day Jesus cried out: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” comes close to allowing us to see His agony. He died as a criminal, stripped naked and paraded through the city to Golgotha. He bore the Father’s wrath against our broken commandments.

Jesus could have called 10,000 legions of angels. He did not. He made Peter lay down his sword. Jesus said: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I give my life as a ransom for many.”

We assume these Avengers are protecting the citizenry of earth, comprised of innocent people invaded by outside evil. Jesus died, not for good people minding their own business but for sinners, who know guilt over their broken ethics. His death spared us from the wrath of God. He defeated death itself when he shattered the stone sealed grave by rising in a glorified resurrected body. Now no longer limited by time and space, and seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, He offers all who will believe in Him a place for eternity,