Sermon Illustrations
"Spider-Man": Looking into M.J.'s Eyes
In the beginning of the movie Spider-Man, Peter Parker undergoes a transformation. Bitten by a spider that's been subjected to genetic experimentation, Peter develops superpowers. Beneath his lycra union suit beats the heart of a hero who nightly swings between the skyscrapers, looking for some endangered soul to rescue.
One such soul is Mary Jane, a young woman he secretly loves. She falls for Spider-Man—but not for Peter Parker. Mary Jane (M.J.) doesn't know who Spider-Man really is—even when he comes to her rescue.
Just after Peter and M.J. part company outside a diner late one night, four thugs approach M.J. and back her into an alley. Peter watches as one of the men pulls a knife on her. M.J. tries to defend herself for a moment, then, suddenly Spider-Man appears, spins a web, and ties up the four bad guys.
Later, M.J. and Peter discuss her mysterious rescuer, and she confesses her love for Spider-Man. Mary Jane is impressed to learn that Peter "knows" Spider-Man. In fact, Peter admits he's had a "conversation" with Spider-Man about Mary Jane. She presses him to know what Peter told her hunky heartthrob.
Peter searches for the right words; "I said, um, 'Spider-Man,' I said, 'the great thing about M.J. is when you look in her eyes, and she looks back in yours, everything feels not quite normal, because you feel strong—and weak at the same time. You feel excited, and at the same time terrified. The truth is you don't know the way you feel, except you know the kind of man you want to be. It's as if you've reached the unreachable, and you weren't ready for it.'"
What Peter describes is the same phenomenon we experience when we come to know Jesus Christ. Looking at the God-Man, we feel weak, but he makes us strong; we are terrified, and at the same time more exhilarated than we've ever been in our lives; and in him we see the person we want to become.
Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 01:30:25 and lasts approximately two-and-a-half minutes.
Content: Spider-Man is rated PG-13 for violence and frightening images.