It was August 1962. In my hand was Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man. No one knew how significant this would become for the entertainment industry. No one could have imagined that Spider-Man would still be going strong more than 60 years later. It was a milestone moment for me, too, one of those hinge points we look back on and say, "Something significant changed in my life because of that."
For those who don’t know Spider-Man’s origin: In 1962, Peter Parker is a high school student who lives with his elderly Uncle Ben and Aunt May in the New York City borough of Queens. A shy science nerd, he is routinely targeted by bullies and is always turned down for dates. Then—he’s bitten by a radioactive spider. He develops amazing spider-like abilities. Applying his scientific skills, he creates a super strong "webbing" so he can swing around the city's high ground.
At first, he uses his new-found abilities to line his pockets with cash, quickly finding himself on prime-time television raking in the big dough. Soon, though, it all comes crashing down. When a thief runs past him, Peter ignores a security guard’s request to intervene. He is later crushed to learn his inaction led to the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. Peter then dedicates his life to fighting crime as penance for his hubris.
Like all good morality plays, the lesson comes at the end of that first Spider-Man story. In the final panel, above a lone person walking between shadowy cityscapes are these words: "And a lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come - - great responsibility!"
Maybe you're thinking something along the lines of, "Well, yes, everyone knows that phrase." Perhaps they do—now. But 60 years ago, to a boy still in his wonder years, that particular truth was a revelation. It’s no stretch to claim that, because of Spider-Man, some version of "With great power comes great responsibility" has been spoken millions of times in the decades since the superhero’s first appearance. Those with power may not always live like it, but you can bet they've heard it.
Did Spider-Man change the world? Maybe not. It was a startling new thought to me all those years ago, and one that shaped my thinking forever. It was my first brush with the idea of magnanimity. But the concept is not new. It’s been around a very long time. Why, even Socrates exhorted those in power to "Rule worthy of might."
Take, for example, Israel’s King David in this week’s 2 Samuel passage. I'm pretty sure David had been exposed to the concept. I think not abusing one's power easily falls under "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), a teaching David would well know. Yet, he egregiously abused his power by arranging Uriah's death to cover up his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. So egregiously did David sin, God condemned him and his family to generations of violence, from within and without.
Compared to a king, most of us possess very little worldly power. But power need not be at the royal level to qualify as great. No doubt we can think of someone over whom we exercise great power: the power of love, joy, acceptance, friendship, encouragement, charity, prayer, freedom.
You have great power. Use it responsibly.
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GRAPHIC - The Mystery Behind the Cover of Amazing Fantasy #15:
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Will you be in Waco Friday morning? Join us at 8:00 for DaySpring’s Lectionary breakfast. We gather on Zoom** and in person at Our Breakfast Place. We have a great time discussing the coming week's passages, and the food is delicious.
Bring your own webbing.
Blessings,
Steve
**Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=382&z=p&d=67
Print them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Bx_Proper13.pdf
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
Proper 13 (18) (August 4, 2024)
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