“I am all the Jedi!”
I will absolutely need to see The Rise of Skywalker again to pick out all the amazing moments in the final battle. In true Star Wars fashion, there is always that moment when all seems lost. Then, almost miraculously, something happens to turn the tide.
In the last battle, Lando and Chewie bring tons of allies to help defeat the new Empire. As they begin to turn the tide, the Emperor blasts the good ships with Force lightning. The tide shifts back to the dark side.
I don’t remember all the details of how it got to the epic line I used for my title, but here are some of the details. The Emperor tries to entice Rey to strike him down and join the dark side. He wants her to become the new Emperor and rule the galaxy. At one point he says, “I am all the Sith!” Somehow he is able to channel the dark side energy of all the Sith who came before him. He even claims that if she strikes him down, his dark side energy will go into her.
She refuses. She is a Jedi. The Emperor attacks.
Rey gets both blue lightsabers and is attempting to use them to repel the Force lightning that the Emperor is using to try to destroy her. She realizes that she is able to channel all the light side energy of the previous Jedi. She says, “And I am all the Jedi!” (Similar to Tony’s line in Endgame but we’ll allow it.)
She blocks the Force lightning and actually forces the energy back to the Emperor. He disintegrates. The Emperor has been defeated forever. The Resistance has won. The light side of the Force has triumphed. The dark side has lost.
My Strength and Encouragement
I have a couple thoughts about this that tie in with my Christian faith.
One is that Christians can draw encouragement from other believers.
The other is that the ultimate power is not from fellow believers, rather, it is from Jesus.
I do have great encouragement when I look at previous generations of believers. I am not alone. Many more people believed these truths of Scripture and therefore have inherited eternal life. There are many Christians alive today who encourage me in my faith and give me guidance. Fellow pastors and fellow Christians help me to endure this sinful world by guiding me to Jesus and his Word.
And yet, my best strength doesn’t come from other believers. My best strength comes from Jesus. He doesn’t give me magical powers like the Jedi who use the Force. Jesus gives me confidence and strength as I live my faith. Jesus gives me forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. He works in me through his Word and Sacraments.
My faith was started when I was baptized as an infant. He washed me with water combined with the Word to make me his child. He works in me through his Word. I grow through worship, devotion, and Bible Study. He strengthens me through the Lord’s Supper. He continues to strengthen me with forgiveness.
I am not all the Jedi. I am not all the other believers who have come before me. But … I am a child of God. I am a Christian. I am forgiven. I am an heir of eternal life. I rejoice at the power of Christ in me.