Potential spoiler alert: If you have not played the game Batman: Arkham City and intend to, then you might
want to stay away. But, seriously, do you really intend to? And even if you do,
the gameplay and atmosphere seem to outweigh the story which, like its
predecessor, is really more a fun excuse to shoehorn as many characters from
the Batman mythos as possible than the second coming of Bioshock. In any case, I fully intend to spoil a
major twist (well, again, as far as this level of storytelling goes) in the
game so be warned!
Okay, so, with that
out of the way, let me preface this all by saying that I am not the obsessive
connoisseur of all things Batman as I may appear. I’ve never even read so much
as a single Bat-comic book (but I’ve read very few comic books in my life),
although I’ve seen the movies (and greatly enjoyed Nolan’s trilogy) and have
played both of the great video games from this generation. It’s just a
coincidence that I am now playing this and wanting to weigh in on it so soon
after my post about The Dark Knight Rises.
I clearly am saying this so you don’t think I’m a bigger nerd than I am, but
this is pretty much impossible since I’ve seen every film and episode of Star Trek ever created, so it’s just
that my nerd flies in a different direction than graphic novels. That’s all.
The plot of Arkham City, as I indicated earlier,
while fun, is not one of the great reasons for playing the game. Oh, I think it’s
perfectly enjoyable, but it’s clearly driven by the desire to include as many
villains as possible, that’s all. It’s not like we need a realistic explanation
for anything in a game where the lead character dresses like a bat anyway, and
it’s just fun to interact with Joker, Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy,
Catwoman, Two Face, Ra’s al Ghul aaand a bunch of characters that I didn’t even
know existed, but I’m sure Batfans everywhere appreciated it.
I want to
fast-forward through most of the shenanigans to put us toward the end of the
main story. Joker gets the upper hand on Batman at one point, but the Dark
Knight is saved by Talia al Ghul, a sometimes-villain and sometimes-Batlover
who, at one point in the game, is called the only woman Batman ever loved. Talia
is intentionally putting herself in danger by going off with the Joker, but she
wears a homing device that lets Batman track her down.
It’s bad timing,
though. As Talia goes off with Joker, missiles start rocking the massive prison
complex called Arkham City. The Powers That Be have implemented a sort of “final
solution” for the prisoners and the criminals—which include innocent civilians
locked up as political prisoners—are being slaughtered en masse. Talia is in
danger, but the death toll is already reaching the hundreds just minutes after
the bombing begins. It’s the whole “the needs of the many” versus “the needs of
the few (or the one)” dilemma. But come on. This is Batman. We know he’ll
prioritize the greater need of Gotham over his sometimes-girlfriend.
So Batman
prioritizes his sometimes-girlfriend over the greater need of Gotham. Or he
tries to, anyway. He actually needs Alfred’s help, back in the Batcave, to follow
Talia’s homing device, and Alfred refuses to help until Batman deals with the
countless deaths that are racking up while they debate the issue. Begrudgingly,
the Batman—who would give his own life to save Gotham most days of the week—agrees
to save the lives of the prisoners before going after the woman he loves.
I totally get it. I
feel like self sacrifice is much easier than sacrificing those we love. Those
of us who are parents have dealt with the disappointments and broken hearts of
our children, and I don’t think there’s been a time when I wouldn’t gladly take
that pain upon my own shoulders if I could spare my daughters. I’m always
shaken up when I’m reminded of the story of one of the apostles (Philip, I
think) who reportedly was threatened with the slaughter of his daughters in
front of his eyes if he did not compromise his faith. The apostle refused to
recant or worship another, so the threat was carried out. His three daughters
were each, one by one, slain in front of him before his life was taken as well.
I can’t imagine he cared much about his own life at that point. Death, quite
frankly, was probably a relief.
I cannot imagine
denying Christ. I also can’t imagine standing by while someone hurt my girls. I
pray I’m never in a situation like the one described. I would rather die a
thousand times over than to sacrifice my daughters.
And that’s why I’m
eternally grateful that God is greater than the Batman (not that there was any
doubt, right?). God did not spare His Son, but gave Him up willingly—for us
(Rom. 8:32). I know it’s not Christmastime as I write this—and this thought may
well recur in these musings at some point in December—but I always think, in
the midst of our joy and celebration, how God must have felt on that first
Christmas. We can and should rejoice because our Redeemer had come! But His
birth was the first step on a road that would culminate in the cross.
It’s the ultimate
act of love. That of God the Father is even greater, I feel, than the
self-sacrifice of the Son. He loved us so much that He gave up His only Son. It’s
incredibly. You know those arguments, so often born of genuine hurt and pain,
that start with, “How can a loving God. . .?” I’m sorry, but I feel that it
doesn’t matter what the grievance is; I feel that His act of sacrificial love
trumps all.
Because He gave His
Son.
He gave His Son.
He did it for us. As
a parent, I can’t even imagine the love that God possessed for us, that He was
willing to give up His Son. I can tell you that I don’t think I have ever loved
someone that much, but God is love (1 John 4:8). He is love, and that’s not
referring to gooey feelings or mere affection. It refers to action, one of the
most powerful actions this world has ever known.
And when I think that God
His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die
I scarce can take it in
That on the cross
My burden gladly bearing
He bled and died
To take away my sin
Written by Carl Boberg and Stuart K. Hine
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