Last week I went to see Dune: Part Two for the second time. Being a parent of young children, going to the movies is a bit of a rarity. So for me to go see a movie twice in a theatrical run is as big of a compliment as I can give it. Dune: Part Two is nothing short of a masterpiece – a cinematic achievement that can only be compared to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

During both viewings of the film, I found myself thinking often about Jesus. Much of the conflict in the movie centers around Paul Atreides’ rise as a Messiah figure and his fear as to what such power might bring about. Paul is wisely hesitant to claim this power for himself. The film accurately demonstrates the potential destructive force of faith. Faith motivates people to do things they would not, in fact could not, do otherwise. A people of faith following a Messiah is perhaps the most dangerous power in the world. As we see in Dune, it can topple empires. Of course, Paul does ultimately claim this power for himself and leads the Freman into war against the Harkonnen’s.

Paul Atreides is the Messiah that many of Jesus’ disciples wanted. He is the Messiah that many still want today: a Messiah who will lead us into the violent toppling of our enemies. The Messiah-like following that Donal Trump has formed around himself is yet one more example in history that we want a Messiah who will “Fight like hell.” Even though Paul Atreides hesitates and fears such a following, he has no imagination for any other way to be a Messiah. We cannot imagine a Messiah who does not kill.

And then there is Jesus. One strong argument for the validity of Jesus’ claims is that no human being would invent such a figure. A Messiah who does not kill? A Messiah who does not fight? A Messiah who is crucified? It is foolishness to the human imagination.

As we enter into Passiontide, we turn our attention to the cross of Christ. Above my desk is Grunewald’s painting of the crucifixion. As I see Jesus on the cross, I am reminded of the Messiah in whom we are called to follow. The cross is not just something that Jesus does, it is a story in which we are invited to live. We do not follow a Messiah who kills or fights, we follow the Messiah who is crucified. Jesus does not lead us into battle against our enemies, Jesus leads us into a life of love for our enemies. 

Dune rightly shows that faith is a powerful force in the world. And when our faith is placed in a Messiah who leads us into battle, that faith brings destruction. But if our faith is placed in the Messiah who loves sacrificially to the point of death on a cross, such a faith can bring healing to the world. The cross forces us to ask: what kind of Messiah are we following? What story do we think we are living? What kinds of fruit is our faith producing?

Paul Atreides may be the Messiah that many of us want – but Jesus is the Messiah that we get. And no matter how much we complain, no matter how many other false, warrior-like Messiah’s we try to construct, I am convinced that Jesus is the only Messiah we will get.