It’s safe to say that Harry Osborn and Peter Parker have some … issues … between them. What with all the Mary Jane dating … and the mix-up with Harry thinking Spider-Man killed his father … and then, you know, the thrilling battle between them that opens up Spider-Man 3 … and then their fight later on, when Peter has on the black suit and explodes that bomb in Harry’s face and leaves him for dead.
Issues. Yeah.
But Peter does what he can to put those issues aside, to bring some healing to their lives, when he goes to Harry toward the climax of the film. The Sandman and Venom have Mary Jane trapped in that taxi 80 stories in the air.
“I need your help,” Peter tells Harry. “I can’t take them both, not by myself.”
Harry reveals his scarred face, with his wonky eyeball. “You don’t deserve my help.”
“She needs us,” Peter implores.
“Get out.”
Still some issues there. But, thanks to the über-butler Bernard, things get put back on track, and Harry finally knows the truth: that his father died of his own accord, not because of Peter. “I loved your father,” Bernard says, “as I have loved you. As your friends have loved you.”
So now it’s time for Harry to internalize Bernard’s words and show his love for his friends. Peter’s already heading toward the scene of the crime to rescue his girl. It doesn’t go very well (though Spider-Man does get a chance to holler “Hold on, Mary Jane!” for, like, the fiftieth time in the trilogy). The pair of villains are just too much for Spidey to handle, and soon he is held down against an I-beam by Venom as the Sandman pounds the patooey out of him.
Yes, as the news announcer helpfully intones, “This could be the end of Spider-Man.”
But wait! What’s this tiny orangey-gold dot approaching from off-camera, embedding into the Sandman’s neck with a tiny plop? Why, it’s a pumpkin bomb! It must be from Harry! And as it blows a gaping, flaming crater in the giant Sandman’s head, we see that, yes! Harry, as the New Goblin, is coming to the rescue on his hoverboard!
Yea, forgiveness!
Having temporarily disabled the Sandman, Harry gives Venom the old one-two with the sides of his hoverboard, rescuing Spider-Man from certain death-by-pounding. With a smirk and a pithy line, the formerly on-the-outs best friends are now allies against their enemies, and the posterior-kicking begins in earnest.
Things happen, a lot of pixels wage war against each other, and then Spidey gets hammered by the Sandman, falling right into the clutches of Venom. Peter tries to convince Eddie to let go of the suit, but Eddie isn’t having it. As Venom, Eddie is prepared to deliver the death blow … when Harry shows up to spoil the party, armed with nifty blade things on the front of his hoverboard.
But Harry is tossed aside, his hoverboard falling into the bad guy’s hands … and the stage is set: Venom raises the hoverboard above his head and springs. The end of Spider-Man is near. It’s only a matter of time.
And then there’s Harry. Stepping between Peter and his nemesis, he takes the blade intended for his friend.
Just like that, Harry is mortally wounded.
The moment is rich with meaning. In this selfless act, Harry showcases his love for his friend, Peter. That he is killed by the blade of his own glider—which is exactly the way his father died, though in different circumstances—only adds to the poignancy.
Combine with this scene a statement from Jesus, found in John 15:13:
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Harry’s sacrifice is a moving illustration of Jesus’ words. With his acts of heroism—coming to Peter’s aid, not once but twice, then stepping in front of the blades meant to end his friend’s life—Harry demonstrates the greatest love possible.
When Jesus spoke those words, He spoke them in this context: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” That’s the same passage as before, but with verse 12 added. And what a difference that verse 12 makes.
With that preceding verse, we see that, when Jesus talked about laying down one’s life for a friend, He was talking about Himself. That’s what He meant when He said “as I have loved you.” This was a Man who was about to lay down His life, willingly, for His friends … for those He loves. He sacrificed His life so that we could live.
In a way, Harry does the same thing—though his sacrifice doesn’t purchase eternal life and redemption for his friend Peter Parker. But it does allow Peter to live, and to live abundantly. Peter is motivated by Harry’s death to defeat Venom, and then follows Harry’s model of forgiveness by forgiving Flint Marko a few minutes later.
There really is no greater love than to lay down one’s life. It’s the love Harry Osborn shows for Peter Parker, and it’s the love Jesus showed for us. It’s up to us to recognize it, and accept it.
And then show it whenever we can. We don’t have to die in a literal sense to show others that same kind of love; we can show it by putting their needs in front of our own. By giving up our personal time to volunteer at church or by buying lunch for someone who can’t afford it.
Lay down your life. You’ll be surprised at the love you find.