Embers From The Ashes: A Star Wars Rebels Devotional

Within the field of study of mythology, a topic that comes into the discussion from time to time is that of the hero’s journey, as represented by the monomyth theory. What is sadly overlooked by these very academic circles is the compassion for their fellow humans that, more often than not, is expressed by means of serving others. While it is not a cardinal rule, a hero typically has a tragic backstory for several purposes, with the principal one being a means of justifying a strong sense of compassion. In fact, entire hero arcs like Robin Hood are based upon this premise. However, because these heroes champion the little guy, they are branded as outlaws by their overlords. This is the case with the crew of Lothal’s rebel cell in 2014’s “Star Wars Rebels.” 

Our story is set between the prequel and original trilogies, referred to by fans as the Dark Times. Daily life for the average galactic citizen is somewhat melancholic, to say the least. The Empire touches every and all aspects of life. The few people who manage to eke out of living in this bleak reality are street thugs like Ezra Bridger. What is oblivious to even people like Erza is that it’ll be through him that the force will fan the embers of rebellion, for the will of the galaxy shall rise as the phoenix from the smoldering ashes of the former republic. 

One day, as Ezra goes about his usual hustle and bustle, he gets absorbed into a scheme from a rebel cell to steal a shipment of blaster rifles to raise funds for the rebel cell. He later gets hoodwinked into a plot to emancipate a shipment of Wookies enslaved by the empire. By The Force simply putting Ezra in the right place and at the right time, an orphan street kid from a backwater planet like Lothal alters the course of galactic history. His rebel cell is one of the numerous units answering the call to arms of rogue senator Mon Motha, who founded the rebel alliance. 

Throughout season one, The Lothal Rebels are leaning more towards providing aid to those who have already lost everything to Imperial rule instead of directly engaging them in combat. Why steal blasters, tie fighters, and thermal detonators, which can be easily replaced when winning people over who desperately need love and kindness, will do more damage to imperial propaganda. In many ways, these early “wretched hives of scum and villainy” mirror another group with the same goals: our Christian forefathers of the first century. Servitude was essential to their cause, and they were risking death if caught. Jesus Solidified this hallmark of discipleship in Mark 10:17-22.

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

This is also reinforced by Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his [v]life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then [x]repay every man according to his deeds.  “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

A rebellion rooted in violence can only produce bloodshed and misery. But the moment that we bury our swords and exchange them for our crosses to bear, that true revolution shall prevail.