Loki, Jesus, and the Aspirations of a False God

How the Aspirations of a False God Point Us to “The Truth”

by Bryce Morgan

At first glance, it seems radically misguided for someone like me (a Christian pastor) to choose for my spiritual tool of encouragement the story of a Norse deity. And not just any Norse deity, but of all people (scratch that, gods), the god of mischief. But the version of Loki I’ve been thinking about is the comics-inspired character who appears in many superhero films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More specifically, that character (played by British actor Tom Hiddleston) as he is presented in the Disney+ streaming channel show, Loki.

Season 2 of the series creatively follows the very winding and surprisingly redemptive path of the titular character toward a powerful resolution of his story. Part of what makes this resolution so compelling is not simply the fact that a villain is redeemed, but more so, the mindset and position at which he arrives in the series’ final act. Now, I won’t spend time here going over the plot specifics that lead to this ending. If interested, you’ll have to watch the show for yourself (if you haven’t already), or do some research online. But for those familiar with the story, consider a few of the key themes that fully blossom in the show’s finale:

“Down there it’s full of death, destruction, and injustice”: Using that phrase (spoken by the Loki-variant Sylvie) from Episode 5, it’s painfully apparent that the failing temporal loom is bringing, and will eventually bring in frightening fullness, unimagined cosmic chaos and suffering.

“Their lives matter… they matter”: It was stunning to hear those words from the Asgardian who once gleefully oversaw the destruction of New York City in the first Avengers film. But his care and concern for his friends from the TVA, and for the myriad of human lives woven through the sacred timeline, is what, in the end, drives Loki to do what he knows must be done.

“To make a true sacrificial play”: That’s how Executive Producer Kevin Wright described Loki’s decision to trudge gruellingly alone into and through the temporal loom’s containment chamber. Faced with possible destruction himself, the very Asgardian powers he once used to deceive and destroy become the means by which he destroys the loom, and then, stunningly, becomes the loom (i.e., by his power, holding together the manifold strands of the sacred timeline).

“I know what kind of god I need to be… for you…”: The god of mischief who audiences once loved to hate, becomes in the end, a loving god of sacrifice and service. As Hiddleston remarked about Loki’s final costume in that closing scene, these are “the robes of someone dedicated to a purpose beyond the self”. In the same documentary clip, the actor went on to reference a line from Owen Wilson’s character Moebius, delivered in an earlier episode, “Sometimes purpose is more burden than glory”. At the end, Loki has clearly accepted this truth.

In a profound comment about the character’s evolution and the nature of deity, head writer Eric Martin said this about Loki’s sacrificial decision and ongoing, cosmic service to humanity: “We wanted to have him truly step up from lower case “g” god to capital “G”” God.” Though Loki was not written to explain or extol Christian theology, the follower of Jesus can warmly embrace all of these themes. He or she can welcome them as familiar friends, fully realized in the gospel of Christ, the only God who has truly walked among us. 

Loki once sought a throne of power. In the end, he assumed a throne of sacrifice and service. In contrast, Jesus needed no redemption. He was not a villain turned savior. He was, is, and always will be “the kind of God” to which the fictional Loki aspired. In his life and death, Jesus really did “make a true sacrificial play” in light of our cosmic suffering. In fact, the truest. And now, today, Jesus still remains seated in eternal glory (Ephesians 1:20), serving as a gracious Advocate for all who trust him as their only hope (Hebrews 7:25).

There are, of course, many important differences between the Disney+ depiction of Loki and the New Testament’s depiction of Jesus. But nevertheless, it’s encouraging to find reminders like this in unexpected places. Whether viewers recognize it or not, such themes speak powerfully to our own predicament and longings, as well as the reality of redemption. In the end, in light of these painful realities and powerful values, Loki knew what he needed to do. Do we as well?

Bryce Morgan is a husband and father, and the founder of Pop Eternal. He's also the creator of the Captain Sun adventures, as well as the author of "Confessions of a Secret Santa".