LOVE BEGETS LOVE 13 How could Harry survive twice? Voldemort and Harry are connected by several similar experiences: they are both orphans, they both grew up in difficult circumstances, and they both called Hogwarts, their school, home. Voldemort and Harry share the same core in their wands. They even display similar gifts. Now, Voldemort has furthered their connection. They are also connected by the power of Lily’s loving self-sacrifice which resides in Harry’s blood. Lily’s protection of Harry now resides in Voldemort’s veins. The previous gleam of triumph in Dumbledore’s eye foreshadows the great effect of Voldemort’s decision to use Harry’s blood. Voldemort’s steps to defeat Harry become the very actions that enable Harry’s survival. Because of the protection of Lily’s self-sacrifice, it is impossible for Voldemort to kill Harry. These themes of love and self-sacrifice are demonstrated in another instance. At the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, Harry understands that his mother’s love and self-sacrifice protected him as an infant, just as his love and sacrifice now protects his friends. As they are preparing to fight, Harry states to Voldemort, You won’t be killing anyone else tonight…Don’t you get it? I was ready to die to stop you from hurting these people…I meant to, and that’s what did it. I’ve done what my mother did. They’re protected from you. Haven’t you noticed how none of the spells you put on them are binding? You can’t torture them. You can’t touch them. Harry follows in his mother’s footsteps and saves his friends by an act of love and self-sacrifice. They are now protected from Lord Voldemort. The Ultimate Act of Loving Self-Sacrifice These themes of love and self-sacrifice reflect the work of Jesus Christ. The story of the Bible culminates in Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross. His reason for coming is his love. The sins of each person are so great, that the consequence is death. However, this price is fully paid by the self-sacrifice of the Son of God. John 15:13 states, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” In Christ’s
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