Supernatural Strength

Throughout the book of Judges, Samson stands out as a figure of immense, God-given strength. Picture a man powerful enough to rip apart a ferocious lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:6). However, Samson's might extended beyond solitary feats. When confronted by a vast Philistine army, he displayed remarkable courage. Instead of reaching for a sword or spear, he seized the jawbone of a donkey, transforming this ordinary object into a weapon of divine vengeance as he charged through enemy lines, leaving chaos in his wake (Judges 15:15).

St. Mark might have drawn inspiration from Samson while writing about Jesus' extraordinary acts. His Gospel, characterized by an urgent tone, is filled with raw power. Mark refers to Jesus as the "Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24, 3:11), a title that reverberates through all of His miraculous deeds. Jesus commands nature itself, quieting a stormy sea with just a word, as its wild waves submit to His authority (Mark 4:39). His power even extends to feeding multitudes, effortlessly multiplying a meager meal into an abundance that defies natural limitations (Mark 6:41–44). When faced with the death of a young girl, Jesus boldly confronts mortality, entering to save her, not with earthly weapons, but with the authority to restore life (Mark 5:35–43).

Nazarite Vow Parallels

Both Samson and Jesus exhibit remarkable strength, but true power also encompasses self-discipline. This notion of channeling one’s strength resonates with the ancient practice of the Nazarite vow.

Imagine the vibrant atmosphere of Jerusalem. The sun shines down on the Temple courtyard, filled with the scents of incense and roasting lamb. A hush envelops the crowd as a young man kneels before a priest, his long hair a testament to the Nazarite vow he is about to undertake. The priest solemnly outlines the commitments: abstaining from wine, allowing his hair to grow uncut, and avoiding contact with the dead. The young man’s firm response binds him to a life of complete devotion to God.

Now, consider Samson, whose Nazarite vow was divinely instilled before his birth. His unshorn hair symbolized not just abstinence but the extraordinary strength and purpose bestowed upon him to liberate his people.

Fast forward to the Last Supper (Luke 22:18). Jesus, poised to make the ultimate sacrifice, declares, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” This moment encapsulates the essence of the Nazarite vow, with Jesus’ abstention foreshadowing a far greater offering — His blood shed on the cross. Unlike the temporary separations seen in Nazirites, Jesus’ sacrifice is complete and eternal, bridging humanity and the divine.

Miraculous Births, Divinely Announced

If you’re curious about how Samson received his Nazarite mission, it was not a personal choice but a divine ordination announced by an angel. Picture a barren woman beneath a fig tree in Judea, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the sun. Suddenly, a radiant angel appears, delivering the astonishing news:

> “You are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son” (Judges 13:3).

Now shift your focus to a modest home in Bethlehem, where a young woman named Mary receives an even more profound message from the angel Gabriel:

> “You will conceive and have a son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31–32).

Both children are chosen for significant purposes, but Jesus' mission extends far beyond a single nation, promising salvation for all humanity.

The births of Samson and Jesus present striking contrasts. Samson’s miraculous birth addresses barrenness, often symbolically linked to spiritual separation from God. In contrast, Mary’s conception is immaculate, untouched by human involvement (Luke 1:34). This virgin birth emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and His role as the solution to humanity's estrangement from God, fully human yet without sin, the ultimate bridge between heaven and earth.

The Fishhook Theory of Atonement

The lesser-known "fishhook theory" of atonement posits that Jesus’ sacrifice deceived Satan. It suggests that Christ's humanity acted as bait, concealing His divinity. In his quest to destroy God’s Son, Satan took the bait and was ultimately vanquished through Christ’s resurrection.

Visualize the depths of hell during Jesus’ passion. Satan, believing himself victorious, celebrates the crucifixion of Jesus as his ultimate triumph. However, whispers of an impossible event ripple through his realm: the tomb is empty, and Jesus has risen. The hunted has become the hunter.

The horror dawns on Satan as he realizes his grave error. Deceived by the ultimate sacrifice, he failed to see that the very divinity he sought to extinguish led to his own defeat. Like a fish ensnared by enticing bait, he was trapped by the divine.

This concept resonates through history, as seen in Gregory of Nyssa's perspective that Jesus' humanity served as a ransom, luring Satan into a disastrous deal:

> “For the enemy, beholding in Him such power, saw also in Him an opportunity for an advance… He chose Him as a ransom for those who were shut up in the prison of death.”

Consider a different scene: Samson, blind and bound, ridiculed by the Philistines celebrating their victory (Judges 16:23–25). They fail to recognize the divine strength that lies within him. As the pillars of the temple fall, shock washes over them, revealing their underestimation of his true power.

Both narratives hinge on surprising reversals stemming from a concealed strength. Satan, blinded by pride, fell for the divine trap, while the Philistines underestimated Samson, focusing solely on his physical state rather than his connection to God. We witness not only victory but a satisfying reversal against those who sought to dominate through destruction.

The Spectacle of Humiliation

True victory often exacts a heavy toll. Both Samson and Jesus, figures entwined with themes of strength and redemption, faced unimaginable suffering on their journeys toward ultimate triumphs. Their stories, separated by centuries, share a chilling similarity — a public humiliation orchestrated to shatter their spirits and solidify their enemies’ victories.

Visualize the Philistines, their laughter echoing as they close in on Samson (Judges 16:21–25):

Rough hands seize his face and thrust him to the ground. The air is thick with sweat and mockery as he struggles, a primal roar escaping his lips. Pain surges behind his eyes, and darkness envelops him as his sight fades.

Chains bind him, a harsh reminder of his captivity, reduced to a grotesque mockery of his former self, forced to endure their cruelty.

Centuries later, Jesus, too, walks a path of humiliation. At the Sanhedrin, he is blindfolded, beaten, and taunted: “Prophesy! Who hit you?” (Luke 22:64). Roman soldiers mock him as a king, pressing a crown of thorns onto his head, inflicting pain as the sharp spikes pierce his scalp. His garments, the meager possessions of a wandering preacher, are ripped away, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. Scholars believe this may culminate in the ultimate humiliation — crucifixion — likely in complete nakedness.

Scapegoat Connection

Through René Girard’s scapegoat theory, the suffering of both Samson and Jesus can be viewed as desperate attempts by their communities to restore social order. Confronted with internal conflict or external threats, the crowd projects its fears onto a singular figure. Samson’s power disrupts the status quo, while Jesus’ teachings challenge established authority. Their public humiliation serves to expel the perceived source of turmoil.

In Samson’s case, his blinding and enslavement aim to neutralize his strength and placate the angered Philistine god. For Jesus, the brutality symbolizes a purging of sin, allowing both Jewish and Roman communities to believe they have expelled evil through his suffering.

However, unlike typical scapegoating scenarios, neither Samson nor Jesus is truly defeated. Their ultimate acts — Samson’s destruction of the temple and Jesus’ resurrection — highlight the limitations of human attempts to control the divine and offer a glimpse of hope for a future free from violence.

Conclusion

From Samson's tangible might to Jesus' boundless spiritual strength, we witness two figures intertwined by the promise of deliverance. Samson, despite his flaws, embodied a nation’s yearning for freedom, while his strength finds its ultimate resonance in Jesus, whose love and sacrifice bridge the gap between humanity and divinity. Ultimately, Samson’s narrative serves as a reminder that while human power may wane, the divine strength embodied in Jesus brings redemption and the promise of true victory.

Thanks to Katharine Trauger’s story “Did King David See Jesus on the Cross?” for inspiring this exploration of Samson's life!