Superheros Save The Day!

I went and saw "Captain Amercia" the other day. As far as comic book hero movies I would say it was average, not great but not horrible either. After the movie I asked myself the question of why I thought it was just OK and I came to the conclusion that when I go to see a superhero I want him (or her) to be able to be obviously more powerful than the average person, and Captain wasn't. There's something compelling about superheros that brings a sense of excitement and safety. You see, if they run into a challenge, usually all they have to do is consider the situation, apply their powers, and viola, problem solved! Everyone is saved, the enemy is vanquished, and all is well with the world.

Nice and neat--all wrapped up in a slick 90 minute movie. Unfortunately, as far as real life goes, there are not many superheros and the problems don't get fixed in under 2 hours.

I wonder if we picture Jesus like a superhero sometimes? If we compared him to the superheros we are used to like Spider-Man, Batman or even Superman, we might be sorely disappointed. Why you may ask? Because Jesus just doesn't seem to fit the model of what a "real" superhero is like. In John 1 we are told that all things that exist have been created through Jesus. That must mean that He is incredibly powerful, more powerful than any superhero I can imagine. Jesus has the power to create worlds and destroy them. He has the power to bring universes and galaxies into being. Planets spring into existence at nothing more than His thought--I mean, come on! How much more power do we need? And yet, He still doesn't seem to fit the "superhero" model. . . . .why?

It seems that even though Jesus is more powerful than any superhero, he chose to live a life on earth that was meek and humble. When death, the ultimate enemy, confronted him, he didn't duck into a phone booth and emerge with testosterone pumping in order to overthrow it. No, instead he did something that seems to be the most weak and vulnerable thing he could have----he allowed himself to be taken by the enemy and he died.

He just died.

Superheros bring hope because they never die, and that is the greatest deception possible because we are trained to think the victory comes by avoiding death, while Jesus, the most powerful being in existence, portrayed victory by going through death. Certainly, what he accomplished brings crazy, beautiful life to those who sincerely follow Him, but still, it's a tough act to follow.

So I come back to me, to us. . .I want a superhero to save me because they always do everything they can to help me avoid pain and death. But Jesus tells me that I must die to myself in order to follow Him. If I want to follow Him, I am expected to live like Him--and that means that I must die, again and again to myself in order to recieve the life promised from Him. And this can hurt so much sometimes, that it really is the last thing I want--even though it is the best thing for me.

Father, you know that our hearts are bent toward wanting you to be a superhero type God so that we won't have to hurt or die. Please, you know that we can't always accept what you show us and teach us, even though it's the best thing for us. All we can do is trust you, that you really do know what you are doing. Thank you that you are at work in us to help us trust and rely on you--you really are our only hope.

BT