“You wrote that the world doesn’t need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.” - Superman to Lois Lane

What our world needs right now is a REAL, living Superman—a rare superhero whose strength of power equals his strength of character.

No, I’m not talking about the comic book superhero. As good and as powerful as he is, we know that he’s not a real person.

I’m talking about the original “Man of Steel”—the real, living Messiah.

Jesus Christ compared to Superman

While all analogies ultimately break down, there are striking parallels between Superman and the Son of God. Here are ten:

• Both were only sons sent to Earth by their heavenly Father.
• Both had dual natures—divine and human.
• Both did not fit into society and were misunderstood by people.
• Both possessed tremendous, supernatural powers.
• Both had a strong moral code and an unselfish, heroic character.
• Both were raised with strong values by simple and upright parents.
• Both were strong, masculine men.
• Both had a sense of purpose and destiny that started around age 30.
• Both went through a period of training and maturity before they started.
• Both were saviors or messianic figures—symbols of hope for their peoples.

 

Screenwriter for “Man of Steel,” David Goyer, said: “We didn’t come up with these allusions of Superman being Christ-like, that’s something that’s been embedded in the character from the beginning.”

Film director Zack Snyder admitted: “I think the relationship between Jesus and Superman is not a thing we invented in this film, it is a thing that has been talked about since the creation of Superman,” (“Man of Steel: The Top Twenty Reasons Superman is Jesus,” Metro.co.uk, June 11, 2013).

The True Messiah – more inspiring than Superman!

The real story of the true Messiah, properly understood, is more inspiring than Superman mythology any day of the week.

You and I live in a world of constant trouble and danger. Terrorism and war are daily realities in our present world. Crime, suffering, and evil figure into our daily news headlines. Where is “Superman” when we need him the most?

If there ever was a time in our planet’s history when we needed more hope, it is now. This partly explains the success of such superhero blockbuster movies as “Man of Steel,” which conquered at the box office during the U.S. premiere with a $125 million gross in ticket sales (Derrick J. Lang, “ ‘Man of Steel’ Takes Flight With $125M Debut,” IndyStar.com, June 16, 2013).

For some people, Superman is way cooler than Jesus Christ. Superman wears a fancy cape and always appears to save the day, while Jesus seems to allow suffering and doesn’t always prevent the car accidents, tornadoes, floods, wars, and terrorist attacks so often in the news. To some He doesn’t seem as relevant to our world.

The fact is, many people don’t know who the real Jesus Christ is. They don’t know what in the world God is doing—and why He continues to allow evil and suffering. Why hasn’t He intervened yet?

Mythology that obscures Jesus Christ

Christ’s true identity has been buried and hidden under several layers of myth and tradition. Some even go so far as to deny that He really existed, supposing that Jesus is just as much a fictional creation as Superman.

For the many who believe He really existed, He has often been stereotyped as a teacher of good moral truths, but one who was a long-haired, effeminate weakling. A loser. He was killed by the Jews and the Romans 2,000 years ago, and is still portrayed as hanging on a wooden cross, dead and helpless. If He couldn’t even save Himself, how could He possibly save us? Some have even irreverently suggested that Superman could beat up Jesus.

Let’s get one thing straight: Jesus Christ is alive today! Yet Superman only lives in the imagination of his fans. He is, at best, a Christ-figure. That is as different as night and day. One is real, while the other is fiction.

So what is the real story of the origin of Christ?

Eternal Origins of the True Messiah

God (the Father) and the Word—the One who later became the Son of God, Jesus Christ—eternally existed long before there ever was a universe, long before there ever was a single angel, long before there ever was a single human being. They conceived the wonderful plan of bringing “many sons [and daughters] to glory” (Hebrews 2:10 Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
American King James Version×). They chose to increase the size of their Family of divine, immortal spirit beings by creating mortals after Their own image and likeness, endowed with free will.

Before this was put into action, one of the top three archangels, Lucifer, got wind of the plan for divine expansion and—filled with jealousy and envy—turned one third of all the angels, those under his charge, in rebellion against God. He led a cosmic coup d’état in a vain attempt to seize control of the reigns of the universe. But, overpowered by Jesus Christ Himself, he was kicked out of heaven and thrown down to planet Earth, where he and his demons are presently carrying out their evil work of deception and destruction among human beings.

To destroy Satan’s work and rescue humanity, God sent the Word to Earth to be supernaturally conceived and born of a virgin as the baby Jesus, and raised by a faithful, upright couple, to be the Light for humanity and to announce the coming Kingdom of God. He would then have to resist evil, defeating Satan’s twisted way of life, to live a sinless life, and then suffer and die to pay for the sins of all mankind (John 1:1-14 John 1:1-14 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. [8] He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. [9] That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. [11] He came to his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
American King James Version×, Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 1:18-25 [18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. [20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. [21] And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took to him his wife: [25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
American King James Version×).

The price of salvation

Satan thought he had scored a decisive victory when Jesus died. But three days and three nights later, God brought Jesus back to His immortal life and glory, to be the Mediator between God and men, as well as Captain of Salvation for every mortal human who would also make the same choice as Christ to reject Satan’s ways, values, and influence, and to believe and follow Christ in loving obedience.

Jesus Christ then ascended into the third heaven, at the right hand of God the Father, where He is presently awaiting His return to our planet—no longer as a suffering human Servant—but as the ever-triumphant, all-powerful divine Messiah who will vanquish His enemies, including Satan and his wicked demons, and establish the everlasting Kingdom of God. He will come back as the powerful “Superman” this world has been waiting for all along—the only One who can actually stop crime, nuclear war, terrorism, starvation, corruption, and all the evils in our society.

Yes, He will be faster, stronger, and greater than the comic book Superman. He will be “the real deal”—the real Man of Steel. As much as we love the Superman character, we only have one true Superhero, Jesus the coming Messiah. But more than that, He will be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He will rule the world in total righteousness, justice, peace, and prosperity.

Your ticket – not to the movie – to the real event

God loves you and me. He cares about this planet and its inhabitants—every last one of them. He is not willing that any should perish. On His first coming, He sent Jesus to save us from the penalty of sin, which is death. On His second coming, He will send Christ again to literally save us from ourselves. At that time, the world will be standing at the brink of nuclear annihilation and global catastrophe.

Better than any Superman story, don’t you think? Because, unlike the comic books or the movies, this is the real story.

To know more about the original Man of Steel, please read the free Bible study aid, Jesus Christ: The Real Story.

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7 Revelation 1:7Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
American King James Version×)