Superman is Superman and No One Else

I am a big comic book and superhero fan. I love them immensely and am not ashamed to use them as comparatives when I preach or write as they relate to Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, one of my favorite sermons is on the comparison of Batman's endurance/promise with that of the Christian community in the Hebrews letter. My issue is when people do not listen to the comparatives, instead take away the idea that one is saying __________ (superhero) is Jesus; when that is far from the case.

It is true that many superheroes have messianic qualities and a comparison with Jesus is natural and I think welcomed as it helps others to see the qualities of Jesus depicted in unexpected ways. Naturally, Superman has been the focus of many Christian writings and comparisons to Jesus because Superman has messianic qualities but to suggest that Superman is Jesus, is a disservice to the Superman lore and frankly a huge disservice to who Jesus is.

While Superman has messianic qualities, the one we most associate with him (in comparison with Jesus) is that he is sent to earth by his father. We have associated Kal-El's coming to earth as a religious overtone mainly because of how current writers and directors have depicted him. (BTW, reversing the earth's rotation to turn back time is like putting a car in reverse to think you can take the miles off, it doesn't work. Also Superman does it only to save Lois, not anyone else). When you hear Jor-El say, "They can be a great people, Kal-El. They need someone to show them the way; which is why I am sending them you, my only son." It is a beautiful line to hear as Kal's ship sails to earth and crashes in the prairies of Kansas. However, the truth is Kal is not sent to earth to be earth's savior, he is sent to earth so that he can survive and not be a causality among the destruction of Krypton. 

Superman comes to earth not to save it but to be saved and to live and to gain power. His father sends him to a place where he knows he can rule (wisely and compassionately) and become a powerful person. If it where not for Jonathan and Martha Kent, Superman may not have ever used his powers for good; something Smallville explored when the Luthors found him before the Kents. 

When we say Superman is Jesus, we fail to acknowledge, while Superman holds messianic qualities, they are completely different. Jesus lowers himself and freely gives up his power; while Superman does the opposite. Superman strives to be the ideal of what one can do with power, a point driven home in All-Star Superman in confrontation with a super powered Lex Luthor; Jesus strives to be the opposite. 

Jesus is not our ideal or perfecter because of his power; he is the idea because he gives up his power freely and demands that we do the same. Jesus is Jesus because he came to earth not to be served but serve, not to condemn but to save. Superman came to earth to survive and become like a god to people without power.While there may be messianic qualities, in reality, Superman is more different from Christ than he is alike. Lex Luthor is right when he says, "A god would share their power and save the world; not be selfish and use it only to save a few." 

Superman is not Jesus and Jesus is not Superman. Superman is Superman and Jesus is Jesus. One is greater than the other; yet chooses to be the servant, to give up his life. The other appears in monthly comic books available are your local comic book retailer.